OPS Forced Teacher to Leave Part II

The explanation of what happened as told to us by the teacher:



Well, here are the basics as recalled. These events took place at Lewis & Clark Middle School of the academic year 2006-2007 in Omaha Public Schools, where I taught Language Arts 7 & 8. Of course, a large emphasis was placed on writing skills, including a Criterion Referenced Test (CRT) on a human rights issue. We covered a multitude of writing styles, including Scientific Inquiry, throughout the year. Our literature and writing assignments incorporated a number of human life experiences. As a final project or writing assignment, I simply asked the students to reflect on all we had done throughout the year and to write one well-developed paragraph to demonstrate their best writing. On one handout, see attachment, I included a brief warm-up exercise, where the students were to reflect. This was used to help remind students of the difference between fact and opinion, such as your name is factual but the best name you can think of for a baby is an opinion, and so on. The back included a paragraph, using the Scientific Inquiry method, to discuss when human life begins, from a scientific point of view. Students were left to read this on their own and to use it as a model if they wished. It was offered as just an example. Although the hope was to give students an opportunity to expand on life issues from a human rights perspective, they were not steered in that direction. In fact, they were additionally given a list of multiple topics on which to write their own paragraphs.

On Tuesday, May 22, 2007, Dr. Lisa Sterba, Principal, entered my classroom, waving one of the handout copies. She said she had found it on the hall floor. (However, I did not give students any copies.) She told me I could not use this because abortion is a personal, religious issue. I corrected her, noting that abortion is a human rights issue, and that furthermore the handout says nothing specific about abortion or religion. She made a comment that it could offend someone. She seemed surprised that I had already used the handout. She complained that she would get calls from offended parents. I told her to forward any calls to me, that I would be delighted to speak with parents. She also seemed displeased that I had quoted saints, saying that they aren’t saints to Muslims. Then she left.

When I arrived home, I found a voice mail from the Personnel Office saying to report to Dr. Hodges office on Wednesday, May 23, and not to report to school. The next morning, I was told that I was being placed on “Personal Leave” with full benefits so that an investigation of my using unauthorized materials in the classroom could be investigated. Mr. Virant, representing Dr. Hodges, specifically said the paragraph discussed abortion. I objected that no mention of abortion was given. He revoked his original wording, and said I still needed to get permission to use materials outside the curriculum materials provided. When I said that all the facts I used in the handout are available in the school library, he said the issue is whether it was age appropriate. (I had just said the facts are also in the school library!) He cut me off when I attempted to provide further information. He said I would receive a reply of the outcome and that I would be given an opportunity to respond. This was not honored. I was asked if there were any personal items that I needed from my classroom, and I was forbidden to return to the school without permission. He said I was not to discuss this with anyone from the school. I voiced concerns about final grades. He said this would be noted. Ms. Regan witnessed this meeting.

Several days passed, with no response to my emails and phone calls. Finally, after the last day of school had passed, Mr. Virant replied to one of my phone calls, saying in a message to go ahead and get my things anytime, but to notify the administration when I would be on the school property.

Still, I have never received an official reply to my satisfaction. Also, Mr. Mackiel, Mrs. Kostos, and Ms. Tyree were sent an email, and I received the reply, which I will forward. Later, I received notification that my resignation had been accepted, but still no official reply as to why I was denied my rights to academic freedom, why the students were denied the opportunity to finish their projects under my instruction, and why tax payers were burdened with funding an unnecessary and unasked for “Personal Leave.”

There is still the need for closure here, I believe, so I am pleased that you are reviewing this. Let me know of any recommendations. Certainly, I would ask that this information be shared with anyone that could use it to promote justice and the truth.

Also, I will just mention that Ms. Wernsman, the English supervisor from TAC, subsequently sent me an email saying that she was withdrawing her recommendation from my Credential File based on these events.

Thank you and God bless you in your work!