Posted on 09/26/2006 9:33:20 AM PDT by Abathar
Children Were On School-Approved Field Trip
FRISCO, Texas -- A award-winning Texas art teacher who was reprimanded after one of her fifth-grade students saw a nude sculpture during a trip to a museum has lost her job.
The school board in Frisco has voted not to renew Sydney McGee's contract after 28 years. She has been on administrative leave.
The teacher took her students on an approved field trip to a Dallas museum, and now some parents are upset.
The Fisher Elementary school art teacher came under fire last April when she took 89 fifth graders on a field trip to the Dallas Museum of Art. Parents raised concerns over the field trip after their children reported seeing a nude sculpture at the art museum.
The parents had signed permission slips allowing their children to take part in the field trip.
McGee's lawyer said the principal at Fisher Elementary School admonished her after a parent complained that a student had seen nude art.
McGee said the principal had urged her to take the students to the museum.
Now, McGee, who was honored with a Star Teacher Award two years ago, is on paid administrative leave until her contract with the school district expires in March.
Other parents are worried about the future of the art program at the school, which they cite as a reason for moving into the neighborhood.
"Our main concern right now is what's going to happen to the children and what's going to happen to the art program at Fisher Elementary. It is the best art program. That's the reason we moved to this neighborhood. It's because of the teachers," said Shannon Allen, parent. "It was a principal approved trip. What's the big deal?"
Officials with the Frisco school district declined to comment on the matter.
My parents were proud of my art projects at school, the clay ashtrays and self portraits, but they would never move us to another district over it! How about the basics, like math and language skills, spelling and proper handwriting. I can see moving over that, but not the art teacher.
Give me a break.
stupid is as stupid does............comes to mind
Thats absurd..
Oh brother, this is for crap.
There is most likely more to this story. As reported, it fits the trope of "evil Bowdlerizing Southern Christians" much too neatly.
This is insane! It wasn't porno - it was art!
Sounds like that teacher has a great potential lawsuit. Hope that she acts on it and gets a large payout.
Pathetic.
More elevation of "the right not to be offended."
What boobs.
I was thinking the same thing.
If a parent wants to sue the Art Museum for displaying obscene sculpture, they can try it (won't win). But why the school thinks something actionable took place is beyond me.
Just damn...
The teacher, if fired (she is currently on paid leave) should sue to get reinstated.
The parents are dead wrong on this one.
re: What boobs
I thought it was a statue of a nude male.
Isn't it? I guess I'm lucky I didn't get sued when my little boy would rip off his diaper and do his "naked wiggle butt dance" in the front yard for the neighbors to enjoy....
Is the naked human body not considered art? It's not like it was pornography they were exposed to.
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