Teacher Who Called Military 'Lowest of Low' Is Fired

A history teacher who was videotaped telling his students that only dumb people join the US military has been fired by the suburban southern California school district where he has taught for more than 15 years. El Rancho Unified School District President Aurora R. Villon announced Gregory Salcido's dismissal at Tuesday night's school board meeting, the AP reports. In January Salcido upbraided a 17-year-old student for wearing a Marines sweatshirt to his class at El Rancho High School, telling him members of the US military are "the lowest of our low." "We've got a bunch of dumb (expletive) over there," he said during a soft-spoken, occasionally profane lecture that lasted several minutes while his students sometimes giggled.

Villon said the small school district in the overwhelmingly Hispanic suburb of Pico Rivera has been "swamped with controversy" since a video of the remarks went viral after a family friend of the student posted it on Facebook. "The superintendent has recommended disciplinary action, including termination of the employment," she said. Villon said Salcido would remain on unpaid administrative leave pending any appeal he might make to state officials. Salcido, a longtime member of the Pico Rivera City Council, served as mayor in 2002, 2010, and 2015. Since his remarks went viral he has rejected fellow councilmembers' demands that he resign. One councilmember has launched a recall petition.

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