Capistrano Releases Teacher’s Records

As controversy escalated over the possible dismissal of a popular but provocative history teacher, Capistrano Unified School District officials Thursday released documents from his personnel file that support their case against him.

Paul Pflueger, a tenured Capistrano Valley High School teacher, could be dismissed Monday after nearly 18 years with the district. School administrators said they want to remove him for “unsatisfactory performance.”

Officials said they released part of Pflueger’s records because he had already waived his privacy rights by requesting that his case be opened to the public.

Pflueger is disputing all the accusations against him. Meanwhile, his supporters, including former students now scattered across the country, have been lobbying the school board not to fire him.

In papers made public Thursday, district officials charge that Pflueger made disparaging, rude and even racially insensitive comments toward students, parents and colleagues. The report accuses him of referring to women as “cookie makers,” calling the school vice principal a “jerk” in front of students and teasing a student who was not a U.S. citizen.

One parent wrote to the high school principal complaining that Pflueger had hung the American flag upside down in his classroom.

According to administrative evaluations, Pflueger graded students subjectively, did not follow the district curriculum and flunked half of his students during several semesters.

“Students are not properly taught or prepared for tests, resulting in a substantial number of failures,” Capistrano Unified Supt. Jim Fleming wrote in a memo to Pflueger advising him to revise his teaching approach.

“You have belittled students’ religious beliefs, participation in patriotic observances such as the Pledge of Allegiance, and ideas and thoughts expressed during classroom discussions.”

Pflueger and his supporters denounced the allegations as incendiary tactics to try to remove him. His attackers distorted and took his words and teaching style out of context, he contends.

Pflueger said he tends to poke fun at stereotypes and play devil’s advocate. The purpose is to help students think critically and promote classroom discussions--not promote any political agenda.

His supporters believe that most of the complaints about him came from low-achieving students who did not want to be challenged.