A US school teacher has been fired after an investigation found that students were pressured to participate in classroom skits involving kissing, with some students saying they felt uncomfortable but participated because the activities affected their grades.
Jennifer Honka, a French language and culture teacher at Northeast Early College in Denver, Colorado, was terminated by the Denver Public Schools Board in a unanimous vote on May 20. The district cited incompetence and neglect of duty as the reasons for her termination.
The classroom skits were reportedly conducted regularly and counted toward students’ performance grades, according to the investigation.
Students Reported Feeling Uncomfortable
Several students told investigators that they felt uncomfortable with some of the activities.
One student said she did not want to kiss a classmate but participated anyway because the assignment contributed to her grade. Another student reportedly refused to participate and received a zero for the assignment.
Students also described a classroom rule in which the “answer is always ‘yes,’” which they said was applied in connection with participation in the skits.
According to the investigation, one student left the classroom after being asked to participate, while another told a staff member that she had been asked to kiss three other girls during one of the performances.
The skits reportedly featured titles such as “The Neighbors Saw Everything” and “The Boring Kiss,” with students portraying characters who were supposedly in relationships.
Teacher Disputed Allegations
Honka disputed the characterization that she forced students to kiss classmates.
During the investigation, she said students who were uncomfortable with physical contact were allowed to choose alternatives. These reportedly included pretending to kiss, blowing a kiss or using a fist bump instead.
One student also confirmed during the investigation that pretending to kiss was an available option.
Despite the teacher’s explanation, the school district ultimately decided to terminate her employment following the investigation.
Investigation Began in 2023-24
The controversy first came to the school’s attention during the 2023-24 academic year.
After a third student reported incidents involving kissing, the school’s principal filed a report with Denver police. However, no criminal charges were filed as a result of the report.
An independent review also found that no school staff member directly witnessed the alleged kisses.
The case nevertheless remained a matter of concern for the school district because of allegations that students felt pressured to participate in activities that could affect their academic grades.
Federal Investigation Underway
The controversy has since attracted broader attention after the US Department of Education opened an investigation into Denver Public Schools.
The federal inquiry is examining allegations involving the classroom assignments, including whether parents were properly informed about the sensitive nature of the student evaluations.
Officials are also examining how the school district handled complaints raised by students and whether its response followed the appropriate procedures.
The case has sparked renewed discussion about boundaries in classroom activities, student consent and the responsibilities of teachers when designing assignments involving physical interaction or sensitive themes.
While the teacher denied forcing students to kiss and said alternatives were available, the district’s decision to terminate her employment highlights the seriousness with which school authorities treated the complaints.
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