School Bus Driver Fired for Stem Cell Talk

Associated Press ^ | 12/2/04

[reportgirl73]

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (AP) - 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.

[Pastnowfuturealpha]

Well - honestly - didn't anyone tell her that politicians and O'Reilly and the old major media were the only people allowed to discuss topics -

Isn't that what we got from the election - ? McCain wanted to control outside voices - and the major media and O'Reilly agreed -

Citizens are being told they don't have a say anymore - on this issue and the immigration and the security issue - only the powerful people have a right to speak - if you believe the PC crowd and media - and some of the corrupt leaders in the Senate and House -

[Steve_Seattle]

"I am not really certain that talking about stem cell research to captive elementary age students on a bus qualifies as Free Speech. Termination sounds a little extreme unless there were additional driver problems."

Possibly she heard the kids talking about it and threw in her two-cents worth. Termination definitely sounds extreme for this "infraction."

[stockpirate]

More BS from the NAZI's of Free Speech. Good luck and God be with you. Remember God only put on you what you are able to handle.

[verifythentrust]

I wish you well, but I can't think of a good reason to discuss this with elementary school-aged kids.

[DGray]

Just curious - if you had a child riding a school bus and the driver was "sharing" liberal/left wing stuff (for instance, pro-abortion or F911 conspiracy-theory material), what would you think?

[Steve_Seattle]

We are supposed to believe that none of the teachers at that school ever interject their politics into the classroom?

[Bahbah]

"I think the firing of my wife has more to do with refusing to join the union...."

I think you just may be on to something there.

[crazyhorse691]

Thanks for the additional info. It certainly explains a lot to me. The article made her out to be some kind of placard waving zealot.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Contact the Rutherford Institute, American Center for Law and Justice and Pacific Justice Institute. These groups are the conservative version of the ACLU and one might be able to really help. Godspeed. And may freedom of expression in the workplace prevail! You wife was providing 'balance' to the Planned Parenthood propaganda in the textbooks, no doubt....

[Triggerhippie]

Sue the hell out of them. Free speech should be free for everyone.

[School Bus Driver]

Sounds familiar.

Parents are a real pain in the @ss.

I hope the driver stands up for herself.

[syriacus]

It sounds like the distirict didn't even warn Mrs. Mayor first.

Were they afraid to give her a chance to defend herself, because they didn't want to get into a "difficult" debate that they might lose?

[Dog Gone]

A district official said he couldn't comment on Thompson's employment history with the district but said district policy doesn't allow discussion of political issues with students while employees are on duty.

What kind of standard is that? Everything is arguably a political issue except what day it is.

Saying that you dislike the beggars at the intersections is arguably a political issue. Mentioning that you attend a Christian church is arguably a political issue.

I can see a prohibition against campaigning for a party or candidate, but such a broad prohibition against talking about something which could possibly be construed as a "political issue" is insane.

[AndyTheBear]

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.

If the assertion is correct, I don't see why this statement of dry fact is controversial among reasonable people.

Although I dare say we all know why its controversial to the Left.

[syriacus]

Citizens are being told they don't have a say anymore

I just came to the same conclusion as you.

We are supposed to hand over the "nuanced" effort of political debate to the politicians

[rocksblues]

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.

I read and reread this statement and still cannot connect political and religious with embryonic stem cells.

I for one consider embryonic stem cell research murder. Not a religious or political statement.

[neverdem]

I hope you sue and take them to the the cleaners. Then get the heck out of Dodge. NY is a lost cause. What happened to free speech?

[taxcontrol]

I would recommend you get this into the blogosphere - get some air time for this story. If nothing else comes of it, it will hold up to the public the TRUTH that embryonic stem cell research has produced ZERO results.

[The Mayor]

see that'sthe problem with all of it, tell the truth and get fired, tell the lying liberal line and get rewarded..

It's a sad sad state of affairs..

[California Patriot]

The liberals are using their control of cities, counties, and school districts to create a clear distinction between first-class and second-class citizens. Central to this attempt is the use of their power over public employment and public contracting. Anyone who clearly doesn't think their way is in jeopardy, losing work and/or income.

We must fight fire with fire. We're up against a vicious enemy, and the sooner we recognize this the better. It would be nice to hear President Bush speak out on some of these cases. Not "presidential," I know, but we're well past the point of making such fine distinctions. Aren't we?