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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels September 9, 2004 Ashland schools called 'communist,' err... 'socialist' by sub By JoNel Aleccia For the Tidings As a new substitute teacher, Joe Frodsham is eager to work in any local school district - except one. Frodsham has registered to teach in Central Point, Eagle Point, Phoenix-Talent and Grants Pass. He can't sub in Medford because he is a school board member. But the 17-year board veteran said he won't apply to teach in the Ashland School District because of what he calls his "conservative views." "I can deal with Republicans and I can deal with Democrats, but I'm not sure I can deal with communists," Frodsham said. Asked to elaborate, Frodsham said he meant "socialists," not "communists." "You know how they call it the Socialist Republic of Ashland?" he said. His comments elicited speechless surprise from Ashland School Board Chairwoman Amy Amrhein. "My thought is that it's unfortunate that Mr. Frodsham feels unwelcome in Ashland," Amrhein said. "Certainly we welcome all political views here. Political views have no place when we look at hiring either substitutes or teachers." Ashland School Board member Terry Littleton invited Frodsham to visit Ashland schools. "I think that those kinds of statements add to the divisiveness that unfortunately is becoming an issue in an election year," she said. Medford School Board Chairman Mike Moran said Frodsham must have intended the comment in fun. "I'm quite confident he was using his dark sense of humor," he said. "We've got a great relationship with Ashland." Frodsham later said that he was joking. "I said it for the shock value," he said. "And it worked." "Ashland is a liberal place, but it's a nice place," he added. Starting last spring and continuing this fall, Frodsham, 54, has joined the ranks of rookies in the Rogue Valley's team of substitute teachers. Fifteen or 20 times last year, Frodsham found himself in front of classes in Eagle Point and Central Point teaching one-day subjects ranging from auto shop and social studies to pre-algebra. He says it has been an enlightening exposure to the hands-on realities of education. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams