Very interesting post and discussion.
In some ways, I do side with the teacher, though she seems (like many jws) to be playing up the whole victim thing, sounds hypocritical ("This is America" - funny how all of a sudden they hide behind the Constitution), and lacks tactfulness in her expressions.
One question however that comes up in my mind is - who's classroom is it, really? This is not her home - it's a school classroom, and while she has a say in what goes on in the classroom, she is not the final authority as to what is to be done in that room. The school board, and the state, have authority over her.
I think Gopher and Scully make some excellent points too, so I am divided a bit on this one.