NEW YORK, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Parents are defending a New York teacher who gave a letter-to-a-soldier assignment that turned into an insulting embarrassment and formal reprimand.
The JHS 51 class of Alex Kunhardt wrote letters to a fictitious soldier during a weekend, asking the person anything they wanted to know. It was only after the assignment was turned in that Kunhardt asked his sixth-grade students if he could indeed mail the letters. About half of the students agreed, the New York Post reported Thursday.
Some 21 letters were sent to Army Pfc. Rob Jacobs, who is stationed near the North Korean border. While many of the letters commended the soldier some were very critical of President Bush's Iraq war policy.
The soldier's father said the students had been "manipulated" and Kunhardt should be fired.
But two parents of class members said they would fight any action to remove Kunhardt, calling him a brilliant educator, the Post said.
School officials said a letter of reprimand will be given Kunhardt, who has apologized for the letters.
