Acanfora versus Montgomery County Public Schools

With his Pennsylvania teaching status uncertain, Acanfora sought and obtained employment as an eight-grade earth science teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland beginning in August 1972. Within a month, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education called a press conference to announce that he had decided to certify Acanfora, as an acknowledged homosexual, to teach in that state. This was the first time that the state had certified an openly gay teacher and news articles appeared in the New York Times and the Washington Evening Star-News reporting the decision. On the following workday, Maryland school officials recommended that Acanfora "be considered for removal from his teaching position as soon as possible." Acanfora was transferred from his classroom teaching position to "a temporary alternate work assignment" in the headquarters building that would ensure "no contact with students whatsoever", and ultimately fired. Extensive local controversy among students, teachers and parents, and national media attention resulted and continued during the following years as Acanfora fought in the courts and the media to be returned to the classroom.


  • MCPS Job Offer

  • MCPS Transfer Letter
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  • THE MEDIA TELLS THE STORY

    Joe's removal from his classroom teaching position and the struggle for reinstatement as told through the media

  • THE PUBLIC REACTS

    Personal letters, letters-to-the-Editor, and newspaper Editorials in reaction to Joe's removal from the classroom and the resulting community struggle and legal battle to reinstate him

THE MEDIA TELLS THE STORY

Joe's removal from his classroom teaching position and the struggle for reinstatement as told through the media

THE PUBLIC REACTS

Personal letters, Letters-to-the-Editor, and newspaper Editorials in reaction to Joe's removal from the classroom and the resulting community struggle and legal battle to reinstate him

19.10.2006 23:46