Philosophical Differences : Teacher Says He’s in Trouble Over His Words of Wisdom

Thomas W. Knopke labels his inspirational messages “Knopke Potato Chips: Advocate of the American Dream.” Along with a sketch of a bag of potato chips, Knopke prominently displays his catch phrase: “You can’t stop reading them!”

Since 1990, the 69-year-old math teacher has handed out his poems, sayings and philosophical passages to students and teachers at Nicolas Junior High, undeterred by the controversy they’ve stirred or the fact that some of his colleagues immediately return the sometimes whimsical, sometimes rambling writings to his mailbox.

The Constitution, Knopke says, grants him the right to proclaim his so-called words of wisdom, which preach racial and religious tolerance and make proverbial statements about the idiosyncra sies of life.

But now Knopke believes his writings and age are the reasons the Fullerton School District is pressuring him to retire. After teaching in the same classroom since the school opened in 1956, Knopke has been offered a $25,000 buyout that stipulates he retire in June and take an administrative leave when the second semester begins late this month.

“They’ve been on my tail for so long because I’ve been a rebel,” said Knopke, who has rejected the district’s offer.

The school’s principal and other district administrators said they could not comment about Knopke’s situation because of employee confidentiality laws. But some of Knopke’s colleagues do not see his battle as an issue over 1st Amendment freedom, but rather a case of an aging educator better known for his eccentric behavior than his prowess as a math teacher.

They say his predicament exemplifies the difficulties school districts have in getting rid of tenured teachers who they believe are no longer effective in the classroom.

Sherry Dustin, a science teacher and former teachers union representative at the school, said many parents in past years have requested that their children be removed from Knopke’s classroom, although she’s not sure why they have asked for new teachers.

Dustin said Knopke has become well-known at the school, “but unfortunately not as a good teacher.” She said he is better known for sharing his philosophy with students, who may or may not understand his beliefs.

Other teachers and some students, however, paint a different picture of the educator.

Eighth-grader Schnell Johnson describes Knopke as a good teacher who sometimes has a hard time disciplining disruptive students, but is fairly well-liked.

“I love him because he’s fun and he gives you a lot of respect,” she said. “When you need help, he works with you.”

Said Jose Luna, a fellow eighth-grader in Knopke’s class: “He’s pretty cool. He writes stuff about [Christopher] Columbus and humans and man. I like it.”

An upbeat man with rosy cheeks and snowy white hair, Knopke speaks earnestly of his writings, which he defines as “phocis.” Phocis is the name for an ancient region in Greece, but Knopke defines the word as “a protean genre of writing.”

He keeps his collection of more than 300 “phocis” passages in two large orange binders at his home study, which is also filled with rare books, an American flag, a Jewish star, a Taoist symbol, a Buddha statue and other collectibles.

Much of Knopke’s work is patterned after the teachings of the late American philosopher Elbert Hubbard, who wrote many satiric essays in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Knopke’s work range from long, narrative passages to short, whimsical statements such as, “I eat each day like an apple! And like an apple, each day--I am eaten!”

He is particularly proud of his rhyming revision of the Pledge of Allegiance that he believes is more inclusive and more appealing to students. It begins: “I pledge allegiance is a sacred oath that should not be mouthed as a simple toast. To the flag of the United States of America, we must face standing straight, with eyes still and true; not looking around or scuffing our shoes.”

“I have no alternative motive other than to teach students to be open-minded, honest citizens,” Knopke said. “ . . . The philosophy of phocis is that no one has to read it or like it, but it’s very popular among my students. Some kids collect it like ball cards.”

Knopke originally planned to retire at the end of the school year, but he is reconsidering that decision because he is angry that the district wants him to leave.

He believes he’s been given some of the school’s most troubled students because administrators want to speed up his retirement.

“I’ve endured five years of deep harassment, and now they want me to shut up and get out,” said Knopke, who told the district he would retire only if he receives five additional years of teaching credit and medical benefits on his retirement. “Right now, things are quiet. But I know they’re waiting for me to make one wrong move.”

Richard Nagle, director of human resources for the Orange County Department of Education, said state education guidelines make it extremely difficult for school districts to remove teachers who are tenured, those who have taught in a district for more than two years.

Nagle said it is rare for districts to tap into their general fund to offer a teacher a buyout.

Knopke said his teaching file is filled with letters from administrators accusing him of incompetence, but the district has not given him a valid written evaluation in about three years. He also is convinced that administrators are criticizing his teaching skills because they are annoyed by his outspoken comments and unconventional handouts.

Knopke has promoted his philosophy throughout much of his career. But the controversy over his writings first erupted in 1990, when he handed out a book of his work to graduating eighth-graders. Calling it “Phocis The Humanist Bible,” Knopke came under fire for foisting what appeared to be religious material on his students.

Since then, Knopke said, he has been repeatedly told by various administrators to stop handing out his writings--an order he has refused.

Although Knopke’s writings have not been the object of controversy this school year, he still is regarded as a bit of an oddity on campus because of the steps he’s willing to take to share his philosophy.

Last Friday, Knopke held a lunchtime drawing for students who signed their “phocis” handouts and also had their parents sign the many sheets of paper he’s handed out over the past semester. Knopke said the drawing was intended to encourage students and their parents to read his work.

Using a garbage bin, Knopke led a few dozen eager students to the school’s courtyard and drew names from the bin. Five students won cash prizes.

But as the drawing was held, two students stood back looking perplexed and a bit annoyed.

“Why does he do this?” one student said to the other, shaking her head. “I just don’t get why he does this.”