I’ll provide some details but not my opinion. The community I live in is deeply divided over this issue and I think the YA community debate will be just as lively.
The teacher in question has taught at the school for over 20 years and is still teaching classes while the school board reviews the case. She’d recently begun running a dog breeding business out of her home and over the past year some neighbours complained about the dogs being mistreated. Despite repeated complaints, animal control officers refused to come out and inspect the home until a dog carcass was discovered on the property. Armed with a search warrant, they entered the house and found 28 dogs which were severely malnourished and living in filthy conditions (they were all locked in tiny cages). Animal control removed the animals and the teacher was arrested and charged with 32 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. Many parents and students have begun a campaign to have her fired from her job. Should she be fired?
Msg for Moon: Please know I’ve read your post and appreciate it more than I can say. Now please delete it at once! The walls have ears and I don’t want you to be charged with “chatting,” ok? Real quick, let me just reassure you that I am NOT leaving! Thank you again for your kind words of support (and your generosity) and I do hope you recognized yourself here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuhbtY8G467cC_bjx_XZ.Rbsy6IX?qid=1006021420748
Some very thoughtful comments here, which is precisely why I offered no opinion when posing the question. The description is a rough summation of an article I read in last Sunday’s newspaper. Also, I have no children and thus have no direct involvement on whether or not this teacher should lose her job over this. I happen to love animals and am always repulsed when they are abused, but I’m not certain this woman’s abuse of her breeding dogs can be used as grounds for her dismissal from an occupation which is unconnected. Another consideration will be the actual ruling of the court when her case goes before a judge (i.e., she has not yet been convicted of anything).
fungusbrains: Interesting point about having the community turn against a teacher. Perhaps this is a fait accompli?
Pip, smellyfoot, calina, rockstar and gagam: All of you raise the very real concern about her mental state and attitude toward children. But she’s been teaching for 20 years without incident. Hmmm…
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yes, there is no excuse for it.
That is up to the principal, who is the immediate supervisor. If the principal has spine, the principal will stand on principles (no pun intended) and do what he or she thinks is right.
If a teacher is not wanted, they will probably quit, because speaking as a teacher myself, if the community turns against you, teaching is HE…LL!
If I were a parent and found out that someone who was teaching my kid was being cruel to animals, I’d have to wonder about their mental state. So yes, it is fair.
duh…..how can she do tht!!!
Is that really a good role model for children? Since her job involves teaching children, yes she should be fired.
The teacher should be suspended until after the trial (or investigation). If some reasonable explanation surfaces, then she should be able to return. People who abuse animals will more than likely abuse children too. That’s one of the early signs of violent behavior in young people(abusing animals).
YES THAT ABUSEFUL B*TCH SHOULD BE CANNED!!!!!! the way one treats animals is the way one treats people whom one feels above
Anyone showing such disregard to the well being of helpless animals, would make me question their fitness to supervise and look out for the well being of my children. I think she should at least be put on some kind of leave and encouraged to undergo a thorough physical and mental evaluation.
There is a possibilty that she may have a physical or mental condition that is impairing her judgement.
What she did was rotten, and she should be arrested for it. However, it that is not how she treats her students, she shouldn’t be fired. It is a whole different type of crime from one that should get her fired. However, if jailtime interrupts her career, then I guess she’s as good as fired.
However, if she feels that way about animals, how does she feel about children? I think they should investigate her more to find out what she is like.
This woman is ill. Sounds like she started out with good intentions and became overwhelmed. She needs mental help. The dogs must be taken care of first and foremost. Fire the teacher? Has she done a good job? Are there any other complaints about her? How is she with the children she teaches? How has this affected her performance?
This is tough. As an employer in America, do we have the right to terminate an employee for off duty activity? Yes. Most states are “at will” employment and employers/employees may terminate employment without just cause. Is it fair? Tricky. I think this lady needs more help mentally than just a few visits to a shrink. She needs to be offered retirement, or part ways with her school board amicably. Teachers are held to a high standard and this lady cannot provide children with compassion if she has mistreated animals for any reason.
> …and now some parents and students want her fired. Fair?
No, it’s not fair. Why should mob rule decide the fate of this teacher anyway? I mean are you saying that the parents and students are completely squeaky clean themselves? Well, perhaps not so much the students, but what about the parents who enjoy illegal pornography, the adulterers, the ones with criminal records, heck the criminals, and so on? Are they fit members of your little community? Why shouldn’t they be judged the same way as the teacher? Yes, she broke the law by doing the wrong thing, but it’s not up to a certain few to decide what’s best for her punishment. I mean if the principal or directors of the school think she should go, well, then there’s really little argument. But the mob rule mentality often makes me reflect on the massive hypocrisy of the complainers themselves. And just imagine how alone and awful the teacher must feel. Have any of you actually tried to speak with her though? Yes, have you put down those pitchforks and burning logs and had a quiet chat? Might be a good place to start.
To have her fired yes it’s fair. Animal cruelty is a crime just like any other crime. If she had commited another crime she would have been fired immediately.