Substitute Duval teacher behind viral video showing empty bookshelves in middle school library fired

Three weeks after posting a video on Twitter showing rows of empty bookshelves at Mandarin Middle School, Brian Covey says he's been fired.

[beverlyweber]

Removing books is so....WW 2.
Nowadays, kids have phones and Kindles and neighbors are building Free Little Libraries around the corner of most schools.

[Omega]

I swear I saw this guy on " How to Catch a Predator".

[stevetaxpayer]

That dishonest teacher should have been fired.

[jeffreyklima]

What this media outlet failed to mention, is the room he was in was FILLED with books, he just decided to not include them in his photos

[pfdang-a-lang]

Getting somebody fired call because you’re to sensitive smh

[catlanguage]

Digital books and Google have taken the place of libraries long time ago.

[ChatBloom]

Who wants to become a teacher? What books were they showing? Talking allowed?

[dodobono]

I expect Florida search for more teachers to rise more than last year where about to see a massive quitting of teachers here thanks Ron.

[jumpingjackflash]

I remember reading a book at Oceanway elem called the Bastard. Every kid that went to school there read that book because of all of the curse words in it

[melissamartin]

Now, Covey is crying in his alphabet soup.

[alohaoy]

Good for Mr. Covey for speaking up! I hope others aren't intimidated by DeSantis.

[edwizard]

Instead of finding out why there were no books, you lied about the whole thing. Good reporting First Coast News

[JamaalKantey]

Guess they want the kids to bring their cell phones instead.

[Diane-sxql]

You are awesome & I want to help you bring DeSantis down! 👏👏👏

[kcgunesq]

Who thinks they can go into their employers office, take pictures and then spin a yarn and not get fired? Unfortunately, the answer is someone that we are told is a "professional educator".

[emilien.]

The ESS which is the agency that hires substitute teachers is the one who fired him because he violated the no cellphone and no social media policy in public schools. It's not only in Florida that the rule should be followed or else if the substitute teacher violates a such rule, he/ she will also be automatically fired from his job as a substitute teacher. Even here in Georgia, they also do that! Do you ever wonder why Facebook and other social media have been blocked in public schools all over America, except YouTube? Because it can do more harm to the children than good! YouTube is being used by teachers to teach lessons in public schools and is only supervised by adults children can't watch YouTube on their iPad if not supervised by a teacher. Sub Duval was more active in politicizing empty shelves in the library, and his work as a blogger rather than teaching the children Math that's why he was hired as a long-term sub in Math. He has attended the orientation and signed with such rules to follow as a sub. Good for him he's fired! This is not a job for him. He may be more effective as a blogger and a reporter or a political writer. Sub teaching is a lowly paid job and it's only a part-time job no matter if one works every day! He will even thank Florida Governor de Santis because de Santis noted hed more than 3.4 M views and he really makes a lot of money as a political blogger!

[davidmiller]

This teacher needs to be investigated.

[dianadowie]

If you going set a policy, have balled stand by it. I hope this teacher sue the school administration and the gov.

[vlz]

Soy boy mad that "Billy has two Daddies" and "Jimmy wants to Dress like a Girl" aren't there to pollute the minds of children for groomers.

[steven]

A California teacher and a Florida teacher were discussing rights. The California teacher said he could criticize Newsom and not worry about his job. So what, said the Florida teacher.I can criticize Newsom all I want.