Posted on 01/09/2007 9:38:22 PM PST by TFFKAMM
A high school art teacher who sparked controversy when his off-hours work as a so-called "butt-printing artist" became known has been fired.
The Chesterfield County School Board, in a unanimous voice vote, decided to terminate Stephen Murmer at a meeting Tuesday night, spokeswoman Debra Marlow said. The vote came during a nearly three-hour meeting during which the board heard Chesterfield superintendent Marcus J. Newsome's recommendation that Murmer be fired during a portion of the meeting closed to the public. Murmer and his lawyer, Jason Anthony, also had an opportunity to present their case in closed session, she said. The voice vote came after the meeting was opened to the public.
In its decision, the board reasoned that students have a right to receive their education in a positive learning environment free from distractions and disruptions, Marlow said. The decision also is in keeping with court rulings that hold that teachers are expected to lead by example, be role models and honor core values, she said. The school system operates under an ideal that holds respect, responsibility, honesty and accountability as core values for all students and employees to abide, and the board clearly felt that Murmer had gone outside those parameters with his art.
Afterward, Anthony called the vote "a bad day for the First Amendment."
"Chesterfield lost a tremendous asset today," he said. Murmer, a teacher at Monacan High School, was suspended in December after objections were raised about his private abstract artwork, much of which includes smearing his posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas.
His paintings sell for as much as $900 each on his Web site...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
His paintings sell for as much as $900 each on his Web site...
Was I surprised when I looked and saw this was in or near San FreakSideShow? No I was not.
Somebody needs to find a different hobby.
Why not scrapbooking or knitting?
objections were raised about his not so private privates abstract artwork, much of which includes smearing his posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas.
Seems I remember some booby years ago who used to do something similar by dipping her boobs in paint, then flopping them around against the canvas.
OMG that was hysterical,read his special story about how he got started.
He's been fired, by crackie!
Oh Bull. I bet that is a balled face lie.
Erm...
Not gonna say it.
You are right. I apologize to the 3 normal people who do actually live in SFO :-)
"Chesterfield lost a tremendous ASSet today,"
Too easy, no further comment.
Ping!
Well, he's half-right.
still can't beat Florida for weird news items though ...
http://www.flixya.com/ass-art-stephen-murmer Here is the video clip that got him suspended:
Are you sure this guy didn't get the shaft???
His paintings sell for as much as $900 each on his Web site...
So, I guess he doesn't need the job, right?
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