Posted on 03/28/2005 10:37:34 PM PST by scripter
A federal grand jury punished a public school superintendent for rejecting a vice-principal applicant because she refused to remove her children from a private Christian school.
The jury unanimously said the constitutional rights of Karen Jo Barrow were violated and ordered former Greenville, Texas, Independent School District Superintendent Herman Smith to pay back wages of $15,000 and $20,000 in punitive damages.
"This is truly a victory for every teacher and administrator in America," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel for Texas-based Liberty Legal Institute. "The jury sent a strong message that this type of behavior is not permitted within school districts."
Barrow claimed she was denied the opportunity to interview for the job because Smith insisted she remove her children from Greenville Christian School.
The teacher said she would use the awarded money to fund college scholarships for Greenville ISD and Greenville Christian School graduates who pursue education degrees.
Shackelford argued "American children are not children of the state. They’re the children of the parents."
"One of the most fundamental rights every parent has is the right to decide how to bring up and educate their children and whether they want to put them in a Christian school, public school or whatever school they feel is best for their own children," he said.
Moral Absolutes Ping.
Good news - a victory for objective reality and truth.
I like this statement:
Shackelford argued "American children are not children of the state. They’re the children of the parents."
Let me know if you want (back) on/off this pinglist.
(Thanks, scripter, for posting this!)
That's what you call a sweet victory. We need to see more school superintendent's eating crow.
If we repeat that enough times, maybe the ACLU will finally get it.
They'll only get it when their faces are ground into it. Which I hope happens soon.
If she doesn't want to send her children to public school, why should anyone?
They are not interested in getting "it." They are interested in getting our children. Certainly their minds, anyway.
Our country's engaged in a full scale battle for the hearts and minds of our children. After all, they are our future. The politicians know this, as well as the ACLU.
They will stop at nothing to take our freedom. Let us continue to fight for liberty.
The ACLU "gets it" - - but it doesn't matter. The goal of that pack of athiest scumbags, as an arm of the Democrat Party, is to transform America into a Euro-style, secular socialist country.
"If we repeat that enough times, maybe the ACLU will finally get it."
I hope so, but if you don't mind I won't be holding my breath until then.
She should know, too.
Just wanted to see that again.
A very wise decision.
We can do with every piece of good news we can get this week. Thank you for posting!
A public school administrator who sends her kids to a private school.
Not that it should in any way affect her eligibility for promotion, but still.........
I have also met some teachers who took a cut in pay to teach private, just to keep their entrails in their proper place and not end up spattered on the blackboard.
Interesting though, isn't it?
Keep teaching at the gubmint school because it pays better, although you wouldn't trust it to educate your own children.
If that doesn't sum up everything wrong with today's public schools, I don't know what will.
Shall we condemn somebody for that -- for wanting to bring a little bit of sanity into those hell holes?
I'm not condemning her.
I merely note a tendency for 'public servants' to avoid 'public services' when it comes to the education of their offspring.
She may very well have good reason to do as she does.
I wonder if she supports school vouchers.
its the job, I have been in on bulding many places (construction) that I wouldn't want to raise my kids in
teaching is a "JOB", not a lifestyle
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.