Posted on 05/11/2005 10:24:29 AM PDT by hoosierboy
Private school. She's probably signed a morality and decency pledge as part of her contract. I have no problem with it.
She should have just lied about the length of her pregnancy, then had a two month "premature" delivery. Without getting her medical records, the school would have had no recourse.
The libertarian side of you should say the employer can fire and hire whoever the hell they want. You as an outsider and the government needs to stay out of it.
My libertarian side says they are free to hire whoever they want.
Private school, she could have "covered it up" or whatever. She'll be welcome with open arms in our great public education system.
Depending on the strength of her state's laws - as well as the applicaton of them to religion-based employers - she may have a legit claim regarding gender bias.
Why is this news? People lose jobs every day. Sniff, sniff - lawsuit? It's private RELIGIOUS school. What did she expect? There are some real idiots out there and apparently not just in the public schools.
Well, I think the libertarian position is the position of the school. They signed a contract and can hire or fire anyone they want and for any reason.
In these schools, we follow the teachings of Jesus as understood by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Which understanding apparently doesn't include the concept of forgiveness, and requires immediate expulsion from fellowship of anyone who commits a sin, even if they repent of it.
I'm not a Christian, but I've read the New Testament, and am familiar with a wide range of interpretations of Christian teachings, and I think these folks are missing some key points. It's not as if this teacher was flouting the beliefs of this church, saying she didn't believe there was anything wrong with what she did. The take-home message from this school's administration is that if you get pregnant outside marriage, better get an abortion quickly and quietly, or we'll fire you (or expel you, or whatever's applicable).
Why - cause men can't get pregnant? Where is the gender bias here?
Gender bias? The same thing would have happened if it was a male impregnating a woman before they were married. I'm sorry, the government has absolutely no business getting involved in the hiring and firing process of religious institutions including private schools.
One thing I did like about this story - she's working in this hostile environment, and now she's looking for ANOTHER JOB. Too many times, people sue to get some crappy job back, working for a boss they hate. Why?
Once I heard a Lesbian complain about the boys and girls getting too chumy at school. Rather not say nothing at all if I can't make a compliment.
Until pretty recent times, it was customary in predominantly Catholic Austria (and perhaps Germany as well) for a couple to cohabitate until a child was born, and then marry. If the woman turned out to be "barren", no marriage would occur, and the man would move on. Practical-minded folk customs trumped official religious teachings.
That said, since the school is private, it is their choice.
Apparently the fact that this is a terrible example to the children means nothing to you. Actions have consequences. She made her choice, the school was well within their rights.
And I didn't see any "repentance". She is off to look for people who will "accept" her.
Corollary -- they can kick out teachers whose behavior is not in line with policy.
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