Ok, this is screwed up. Suspended teacher....

Stylerod · 10-02-2006, 03:51 PM

Museum Field Trip Deemed Too Revealing
By RALPH BLUMENTHAL

FRISCO, Tex., Sept. 28 — “Keep the ‘Art’ in ‘Smart’ and ‘Heart,’ ” Sydney McGee had posted on her Web site at Wilma Fisher Elementary School in this moneyed boomtown that is gobbling up the farm fields north of Dallas.

But Ms. McGee, 51, a popular art teacher with 28 years in the classroom, is out of a job after leading her fifth-grade classes last April through the Dallas Museum of Art. One of her students saw nude art in the museum, and after the child’s parent complained, the teacher was suspended.

Although the tour had been approved by the principal, and the 89 students were accompanied by 4 other teachers, at least 12 parents and a museum docent, Ms. McGee said, she was called to the principal the next day and “bashed.”

She later received a memorandum in which the principal, Nancy Lawson, wrote: “During a study trip that you planned for fifth graders, students were exposed to nude statues and other nude art representations.” It cited additional complaints, which Ms. McGee has challenged.

The school board suspended her with pay on Sept. 22.

In a newsletter e-mailed to parents this week, the principal and Rick Reedy, superintendent of the Frisco Independent School District, said that Ms. McGee had been denied transfer to another school in the district, that her annual contract would not be renewed and that a replacement had been interviewed.

more....
Museum Field Trip Deemed Too Revealing - New York Times

I can't beleive a parent complained and the school is going to let her go. What a stupid, stupid thing.

Scrum · 10-02-2006, 04:07 PM

I hate people.

Stylerod · 10-02-2006, 04:09 PM

I feel like punching someone. I just read it again and it pissed me off even more.

motivez · 10-02-2006, 04:11 PM

Wow, how ridiculous..

That parent should have taken some responsibility and gone to the museum and had a look at what kind of stuff was there before signing the permission slip.. rather than simply assuming their child (or their) sensibilities weren't going to be offended and then blaming the teacher when, due to their failure as a parent, their child sees something they shouldn't.

I can't believe they'd fire her over that either.. the parent is the irresponsible one, not the teacher. Hopefully there will be a shitstorm over this in Dallas and she'll be reinstated or allowed a transfer..

Stylerod · 10-02-2006, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

Wow, how ridiculous..

That parent should have taken some responsibility and gone to the museum and had a look at what kind of stuff was there before signing the permission slip.. rather than simply assuming their child (or their) sensibilities weren't going to be offended and then blaming the teacher when, due to their failure as a parent, their child sees something they shouldn't.

I can't believe they'd fire her over that either.. the parent is the irresponsible one, not the teacher. Hopefully there will be a shitstorm over this in Dallas and she'll be reinstated or allowed a transfer..

WickedLou9 · 10-02-2006, 04:14 PM

OMG a nude figure! REPENT YE SINNERS! GOD WILL SMITE THEE! I am going to go to church and ask for God's forgiveness because I read that story and they talked about nude people. OMG I am talking about nudity. I am going to go punish myself out of shame.

Stylerod · 10-02-2006, 04:19 PM

Now, if the Museum had a display that was "The History of Porn" I might have a bit of a problem with it. But I'm guessing it wasn't.

IminWonderland · 10-02-2006, 05:33 PM

What is the big deal with a naked body? Good God, these people are raising kids that can't handle anything! No cuss words, no nudity....those are like, the cornerstones of living with other people. If you aren't the one using cuss words or exposing nudity, you see other people doing it.

It's fucking ART. With Art, nothing is sacred or off limits, and that's the way it should be.

These people need to move somewhere else.

WickedLou9 · 10-02-2006, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

What is the big deal with a naked body? Good God, these people are raising kids that can't handle anything! No cuss words, no nudity....those are like, the cornerstones of living with other people. If you aren't the one using cuss words or exposing nudity, you see other people doing it.

It's fucking ART. With Art, nothing is sacred or off limits, and that's the way it should be.

These people need to move somewhere else.

Like Iran.

IminWonderland · 10-02-2006, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Like Iran.

They got what they want.

Can't read Farenheit 451 there. Or 1984. Or Madame Bovary. Or anything else that might be "controversial" or offensive.

Shit, the offensive books are my favorite to read.

Diesel66 · 10-02-2006, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

It's fucking ART. With Art, nothing is sacred or off limits, and that's the way it should be.

These people need to move somewhere else.

Also shows you have no respect for anything

IminWonderland · 10-02-2006, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

Also shows you have no respect for anything

Respect is earned. Not loosley given.

Diesel66 · 10-02-2006, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

Respect is earned. Not loosley given.

and a lot of art seems to be created for no other reason then to piss people off.

Just remember folks its ok to piss off Christians because they will only protest you, but do not repeat NOT piss off Muslims.

IminWonderland · 10-02-2006, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

and a lot of art seems to be created for no other reason then to piss people off.

Just remember folks its ok to piss off Christians because they will only protest you, but do not repeat NOT piss off Muslims.

First of all, I believe that it's perfectly acceptable to piss off everybody. I believe that is the artists responsibility to provoke thought that makes people uncomfortable or make them red. Art is supposed to move.

"And a lot of art SEEMS to be created for no other purpose then to piss people off."

Personally, I can't think of a better reason to create art. Because what you are saying is that an artists feels something isn't right with the world, even if they are the minority in that feeling, they create something from their mind to depict what it is they feel isn't right. If the art is actually seen by the public, it gives people a chance to say "I don't agree" or "I agree". You have the choice. Just because you look at something, or read something you don't like doesn't mean that no one else should get to make that decision either, nor does it mean that this parent should get to make that decision for an entire school. That's assinine.

But, at least I don't have to worry about my kids, because I'd expose them to art whether the school endorsed it or not. I'd read books that are banned purposely because obviously the information in the book has moved someone so extremely that they feel no one should access it.

Sorry, but fuck respect when it means that someone gets to tell me what I can and can't do with my own mind.

WickedLou9 · 10-02-2006, 06:21 PM

OMG. I AM OFFENDED!

Diamond Cross · 10-02-2006, 06:25 PM

Red Herring argument.

This particular post subject has nothing to do with Christianity.

Images of classical Greek Art with nudity can be found here:

classicalgreekart

That teacher did absolutely nothing wrong.I'm tired of oversensitive people who think they have the right to not be offended. If it were up to them there' be no entertainment whatsoever.

IminWonderland · 10-02-2006, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

OMG. I AM OFFENDED!

Ever look at that statue and feel sorry for David that he's not endowed moreso in his nether region?

Diamond Cross · 10-02-2006, 06:29 PM

AIEEEE! I'm blind! I'm blind!

WickedLou9 · 10-02-2006, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

Ever look at that statue and feel sorry for David that he's not endowed moreso in his nether region?

maybe he is a grower

archangel003 · 10-02-2006, 06:32 PM

If the parents signed permission slips I can't imagine why the school would side with them on this.