In the darkest moments, true character doesn’t hide—it announces itself with shocking clarity. Like a mirror held up to the soul, tragedy has a way of stripping away the polite veneer we wear in everyday life. What that mirror reflected this week should disturb every American parent and grandparent who entrusts their children to our education system.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated Wednesday during a campus event at Utah Valley University. The young father was doing what he did best—engaging with college students in open dialogue about America’s future. His death sent shockwaves through conservative circles, with prayer vigils organized nationwide and an outpouring of support for his widow, Erika, and their young children.
But here’s where it gets sick—and I mean really sick. In faculty lounges and on teachers’ social media accounts across America, a very different response was unfolding. While families grieved and communities mourned, something unthinkable was happening in our schools and universities.
At least a dozen educators—from university professors to K-12 teachers—took to social media to celebrate Kirk’s murder. Let that sink in for a moment. Yes, you read that correctly. Want to know what your kid’s teacher might be thinking right now? The very people we trust to shape young minds were publicly rejoicing in the violent death of a father of three. In Tennessee, one faculty member allegedly wrote, “This isn’t a tragedy. It’s a victory.” Another posted, “you reap what you sow.” An Oregon teacher reportedly shared that Kirk’s assassination “really brightened up my day.”
Swift Consequences for Crossing the Line
And get this—the response from state officials was immediate and unequivocal. Florida’s Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas didn’t mince words in a statewide memo:
From ‘Florida Department of Education memo’:
It has been brought to my attention that some Florida educators have posted despicable comments on social media regarding the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk. I will be conducting an investigation of every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior. Those found to have violated our professional standards will face immediate consequences.
Middle Tennessee State University terminated a staff member within days. The University of Mississippi dismissed another employee for re-sharing celebratory posts. East Tennessee State placed two faculty members on administrative leave. From California to Virginia, school districts moved swiftly to suspend teachers pending investigation. Even American Airlines grounded pilots who allegedly mocked Kirk’s death as “the cost of our liberty.”
Finally, someone’s doing something. Oklahoma’s state superintendent Ryan Walters promised similar investigations, personally confirming his department was looking into a middle school educator. The message was clear: celebrating political violence crosses a bright red line, especially for those entrusted with educating children.
A Moment of Moral Clarity
Look, I’ve covered a lot of stories, but this one? This one made me physically ill. As this article progresses, I find myself shifting from reporter to concerned citizen—and frankly, disgusted American. These aren’t random internet trolls hiding behind anonymous accounts. These are teachers, professors, and school staff who show up every day to influence our children and grandchildren. They grade papers, lead discussions, and shape worldviews. And when a young father was murdered for his political beliefs, their first instinct was to celebrate.
What kind of person celebrates a father’s murder? What does this say about the moral framework they’re imparting to students? When educators can’t distinguish between political disagreement and human tragedy, when they can’t summon basic human empathy for a widow and orphaned children, what values are they modeling in the classroom? Is this who we want grading our kids’ essays on morality?
The contrast with how conservatives typically respond to tragedy couldn’t be starker. When progressive figures face personal crises or death, you see conservatives offering prayers, not parties. When violence strikes anyone—regardless of political affiliation—the right’s response is consistently one of human compassion first, politics second. We are not the same.
This isn’t about free speech. It’s about basic human decency and professional standards. These educators revealed something profound about themselves and the educational establishment that employs them. They showed us that their political hatred runs so deep, it overrides fundamental human compassion. They’ve confirmed what many parents have suspected all along—there’s a moral rot in our education system.
Parents and grandparents, take note. These incidents aren’t isolated. They’re windows into an educational culture that has lost its moral compass. When teachers dance on graves, when professors call murder “victory,” they’re telling us exactly who they are. We should believe them—and act accordingly.
The swift action by administrators and state officials offers some hope that standards still matter, that there are still lines that cannot be crossed. But the fact that so many educators felt comfortable publicly celebrating murder tells us something deeply troubling about the state of American education.
As we move forward from this dark chapter, one thing is crystal clear: Character reveals itself in crisis. And this week, too many of America’s educators showed us exactly what they’re made of. And honestly? That should terrify every parent reading this.
Key Takeaways
- Dozens of educators nationwide celebrated Charlie Kirk’s assassination on social media
- Schools and states responded swiftly with terminations and suspensions
- Teachers who celebrate political violence reveal they shouldn’t be teaching our children
- The left’s response exposes a moral rot in American education
