At least 20 teachers in California’s K-12 schools are facing disciplinary action after they made derogatory comments about right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assasination last month. In California, state laws protecting free speech and strong union contracts have so far kept the numbers relatively low. A middle school teacher apparently called Kirk “a piece of s—,” among other things, on their personal social media account, prompting a swift backlash from parents and others. What about teachers who criticize Donald Trump?”The California School Boards Association hasn’t provided school boards with specific guidance on handling Charlie Kirk comments because each district has its own contract with teachers, and personnel matters are considered a local issue. Students could lose their teacher midway through a school year, and teachers “could have their lives turned upside down,” he said.