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.

[syriacus]

Why not just reserve the discussion for older students, or better yet, for adults who actually can actually vote and influence politicians?

Why teach a kid to write in first grade, if he isn't going to be a published author in the next few years?

[general_re]

Something makes me doubt the kids on the bus were "fooling themselves" about the nature of stem cells.

[Voice in your head]

This is by no means intended to be coy or cold-hearted - I am just curious. On what basis would you be taking legal action? From what I have read, the school doesn't want your wife driving a bus anymore, so they fired her. And?

[ez]

In 13 years of riding, I cannot recall a single conversation with any bus driver. In fact, I believe that during the vast the majority of the trips, he or she never spoke a word.

Somehow that seems the appropriate standard to me. I would have a cow if a bus driver was influencing my child with socialist talking points.

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

Exactly!!! I dont want the bus driver telling my children about gays either.

[Amelia]

So, you wouldn't mind the bus driver proselytizing your young children?

Or would it depend on the subject matter?

[TOUGH STOUGH]

"Look at all the people on FR who can no longer utter a peep the next time a liberal says something stupid at school."

Actually, your wrong. Not only can they utter a peep, but they can demand the liberal be fired, just like the conservative was. In fact, the more conservatives speak up and are punished, the more they can point the finger at liberals who do the same and demand equal justice. Incidents such as this are going to force people to examine this issue (that liberals routinely engage in this kind of behavior, and are NEVER penalized for it.)

[Houmatt]

A bus driver fired for getting out the truth. How sad....

[Dianna]

Not only can they utter a peep, but they can demand the liberal be fired, just like the conservative was.

So being a hypocrit doesn't bother you at all then? All of you have been applauding her, not supporting the firing.

Thanks, but no thanks. I don't care to stand side by side with hypocrits. It undermines my position.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

If the issue is forced, eventually everyone, including the liberals are going to have to SHUT UP about politics and their agenda and that's a good thing.

As you said yourself in previous posts, liberals spout nonsense and garbage. We don't. We are RIGHT. That's the difference.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

"All of you have been applauding her, not supporting the firing."

You think she should have been FIRED and not simply reprimanded for this?

If another busdriver had a discussion promoting the opposite opinion regarding fetal stem cell research, in similar circumstances, I wouldn't believe he/she should be fired, but simply reprimanded.

I grow weary of conservatives who come down harder on their own than on the enemy, all for the purpose of appearing fair and non-hypocritical.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

"Oh, well, that makes it okay then. How about when the bus driver says "Say, little Johnny - did you know that some men like to put their pee-pees in another man's bottom?"

But that wasn't the topic she chose to dicuss now was it. And for obvious reaons. Give Mrs. Mayor a little credit.

The more accurate analogy would be the busdriver who chose to discuss the opposite opinion from Mrs. Mayor regarding stem cell research.

[general_re]

But that wasn't the topic she chose to dicuss now was it.

And what will you say when some other bus driver on some other bus chooses that topic?

[Tax Government]

I hope you consult a good lawyer with a passion for your cause, and sue their a$$es off.

[Tax Government]

I hope you find a good lawyer and sue their a$$es off.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Right or left if some other busdriver or more importantly a teacher chooses to introduce the topic of homosexuality with second through fifth graders (which the left does routinely), I will complain.

How about you?

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Oh, and I can guarantee that if Mrs. Mayor had been discussing the liberal position on stem cell research, she wouldn't have been fired.

[general_re]

As will I. As should we all. It'll be hard to persuade anyone we're really very outraged if we're obvious hypocrites about it, though. Allowing people we happen to agree with to usurp and subvert parental authority makes it kind of hard to not look like a bunch of fools when we complain about other people doing the same exact thing, only in a way we don't happen to agree with.

[Voice in your head]

"I hope you consult a good lawyer with a passion for your cause, and sue their a$$es off."

What cause?

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Actually, I wouldn't have complained about Mrs. Mayor. Other than I think it's too complicated an issue for children of that age and probably a bit too deep, I don't think her discussing it with them caused them any damage. Furthermore, the ruckus about this coming from both sides is ridiculous. The entire incident has been drastically overblown.

And also, rest assured, I know the liberals are going to complain. So I'll save my energy for a more important battle another day.