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elkid
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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 Posted: 12/04/04 - 09:41 Post subject: School Bus Driver Fired for Stem Cell Talk
what say you?
School Bus Driver Fired for Stem Cell Talk U.S. National - AP
GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. - An elementary school bus driver was fired after sharing a statistic she had read about embryonic stem cell research with students, then encouraging them to tell their parents about it. Julianne Thompson, 42, told students in November that actor Mel Gibson had said in an article that embryonic stem cell research had not produced a single human cure in 23 years.
Some parents complained and school officials in the Buffalo suburb fired the driver. Superintendent Thomas Ramming said employees are generally told that political and religious discussions should be confined to a classroom setting where different viewpoints can be presented.
But Thompson said there is nothing in her contract that prohibits her from expressing facts or opinions. She is considering legal action, saying officials have yet to explain why her comments were inappropriate. "I learned that free speech is definitely not free," Thompson said.
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MastrBrewr
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Joined: 24 Sep 2003
Posts: 6974
Location: outside
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Posted: 12/04/04 - 10:05 Post subject:
She's a bus driver, not a teacher.
But I do think it's a bit harsh. Just suspend her for a little while.
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phillycat
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Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 1953
Location: Da hood
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Posted: 12/04/04 - 10:24 Post subject:
I agree. Why fire her? I think that school districts are getting so scared now that they tend to react in ways that are a bit more extreme than necessary.
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runaroundsue
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Joined: 18 Sep 2002
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Location: supporting GREENer pastures
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Posted: 12/04/04 - 10:37 Post subject:
I didn't know that bus drivers were employees of the school district????? I thought bus companies had contracts with the schools.
Anyway, I don't agree with the judgement. She should have been reprimanded (a talking to) at the most, and I only would agree to that because we are talking elementary schools. If we were talking jr high/high......I'd say it was totally ridiculous.
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bburgoyne26
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Joined: 16 Sep 2003
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Location: Ft. Worth, Texas
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Posted: 12/04/04 - 11:21 Post subject:
| runaroundsue wrote: | I didn't know that bus drivers were employees of the school district????? I thought bus companies had contracts with the schools.
Anyway, I don't agree with the judgement. She should have been reprimanded (a talking to) at the most, and I only would agree to that because we are talking elementary schools. If we were talking jr high/high......I'd say it was totally ridiculous. |
some districts do contract out, but not all.....anyway, I also agree that it was a bit overboard and that we are overreacting....I used to drive a bus....good thing they didn't listen to my tape!........ 
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Joined: 21 Aug 2003
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Posted: 12/04/04 - 12:02 Post subject:
Wouldn't a warning be sufficient if this is the first instance of a policy violation?
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