Eat Me, Professor Veggie!
There are many reasons why a person would choose a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Some do so feeling that it is better for their health. Others shun any sort of animal flesh or animal by-product for moral reasons, believing that it is cruel to eat something with a face or a brain.
Which means that Dave Warwak, a perhaps soon-to-be-former middle school teacher in Illinois, could very well find himself on the menu at a local steakhouse. What Mr. Warwak is demanding has already led to his losing face and may cause some people to question the existence of his gray matter as well. Hired as an art teacher, the rabid vegan recently turned in his canvas for a pulpit as he used his classroom to browbeat his students about the sins of any food made from animals, going so far as to give them all copies of a book about the vegan lifestyle.
Obviously what Dave Warwak did is wrong on so many levels. He was not hired to discuss diet issues, he was hired to teach art. Thus, he was not doing his job. Furthermore, he used his position of authority to intimidate a captive audience. And now he refuses to return to his teaching duties unless the school district remove all animal products from the menu. His main target is milk… Warwak does not believe it does a body good, despite the district’s campaign to get kids to drink more of it. Perhaps Warwak works for a soda company.
Okay, so fine - we have a teacher who taught the wrong subject, an administration who wants him to teach the right one, and a school district that wants kids to drink milk. Should be easy to sort out: Warwak can go become a vegan dietician, the school can hire a new art teacher, and the district can continue to build strong teeth and bones.
But not so fast. You knew this story couldn’t end happily. No, there are lawyers involved. That’s right, Dave Warwak has declared his intention to seek to have child endangerment charges brought against the school district.
Yeah, that’ll be productive. And then right after that, he can have every non-vegan parent arrested.
Dave Warwak, eat however you like. But stay out of my kitchen, away from my dinner table and don’t come anywhere near my kids. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to put my steak on the grill.
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TheWriteJerry @ September 11, 2007
What is the deal with the crazy teachers. First there was the group of female teacher having sex with the teen boys. Now the militant vegan. I agree that he should teach his subject and leave the food debate at home.
It is interesting to me that so often these days everything is so legislated. Kids that beat up another kid are charged with assault, teachers that badmouth a parent are charged with slander, crazy teachers sue about their rights instead of just being fired.
On the other hand, I was born in the early 70’s, and there was no shortage of crazy teachers. There was always the hippie social studies teacher that would bring in her guitar and sing “Puff the Magic Dragon”, the Vietnam Vet gym teacher that would spend hours telling war stories, the ultra feminist English teacher that went by Ms. and refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I don’t think that any of them had an impact as far as changing anyones’ views. Everyone just laughed at the crazy teacher and would do something like “get him to talk about the war and we won’t have to do any work.”. Perhaps these students just tried to get him to talk about vegan life to get out of painting fruit?
Couldn’t agree more. I’m a vegetarian, and just as I don’t like it when people tell me to eat meat, I never tell them not to. I think that’s overstepping the mark, and this guy has gone miles past it. Psycho.
No charge in vegan handouts
By KELLY MAHONEY - kmahoney@nwherald.com
Comments (129 comment(s))
FOX RIVER GROVE – A former District 3 art teacher and outspoken vegan embittered over his dismissal has been distributing a 700-plus page book that chronicles his firing.
David Warwak, 45, allegedly posted a request via the Internet for his former students to meet him at a Fox River Grove McDonald’s after school May 23. He gave numerous copies of the book, “Peep Show for Children Only,” to middle school children, Fox River Grove Police Chief Ron Lukasik said.
Lukasik said police became aware of the book after a mother complained May 27. The mother said her daughter, along with several other students, was pictured in it. The police since have recovered six copies of the book that were given to District 3 students.
Police and McHenry County prosecutors reviewed the book and determined that although Warwak did not have permission to include the photos, he would not be charged with any crime. Civil charges could be possible, Lukasik and First Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Carroll said.
“While we certainly do not condone what he did – we don’t think it was appropriate – … we are unable to charge Mr. Warwak with violation of any criminal statute,” Carroll said.
Warwak said there was nothing inappropriate about distributing information on veganism, the practice of not eating any animal products.
“With all the school shootings that happened and the climate of schools today, something has to change, so I offer solutions in the book,” Warwak said. “Humane education is what’s needed. … That’s what’s missing in school.”
The soft-cover, self-published book – a large, rambling text – is mostly transcripts from various proceedings regarding Warwak’s dismissal last year sprinkled with rants about society’s obsession with eating meat and animal products, such as milk. It also contains correspondences with students.
The school board said in terminating him last fall that Warwak ceased teaching art and turned his classroom into an indoctrination zone, telling students to keep his teachings secret.
At least two versions of Warwak’s book exist. Warwak said the one that his students received was a draft. Another is available online for $29.95. The online version is 487 pages long.
Warwak, who lives in Williams Bay, Wis., said he distributed the drafts to 15 to 20 students. Students, he said, are more receptive to his message.
“Kids see it because they’re still in touch with their heart, and adults don’t see it,” Warwak said. “Adults, they flip out, and they don’t want kids to even check it out.”
Warwak said he was not surprised that police looked into the books, but no parents had called.
“I know that the school was upset, and I know that police were going to kids’ houses,” Warwak said. “Anyone can contact me at any time. I’m not hiding from anyone.”
Warwak described himself on the back cover of the book as a social critic, humanitarian and philosopher who “just as Scopes changed the landscape of education with his ‘Monkey Trials’ some 80 years ago, Warwak has come forward in present day with striking revelations about our current failing educational system and offers clear no-nonsense solutions that chill one to the bone. This book is for all ages and for all time.”
An excerpt from “Peep Show for Children Only”:
“The beef industry knows all about me. They documented my initial emergence on the scene. Funny how they monitor such things. … Too bad these losers can’t control the internet. People are finding out. The gig is up! The internet shall set us free!”
http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/06/13/news/local/doc48522d1c0b31f358670212.txt