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Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to cla

Dragonfly

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Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to classroom - Yahoo! News

OXNARD, Calif. - A middle-school science teacher fired after students learned she had appeared in pornographic movies had hoped not just to get her job back, but to set a precedent for people looking to escape an embarrassing personal history.

A three-judge commission put a decisive stop to both, saying firmly and unanimously that Stacie Halas should not be in the classroom.

Thoughts?

Would you fire her?
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

I'm so torn on this. I fully believe people should be allowed to redeem themselves. There are civilized countries in which former porn stars served or currently serve as members of government. Sex is a natural biological process. Etc., etc., etc. And unless her videos included dangerous, illegal, or disturbing sexual acts, the only difference between her and her former colleagues is her profiting from her sexual activities.

That said, middle school students are profoundly immature in a broad sense. Her ability to educate them without distraction is severely damaged, and the quality of the education they received would likely decline. While I question the parental involvement of children who accessed pornography at the ages of 12-14, I realize the open nature of today's internet makes it significantly harder to block such exposure.

So in short, I don't know. If I were her boss and I found it impossible to overcome the situation I think I'd be inclined to do whatever was in my power to help her move on and into employment she could maintain long term. It doesn't seem to me that this woman deserves to be punished, or to suffer, simply because she participated legally in an industry that is heavily monitored and regulated in California.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

Maybe she could teach adults for the GED type certificates?
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

When i was little a women who had been a stripper in a nearby town was fired as a teacher in a middle school in mine. it was a big deal and everyone felt justified until they found out the reason she took the job as a stripper. She never got her teaching job back but no one ever bothered her after that either. She finally was given a job as an administrative assistant at a law firm and became a paralegal. She became well respected in her profession within a few years.

This person seems to want to get her past behind her. I agree that middle school is not the best place. perhaps early elementary school. The problem would be all the self rightrous parents who will eat this up and her too.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

Maybe she could teach adults for the GED type certificates?

Certainly possible, but she'd need some reschooling if California's educational certifications are anything like those in Texas or Michigan (only states I'm familiar with). I truly hope she's able to find something that satisfies her and makes her proud of what she's become and accomplished.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

I love how the school blocks such content on their computers but the school administrators that put it in place try to find evidence of the claim by using their computers. Our educational system at work folks. Hahahaha.

Anyway, usually speaking what you have done in your past can cause you problems in future employment. I have no problem with her losing her job because of it.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

I love how the school blocks such content on their computers but the school administrators that put it in place try to find evidence of the claim by using their computers. Our educational system at work folks. Hahahaha.

Anyway, usually speaking what you have done in your past can cause you problems in future employment. I have no problem with her losing her job because of it.

Neither do I, frankly. May this be a lesson for all these teenagers who think sexting is ok, or making an amatuer porn movie is no big deal. It IS a big deal and you'll pay for it later in life. Just like tattoos and piercings on your face. Sure you think it's cool now, but try and find a career when you grow up. :)


Tim-
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

Interesting. Wonder if this ruling will spur adding more protective classes to EEOC...
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

Will the teachers who were accessing pornography during the school day on school property be fired, too?
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

There are a lot of careers she could choose to redeem herself but middle school teacher isn't one of them. It really comes down to her ability to teach effectively. Every single kid in her class is going to know who she is and what she did from day one... hell, they'll even be able to pull up the videos on their smart phones if they want.

Sorry, but the bottom line is the kids. A different career choice is in order here.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to


"Although her pornography career has concluded, the ongoing availability of her pornographic materials on the Internet will continue to impede her from being an effective teacher and respected colleague," Cabos-Owen said in the 46-page decision issued Friday by the Commission on Professional Competence.

I doubt anyone can argue with the above snippet from the Commission on Professional Competence. I certainly can't.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to


No, I would not fire (or refuse to hire) her if that was the only reason for not wanting her to continue to teach. If engaging in past legal activities, no matter what the nature, are cause for "instant dimissal" then what of ANY past illegal activities e.g. speeding tickets, DUI/DWI or shoplifting?

It appears that the actual reason for her termination may have been falsifying the work history portion of her application, in an attempt to hide this job from her resume/application. If even she concluded that past job would prevent her from being hired then perhaps it is fair to conlude that her lying about anything else could be "justified" to keep her teaching job. This is certainly a valid point for any employment requiring a security clearance, or other position of trust.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

What I can't comprehend is why it's okay for us to think of this woman trying to "redeem" herself.

She didn't commit a crime.

She isn't the scum of the earth.

She fell into a trap many women have fallen into in the history of the species -- she was broke, she was desperate, she rented herself out.

Every single one of us has done something we're ashamed of, or experienced a humiliation -- something it would deeply embarrass us if it were revealed. We as a species need a program wherein those who feed off the humiliation and shame of others find their humiliations and shames exposed for all to see.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to


I don't see how that's not discrimination. She did nothing that was illegal or that could effect her ability to teach.

I doubt anyone can argue with the above snippet from the Commission on Professional Competence. I certainly can't.

I can argue with it, I don't see how it possibly could effect her ability to do her job.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

I can argue with it, I don't see how it possibly could effect her ability to do her job.

Maybe you've forgotten your teen-aged roots. Every year a new class; every year a new crop of teen-aged boys titillated beyond all scope of reason...masturbating to her porn pictures...bringing the images to school. Hell, teen-aged boys get titillated by the word titillated.

If she were teaching adults? Whole different ballgame. And that's probably what she should do with her teaching certificate. But middle-school kids? Nah, I agree with the ruling.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

There are a lot of careers she could choose to redeem herself but middle school teacher isn't one of them. It really comes down to her ability to teach effectively. Every single kid in her class is going to know who she is and what she did from day one... hell, they'll even be able to pull up the videos on their smart phones if they want.

Sorry, but the bottom line is the kids. A different career choice is in order here.

If the kids can look up the porn, why does it matter if they're watching their teacher or some random woman? They shouldn't have smart phones in class. After the first few days of giggles, they'd get over it.
Maybe you've forgotten your teen-aged roots. Every year a new class; every year a new crop of teen-aged boys titillated beyond all scope of reason...masturbating to her porn pictures...bringing the images to school. Hell, teen-aged boys get titillated by the word titillated.

If she were teaching adults? Whole different ballgame. And that's probably what she should do with her teaching certificate. But middle-school kids? Nah, I agree with the ruling.

Bringing porn to school is strictly against school rules, and the perpetrators would be expelled/suspended. After one of those incidents, how would it continue to effect learning INSIDE the classroom? Are kids masturbating in the classroom instead of learning? What does it matter what they do at home? Middle schoolers will try to **** a desk if they're around it long enough.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

Here's another question: If the woman hadn't done porn, if she just looked like someone who had, wouldn't the classroom be disrupted just as much and wouldn't we be calling on the parents to control their kids and the admin people to suspend them until they get over the juvenile giggles?
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

stupid decision
hope its costs them

and thwarted a massive upswing in PTA attendance by dads to boot
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

Maybe you've forgotten your teen-aged roots. Every year a new class; every year a new crop of teen-aged boys titillated beyond all scope of reason...masturbating to her porn pictures...bringing the images to school. Hell, teen-aged boys get titillated by the word titillated.

If she were teaching adults? Whole different ballgame. And that's probably what she should do with her teaching certificate. But middle-school kids? Nah, I agree with the ruling.

Using that logic, we should disallow any "attractive" teachers from teaching middle school or high school at all right? I mean, they might "distract' the class. Sorry, but this ruling is lame and I hope they get their asses sued.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

Using that logic, we should disallow any "attractive" teachers from teaching middle school or high school at all right? I mean, they might "distract' the class. Sorry, but this ruling is lame and I hope they get their asses sued.

God forbid anybody peek in her windows and see something to fap off to, right? Career ender!
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

Here's another question: If the woman hadn't done porn, if she just looked like someone who had, wouldn't the classroom be disrupted just as much and wouldn't we be calling on the parents to control their kids and the admin people to suspend them until they get over the juvenile giggles?

How is that a good comparison? Doing something and not doing something is a different ballgame. She DID the porn, she is IN the videos and is the person responsible for doing the porn. Looking like someone and kids having some giggles over it is not at all similar.

Look, you pay for your past decisions in this life. People just have to realize this and get over it.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

How is that a good comparison? Doing something and not doing something is a different ballgame. She DID the porn, she is IN the videos and is the person responsible for doing the porn. Looking like someone and kids having some giggles over it is not at all similar.

Look, you pay for your past decisions in this life. People just have to realize this and get over it.

Please explain the professional, classroom-experience difference between a woman who every kid THINKS has done porn versus a woman who has actually done porn that the kids found on the Internet.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

God forbid anybody peek in her windows and see something to fap off to, right? Career ender!

When I was in high school many many years ago, we had this absoultely gorgeous science teacher. If anything our imaginations were more vivid than any porn we could have saw if she was in it.

I smell a lawsuit in the future and rightfully so.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

There is no reason for this woman to "redeem" herself. She should be given her job back. Kids will be kids and no matter what will always have some teacher or other that they fantasize about and be distracted by that. If those kids are accessing porn then maybe their parents should be better parents instead of putting the blame on someone else.
 
Re: Judges say Calif. middle school teacher can't shake porn past, must not return to

How is that a good comparison? Doing something and not doing something is a different ballgame. She DID the porn, she is IN the videos and is the person responsible for doing the porn. Looking like someone and kids having some giggles over it is not at all similar.

Look, you pay for your past decisions in this life. People just have to realize this and get over it.

And if she had done something ILLEGAL, you would be absoultely correct. Unfortunately, being in a porn is NOT illegal and there is no bassis for this.

There are hot teachers and kids are going to be distracted and fantasize REGARDLESS of whether they are in porn or not. Unless you are advocating not hiring hot teachers for middle school or high school (which would really be wrong IMO), the logic isn't there.
 
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