ST. PAUL - A conservative St. Paul teacher punished for remarks he made during wide-ranging classroom discussions on the 2016 presidential election hopes to return to his job in the fall teaching math at Como Park Senior High.

Bruce Ringaman, 50, addressed the situation publicly for the first time in an opinion column published Sunday, April 30, in the Pioneer Press and in an interview Monday, May 1.

"I believe that it is these types of courageous conversations that will result in healing and bring our communities and country together again," he wrote.

Ringaman acknowledges that the lessons didn't go as planned. But he said administrators have unfairly accused him of forcing his views on students and shutting down dissent.

"If you really believe that's true, why am I working in St. Paul? I should have been fired," he said. "I wouldn't want my son in my class, if that letter's true."

Assistant Superintendent Theresa Battle signed the disciplinary letter, which called Ringaman's conduct "disruptive, disrespectful and offensive" and said he showed "extremely poor professional judgment."

District spokeswoman Toya Stewart Downey this week said Ringaman's lessons that day brought "an array of responses" from students, parents, staff and the broader community. They ranged from support for Ringaman to "highly charged remarks suggesting a hostile environment with racial undertones."

Stewart Downey said the district is aware Ringaman wants to return to Como but could say little because it's a personnel matter.

The political discussion came as St. Paul Public Schools was exploring the use of restorative practices, which seek to build relationships among students and between students and staff. Como is not one of the six pilot schools, but teachers have been encouraged to try out circle dialogues, one of the tools of restorative practices.

Nov. 14 was the third time since the start of the school year that Ringaman set math instruction aside for the entire day to engage in circle activities. The first two days centered on self-motivation and an inspirational speech by basketball coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer.

Ringaman said such non-academic exercises hold potential for bringing the troubled high school closer together.

"I do believe in it, and that's why I chose to participate," he said.

But students complained about the content of the Nov. 14 activities, which included a racy photo of Melania Trump, a contemporary Christian worship song and a video of African-Americans beating up a white man while taunting him about supporting Donald Trump as president.

Ringaman also criticized Hillary and Bill Clinton and shared his views on abortion and gay marriage, the district found.

Ringaman admits it was a mistake to show the assault video. He said he had shared it in advance with colleagues, who didn't raise any red flags, but he should have gotten an administrator's approval before using it in class.

"I obviously had some reservations going in because I knew it was violent," he said. "I definitely erred there, but it wasn't something where I was intentionally trying to stir things up."

Ringaman said part of the problem was he didn't leave enough time in two of his classes to talk about the video.

He said he should have been more clear with students about the purpose of the day's activities. He sought to build understanding, not persuade students that his views were correct, he said.

Ringaman also strongly rejected a parent's claim, reported in a Nov. 15 Pioneer Press article, that he said blacks should go "back to Africa." The school district evidently did not find the allegation credible as it was not included in his disciplinary letter.

Ringaman said that if he is allowed to return to Como, he would like to do something to build trust with parents and students.

"It feels like there's too much mistrust. Any misstep we make gets magnified," he said.

Last year, three white veteran teachers left Como after coming under fire for their dealings with students of color. Ringaman says he doesn't want to be the next to leave.