After Student Outcry, Midwood High School Teacher Who Re-Sold Books Is Reinstated

The Department of Education has dropped misconduct charges against an English teacher at Midwood High School, who was suspended in March for re-selling books to students.

Todd Friedman, an award-winning teacher, sold copies of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein for $2 per book to AP English students. He ordered the books last September and paid the bill out-of-pocket, totaling $220 plus shipping for 102 copies, reported The Post.

Friedman was plucked from the classroom and reassigned to administrative tasks after an investigation in March proved that he violated the school’s no re-sell code, reported The Post.

However, the investigation also showed that at $2 per book, Friedman was selling the copies “at a financial loss,” according to The Post. Friedman also noted that paperback copies of “Hamlet” were on sale at the school bookstore for $6, triple the amount he was charging to recoup his expenses.

Friedman said that he was just trying to help his students, and he believes the administration is retaliating for unfair labor practices Friedman filed with the school last March.

Now, thanks to fierce advocating by Midwood High School Students, Friedman is back in the classroom. “I believe that the DOE has dropped the charges due to the groundswell of support I’ve received,” Friedman said, and expressed his deepest appreciation for the community for rushing to his defense.

We heard from many Ditmas Park Corner readers in the comments section, many of whom were outraged at the charges brought against Friedman. Readers lamented that Friedman was just trying to help his students, and aired grievances that teachers often get penalized unfairly.

The Department of Education appears to have heard the community, and is backing down. Friedman will return to his classroom without charges or disciplinary action, said a Department of Education Spokesperson.