Fired Shawnee Mission Science Teacher Fighting Back.

[molten_dragon]

I heard about this story for the first time on the radio this morning. The morning talking heads got into a pretty heated debate about it and I thought it was an interesting issue.

Fired Shawnee Mission Science Teacher Fighting Back - WDAF

Haraughty says that the charges that led to his dismissal are based on a single incident, when he drew a map of the United States to help explain how the jet stream works.

"I drew Florida out of proportion," said Haraughty. "The kids jump all over stuff like that, 'Oh Mr. Haraughty, Florida is all wrong. OK, whatever, not thinking, I said, 'Florida got excited.' And right after, I'm thinking, you know, but I decided I'm not going to dwell on it."

Assuming that the article is correct, and this was a first offense, I think it's ridiculous that the guy was fired over it. It was a mildly inappropriate comment, and there should have been disciplinary action over it, but firing the guy is an extreme over-reaction.

 

[kansaswhig]

Mission school district has a very good reputation. Two of my cousins went to school there. I think this was pretty harmless, by that age, most kids can take a mildly sexual joke. For God sake, they learn what an erection is in Sex Ed class freshman year.

I smell something else going on here...

 

[liblady]

I heard about this story for the first time on the radio this morning. The morning talking heads got into a pretty heated debate about it and I thought it was an interesting issue.

Fired Shawnee Mission Science Teacher Fighting Back - WDAF



Assuming that the article is correct, and this was a first offense, I think it's ridiculous that the guy was fired over it. It was a mildly inappropriate comment, and there should have been disciplinary action over it, but firing the guy is an extreme over-reaction.

that's crazy, but it's kansas.

 

[aps]

I dunno. That's a really stupid comment to make in a professional setting.

 

[reefedjib]

Too damn puritanical this society.

 

[kansaswhig]

that's crazy, but it's kansas.

Hey! Watch it, lady!

 

[molten_dragon]

I dunno. That's a really stupid comment to make in a professional setting.

It was a stupid and inappropriate comment to make, no arguments there, but if it really was his first offense, I think firing him for it is going too far.

 

[aps]

It was a stupid and inappropriate comment to make, no arguments there, but if it really was his first offense, I think firing him for it is going too far.

Yeah, I agree. As was stated earlier in this thread, there is something more to this issue. A first-time offense and NOT directed at a particular person (i.e., making that kind of comment to a say a girl)--this seems unjustified.

 

[molten_dragon]

Mission school district has a very good reputation. Two of my cousins went to school there. I think this was pretty harmless, by that age, most kids can take a mildly sexual joke. For God sake, they learn what an erection is in Sex Ed class freshman year.

I smell something else going on here...

That was my first thought as well, that there had to be something else going on here that the article isn't talking about.

Then again, considering what whiny, easily-offended sissies many Americans are anymore, it wouldn't surprise me if they really did fire him just over that.