93-3-WMR Audio on Demand presents the Preston and Steve show podcast.

And now, Preston and Steve's news update with Kathy Romano.

Today is Tuesday, February 27th.

And good morning, Kathy.

Good morning.

In the news this morning, a controversy has hit a New Jersey high school and students at Cherry Hill East are demanding a beloved teacher's suspension be lifted.

Students and parents say history teacher Timothy Locke was simply talking about security concerns in the wake of the massacre in Florida and they want him brought back to the school.

So students captured video of a rally they staged Monday morning at the high school to demand the teacher's immediate reinstatement.

The principal, Dennis Perry, placed the history teacher on leave last week after a student became upset over Locke's discussion about his concerns that a similar incident to the one in Florida could happen at their school.

He was bringing up the current security issues at East and talking about

the lack of safety there, one of the students said. So I guess that's where the problem was,

is he was saying that it could actually happen there because of the lack of safety.

Other students pointed out the discussion that Locke was having was a valid one, not only in fact,

but in principle. If we don't have the right to talk about the controversial issue in our school system,

then how are we going to move forward as a society, let alone a school system, said one of the seniors at the high school.

Laku was unavailable for comment is a 59-year-old Iraq war veteran who served in the Air Force.

He tells parents that not only was he suspended,

his bag was searched for weapons, and he was also ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation.

The school district superintendent declined to discuss the situation. Some students are signing

petitions to bring lock back. The teachers union did not comment on the matter, and some

students are planning to stage another walkout today.

However, Principal Perry has threatened to suspend those who participate in that walkout.

...