School Bus Driver Fired for Stem Cell Talk

Associated Press ^ | 12/2/04

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Your wife did a good job. The principal, Mr. Ramming, is typical of the school bureaucrats I've encountered.

However, it sounds like her word against his regarding their private discussion over whether she resigned or was fired. In any case, I hope you make the pencil necked twerp eat his words and back down.

[The Mayor]

Jul is ticked off that once again they left out the part that she was never told she couldn't talk to the students about things.

If it is school policy why didn't she know about it.
Why wasn't she warned instead of being fired.
I still contend it is political in nature, her support for President Bush
and her opting out of the union but still paying dues.

I just updated the website with more info and links.
I am also going to write my own article and post it on the site.

Simply my own personal opinion and review of all that has gone on.
This thing has been twisted in all kinds of directions and the Truth must be told.. with or without the media.
No more interviews unless her complete side is out and we hear from the man that actually fired Jul.
His name is Jack Burns, the HIGHLY Paid director of transportation, he has been silent and needs to be the one out in front of this issue, not the EXTREMELY HIGH paid Ramming, the paid liar!

http://www.RusThompson.com

[visualops]

OK, neither one of you paid attention to the post I responded to, or precisely what I said, which was:
If you want to make the argument that a bus driver shouldn't talk to the kids about anything but the weather, then do that, but don't make strawman arguments and misrepresent the facts of the incident.

Additionally, a statement of fact about embryonic stem cell research is not a Christian or right-wing comment or proselytizing, but a fact that supports the argument against embryonic stem cell research that is all. Facts do not have political agendas or values. They may or may not support a particular viewpoint, but if a [liberal] person doesn't like a fact because it exposes a lie, then that's their problem.

My issues with the incident are #1, it wasn't a "fireable" offense, #2 I see time and again uneven enforcement of these types of rules, #3 I do agree that stem cell research is beyond the understanding of most elementary school kids.

[Amelia]

My issues with the incident are #1, it wasn't a "fireable" offense, #2 I see time and again uneven enforcement of these types of rules, #3 I do agree that stem cell research is beyond the understanding of most elementary school kids.

If we agree on 3 out of 3 points, why are we arguing?

Note that if the article posted in #425 is accurate (The Mayor says it isn't) there is some controversy about whether they fired her, or whether they attempted to reprimand her and she then gave them an ultimatum and/or resigned.

I learned a long long time ago that it's not a good idea to make a "my way or the highway" type statement to an employer, because they're likely to show you which way the highway is.

[OwnershipSociety]

You get the idea though don't you?

[general_re]

Facts do not have political agendas or values. They may or may not support a particular viewpoint, but if a [liberal] person doesn't like a fact because it exposes a lie, then that's their problem.

And I think you missed the point I was making - it may be factual and it may be true, but that does not, in and of itself, justify its dissemination in this manner. Consider the truth about where babies come from - do you really want the bus driver deciding how and when your kids learn those facts?

[editor-surveyor]

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

You can't be that dense. By first grade many schools are telling kids that it is ok to have two mommies or two daddies, and how to put a condom on a cucumber. By comparison, what the bus driver said doesn't ripple the surface, while have the advantage of being absolute fact.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

I get the idea that you are a grade-A deluxe nutburger.

[The Mayor]

My High school sons teacher called Bush a murderer, in class.
She claimed just because he let the Turkey go at the whitehouse, he still killed one to eat on Thanksgiving.

This same teacher brings in wacko environmental movies to show to the class, it just happens to be the same group she is involved in helping out society.

Just who has an agenda in the schools?
Ramming and the rest of the ilk fire my wife, deny it and say that political and religous subjects cannot be spoken of during work hours. Please, I will be bringing out more soon, very soon.

I have been refraining from responding to much, there has been almost 5000 hits on this thread.
I have sent out the link to thousands of people.

There has been some incredibly supportive posts here and some really nasty one that just felt like someone punched me in the stomach.

We have no motive here, none!
Why would Jul quit with Christmas coming up and my income is so bad.
She read an article, and "exciting news" Jul was thrilled !
and so excited, after having to listen to the talk about embryos, and abortions, this adult stem cell shows much more promise..

Good Lord we can be saving lives instead of destroying it.
She had to share it, she couldn't wait to tell me when I got home.

[Amelia]

You can't be that dense.

Ad hominem insults do nothing to bolster your argument.

By first grade many schools are telling kids that it is ok to have two mommies or two daddies, and how to put a condom on a cucumber.

Does the school these children attend teach these things to elementary school students? Does the school your children attend teach these things to young children?

I've heard of schools in very liberal areas teaching such things, but they didn't teach these things in the elementary schools my children attended, and they still don't teach them in the elementary schools in my area.

If they did, the school board members would all be voted out of office, because the parents would be outraged. What's taught in schools ultimately tends to reflect community standards, for that reason.

By comparison, what the bus driver said doesn't ripple the surface, while have the advantage of being absolute fact.

It may have been absolute fact, but many facts - including this one - are not appropriate to discuss with small children, especially if one is not a parent of the child.

[The Mayor]

Dear Amelia,

That's just the question I've been asking, but have yet to receive an answer to: What exactly is inappropriate about sharing the facts, about this particular subject, with students?

-The Driver in Question

[visualops]

I'll repeat myself:
If you want to make the argument that a bus driver shouldn't talk to the kids about anything but the weather, then do that, but don't make strawman arguments and misrepresent the facts of the incident.

That comment was directed to whom I was speaking. What part of that don't you get? If you're going to post to me, try and follow the conversation, or we'll all go around in circles.

[visualops]

lol, I'm not arguing. Please go back and read the post I originally responded to. I do not like intellectual dishonesty, and can't stand a false argument. The poster I responded to basically said a bunch of nonsense. Yours and the other response to me did not take what I said in context, hence the lack of understanding.

[Dianna]

In your previous post to me you were applying a princible that said any subject was off limits if it was divisive to any parent willing to complain. Thus, under your system of justice, a bus driver better keep his trap shut about everything.

You are being deliberately obtuse and you know it. There are many subjects one can discuss with children without getting into trouble with their parents. I've managed to do it for years!

The bus driver in question "just happened to" stumble into a position that fully half of the people in the United States disagrees with. It's not quite the same thing as a random, known crackpot disagreeing that grass is green. But you knew that.

[Dianna]

While I am quite the supporter of parental rights, there need to be some reasonable limits.

Gosh, we've got one poster advocating removing children from parents who are not Judeo-Christian. Now, we've got another advocating "reasonable" limits on parental authority.

Here is a manifestly reasonable limit. When 50% of the people in the United States disagree with a certain position, maybe you ought to refrain from discussing it with their children.

[Dianna]

What exactly is inappropriate about sharing the facts, about this particular subject, with students?

The "facts" in question are facts that many people disagree with. The subject matter, in order to have a full understanding, means delving into abortion, which is an inappropriate subject for elementary school children UNLESS their parents decide to discuss it with them.

Let's see....that covers the subject and everything she actually said. I feel pretty comfortable throwing in that her job description likely doesn't include "teaching" anything but simply driving the bus, responding to emergency situations, and dealing with discipline problems.

I sincerely hope that she actually DID perform her job of driving the bus without distracting herself by conducting a loud (in order to be heard in the bus) conversation. I also hope that she didn't delay the children's arrival by being stopped and conducting the conversation. That would mean that she wasn't performing her job properly.

[Fruitbat]

NY-style "tolerance"...

Blue State tolerance!

[general_re]

That comment was directed to whom I was speaking. What part of that don't you get?

Excuse me, but you pinged me on the comment (#463) to which I was responding, therefore you were speaking to me. If you prefer that I not respond to you, probably a good first step would be to not draw me in by posting to me. If you are going to post to me, kindly try to remember it when I respond in turn.

[general_re]

Okay, I backtraced the thread and I think I see where the confusion is arising. I understand that your original comments were directed at someone else. You also said She was NOT teaching, espousing, or otherwise promoting "moral values" or even an opinion. She made a statement of FACT, which is what I was responding to, by itself, without referring to the post you responded to. It seems to me that those statements are quite self-explanatory, and that the context doesn't serve to change their meaning. Therefore, I took those statements at face value, standing on their own, and responded appropriately, or close enough for government work anyway....

[The Mayor]

I apologize for just posting once, not having read much past about post 250. I intend to, but the kids and I went to get a Christmas tree and played some games, for a break.

The television news stations just couldn't get it right -- I rated them a C to D+. They passed over the dynamic and essential, for the dull and political. Amid all the garble, I still can't help wondering, with all the enthusiasm for failed research, where's the celebration of adult stem-cell success? And what kind of judgement does a righteous God have in store for those who continue to shed innocent blood? I know He doesn't hate much, but He sure considers that an abomination...

I want to thank Eleni, Old Cracker, Tough Stough and everybody else for fighting the good fight so honourably, and carrying the torch so faithfully -- I thank God for your perseverance! I hope to catch up with you soon....

Til then, good night and God bless!
In humble service of His Majesty, the King,
Julianne Thompson