ROCKPORT — A Facebook post by a Camden Hills Regional High School assistant principal last week engendered a local and national response that overwhelmed the central office of the Five Town CSD in Camden for a week. The emails and phone calls — some characterized as thoughtful, others as inflammatory — consumed the superintendent's time, and prompted her own consultation with Portland attorneys to help sort through the implications of controversy incited through social media.

By Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 8, CSD Superintendent Maria Libby decided to issue a press release, and signal that it is time for the furor to be over.

"I understand the concern and ensuing turmoil resulting from the assistant principal's Facebook post last week," said Libby in the Tuesday press release. "It is clear that his post was offensive to many people and that it was not appropriate."

Libby said later in a phone conversation that this morning her office received a call from a New York-based Foxnews.com reporter, who requested a conversation with the superintendent. The reporter said FoxNews.com had received via email a link by "a few readers in your area." The link went to an article posted on EAGnews.org, a Michigan-based website of the Education Action Group Foundation, a nonprofit that says its goal is to promote "sensible education reform and exposing those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo." The article had used information posted earlier by the Maine television station WGME, Channel 13.

Meanwhile, supporters of Camden Hills Regional High School Assistant Principal Piet Lammert have been posting their own comments on Facebook, citing Lammert's strength of character and professional competence. Lammert has been assistant principal at Camden Hills since 2007. Prior to that, he was director of the guidance department from 1999 to 2006. He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Maine, Class of 1991, and his master's in counseling psychology from Boston College, Class of 1993.

Lammert declined to comment for this story.

What is the issue?

On Nov. 29, Lammert posted on his personal Facebook page a photo depicting Syrians with their flag. Embedded in the photo was the caption: "That awkward moment when a nation of refugees celebrates their refugee ancestors by rejecting refugees. Happy Thanksgiving. The Syrian Revolution, From Kafranbel, Nov. 15."

But that is not what spawned the reaction. Below the photo, Lammert posted a comment: "It's Small Business Saturday. Buy local. There's a show in the Strom tonight. Buy tickets. The only terrorists we need to fear are domestic white 'Christian' men with easy access to guns. Vote Bernie. That is all. Enjoy your day."

In referencing the Strom, Lammert was talking about an upcoming alumni talent show that was being held in the school’s auditorium.

It is the sentence concerning white Christian men and guns that provoked the ensuing commentary.

According to Libby: "The issue is that he made an inappropriate comment as a public figure and that comment offended many. The sentence was inappropriate."

The majority of those offended, she said, interpreted the line — "the only terrorists we need to fear are domestic white 'Christian' men with easy access to guns" to mean that Lammert characterized domestic white Christian men with easy access to guns as terrorists.

Lammert immediately apologized for his post and on Friday, Dec. 3. He wrote:

"With true humility, I write to apologize for the offensive statement that I recently posted on Facebook. I did not intend this statement literally when I wrote it — it was an exaggeration — but soon after realized that it was unintentionally hurtful, offensive, and divisive at a time when more than ever we need compassion and understanding.

"In short, I did not mean what I said and wish with all my heart that I could take it back. But I need to take responsibility for it nonetheless, because I wrote it. It does not represent who I am or what I believe, but I wrote it. This post is an effort to at least begin to make amends.

"Had I simply written what I meant, the post would have reflected my urgent distress at the epidemic of mass violence in our country, which more recent events have proven to span all social groups. Ironically, in my effort to point out that we run the risk of simplifying the problem by singling out a particular ethnic group, I did exactly that to the group to which I belong. It was careless and rash.

"Having devoted the bulk of my career — approaching two decades — to the five town community, I am truly heartbroken to realize that I have damaged relationships that mean so much to me by virtue of a careless statement. I am writing in hopes that those I offended will provide me the opportunity to rebuild those relationships and, in time, forgive me.

"I realize that in order to move forward I will need to rebuild trust. I think that the best way for me to accomplish that at this point is to own that I was wrong to make that statement and demonstrate that those are not my beliefs. Moving forward, I fully intend to act and portray myself as people know me to be — an administrator who cares deeply about all students.

"I know of no other way to close than to say again how profoundly sorry I am. I hope that my apology is a helpful first step in making amends for my mistake."

A local community responds

Libby would not share the subsequent emails with PenBayPilot.com, saying the controversy involved a personnel issue and the emails were not to be made public. Libby said that attorney Daniel Rose, of Drummond Woodsum in Portland, had advised her as such.

"I've been talking to our lawyers throughout this mess, and I learned through him [Rose] that they [the emails] are protected," she said. "There have been a variety of different aspects around this situation that I felt legal advice was prudent."

When asked to talk more about those aspects, Libby replied, "No, I won't elaborate."

She said, however, that the local response, emails and phone calls, has been approximately six to one in support of Lammert.

Lammert's personal Facebook page is loaded with comments from parents, colleagues and community members. Several described themselves as white Christian men.

"I too am a member of the group that is supposed to be offended by Piet's comments, and while I personally do not agree with the sentiment, I am not offended by it either," wrote one person. "I realize that it was meant to be satirical and so take it that way. But I will say this in defense of those who are offended, the public outcry against Christianity in general in the last decade has been increasingly anger and hate-filled, so sensitivities have grown from such pubic disdain for white, male, Christians. That is not to say that Piet is guilty of this, if he is even half the man I remember him being, he is an intelligent, compassionate, and thoughtful man. If what he said offends you, get over it, move on, or discuss it civilly with him personally...but to try to ruin his career and take away his livelihood is childish and vindictive."

Other comments included:

"I've been thinking all day that 'integrity' is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Piet."

"Many here in the Camden School system totally stand with and behind him."

"Many that did take offense to Piet's comment, respect and stand by Piet as well. More importantly, many that didn't know Piet that took offense to his comment, now respect him as well. I have had great respect for Piet for many years and his integrity as a person truly shows in his post to the community. Different actions and comments are offensive to various groups of people and tolerance and earned respect is being able to agree and disagree with various groups without needing to be offensive."

PenBayPilot.com received one email concerning Lammert's Facebook post. The writer said he submitted his letter to Camden Hills Regional High School Principal Nick Ithomitis, and signed it anonymously as "Concerned Parent" because he was concerned about retaliation.

The email said: "This kind of racism and bigotry cannot be tolerated in our schools. My son now feels he will never be treated fairly at the high school because this man made this post and my son fits the description of what Mr. Lammert calls a terrorist.... Our son watches the news and sees what ‘terrorists’ are doing every day including burnings and beheadings and feels Mr. Lammert views him in the same light.... If you feel I am overstating the seriousness of the issue, ask yourself this. What would have been the consequences if Mr. Lammert had made these statements about African Americans instead of Caucasians?"

Going forward

Libby would not say whether Lammert had been suspended from work.

"I will neither confirm nor deny that," she said.

But, she said that Lammert was at work on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

"The assistant principal recognizes that [the inappropriateness of the Facebook post], has taken responsibility for his action, and has begun making amends to rebuild trust," she wrote, in her news release.

She said she was compelled to issue a press release to inform the community that the school district had acknowledged the controversy, disciplined Lammert and is now putting the issue to rest.

"I wanted to let the community know that I investigated the incident and listened to input from all sides," she said. 'I also considered the assistant principal's past contributions to the school and his performance as an administrator. While personnel issues are confidential as a matter of law, the assistant principal has allowed me to share with you that I have taken disciplinary action that I believe is fair and final. In addition, we are going to supplement upcoming Affirmative Action training with social media, anti-discrimination, and communication training for all staff at the high school."

Furthermore, Libby said Dec. 8 that Lammert is still employed.

"The action that has been taken, is done," she said. "He is not getting fired."

Libby also said: "From a school perspective, we are trying to move on and refocus our attention to the heart of the matter of why we are all here in the first place. There is work to do, because there has been some harm done."

She acknowledged that there has been harm to Lammert, as well.

The Facebook episode has also been a learning opportunity, said Libby, and: "is one we share with students frequently. It is the inadvertent power of social media, when you lose control of the things you may have said and have to be careful about what you say on social media."

Moreover, she said, Lammert is showing the community: "How you pick yourself back up when you make a mistake and take ownership of that mistake. You work hard to make amends, and rebuild trust."

She ended her press release with: "We recognize and plan to take advantage of the valuable learning opportunities that this situation has created as we now move forward to refocus on continuing to improve our programs and student outcomes. I am hoping that our community will join together and join us in the hard work ahead. We have an incredibly strong history of providing a supportive environment where all students are encouraged and assisted to find their niche and thrive. That has not, and will not, change."

One student told PenBayPilot.com: "All he wants is people to be kind to each other, and that is ALL he promotes in school."

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6657.