Governor Mike Brown Addresses Teacher Conduct in Wake of Assassination

On Wednesday, Indiana Governor Mike Brown made some significant statements regarding the behavior of teachers online, particularly in light of the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. He indicated that there could be severe consequences, including the suspension or revocation of teacher licenses, for those making what he termed “bad” comments on social media.

In a post on X, Brown mentioned that the Indiana Education Secretary’s Office is currently reviewing reports concerning teachers and administrators who celebrate or incite what he described as “political violence.” This follows reports indicating that some educators across the nation appeared to celebrate Kirk’s murder on social media platforms.

“Teachers play an important role in shaping the future generation, and we hold them to a higher standard,” Brown wrote. While he acknowledged that most educators in Indiana meet this standard, he expressed concern about those who do not. He noted that there are calls for political violence that “should not be tolerated.”

Brown stated, “We don’t have to agree on everything, but differences shouldn’t lead to violence, like what we saw last week.” He highlighted the importance of protecting the First Amendment, but firmly asserted that calls for political violence cross a line. He reiterated that the Secretary of Education has the authority to take action against teachers engaging in such conduct.

Furthermore, he detailed that the education secretary can suspend or revoke licenses for reasons such as incompetence or deliberate neglect of obligation, as outlined in the Indiana Code.

Both Attorney General Todd Rokita and Lieutenant Governor Mika Beckwith have also requested reports regarding any public employees, including teachers, who might celebrate or promote Kirk’s assassination.

In a related incident, Ball State University announced the termination of a staff member after her social media comments about Kirk’s assassination were deemed inconsistent with the values expected from someone in her position. The university described her comments as undermining the trust associated with her role.

The Indiana Department of Education has yet to comment on these developments.