Art Teacher Loses Job After Kids See Nude Sculpture

The Indy Channel ^ | September 26, 2006 | AP

[CindyDawg]

Just because something is "art" doesn't make it appropriate and esp for all ages. However, a parent should make that decision. If they choose to delegate the responsibility.........

[Slings and Arrows]

Probably about the same time the Greek Goddess statues in the Great Hall at the Dept of Justice were deemed too unsavory for a certain A.G.

Highly questionable veracity.

[Elyse]

This article has a few more details

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/frisco/stories/DN-nakedcomplaint_24cco.ART0.North.Edition1.3e87f61.html

There were other issues that led to her firing, not just the field trip.

"District officials say they are supporting a principal who reprimanded Sydney McGee over the field trip and other performance issues."


Not just parents, but other teachers also complained about the trip and it wasn't just nude sculptures.

"In a memo to Ms. McGee, Ms. Lawson wrote that students were exposed to nude statues and other nude art representations during the trip. Ms. Lawson said she received complaints from parents and other teachers about the trip."

[TWfromTEXAS]

If you had not cut off the last sentence of the paragraph you would see that they moved there because of the teachers plural. The art teacher is just one of those. BTW my mom is a Texas teacher and I know lots of people who move to this district because we have good schools, but they pick where they will live in the district by which school their children will attend. Redistricting always means a fight.

[jimbo123]

[flyingtabby]

I understand in a sense. I don't consider works such as John Mapplethorpe's crap as art - and I DO consider it highly inappropriate. It's porn, pure and simple. However, "David"? "The Thinker"? NO WAY should kids NOT see those marvelous works!

[durasell]

This was also missing --

Ms. McGee, who has taught in various Texas districts for 28 years, said she visited the museum and spoke with museum staffers before the trip to ensure that it was appropriate for the fifth-grade class. Ms. McGee said she does not know which piece of art offended the parent, and the district did not identify it.

[flyingtabby]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

[Leg Olam]

HA! Thats good!

[beezdotcom]

Looks like there were a couple of Mayan art exhibits during that time...now, I seem to remember that some of the statues had overemphasized phalluses. It's a bit of a stretch, but maybe one of those (or the resultant explanation) was the culprit.

Anyhow, based on casual observation, it doesn't appear that there was anything overly sensual on display. There must be more to the story.

[Blackirish]

I hope she sues the school out of business.

[arizonarachel]

Oh goodness.

So you're telling me that as a child you never went to an art museum for a field trip? I remember several myself. As a parent, I would keep this in mind while signing ANY and ALL permission slips.

Anyone who claims not to know there is nudity throughout art museums is acting like in idiot, IMO.

[durasell]

Mapplethorpe's early stuff is very traditional and contains no nudity. Spielberg ripped off one of his images for the end of Saving Private Ryan.

[arizonarachel]

like in idiot

Ugh...pot calling the kettle black, I guess. Should read:

like an idiot.

[highball]

it wasn't just nude sculptures.

Ah, you're right. It was also nude paintings. String her up!

It's still a pathetic response from these parents.

[MineralMan]

Oh, for pete's sake. It's an art museum in a major city. Of course there are representations of nudes. There are such statues and paintings in every art museum.

Nudes have been depicted during the entire history of art on this planet.

Someone should just tell these parents to buzz off. Darn the perpetually offended!

[MineralMan]

"Wow, good thing she didn't take them to the Sistine Chapel"

Really! They'd have seen Adam's weenie. The horror!

[flyingtabby]

Well, there was an ENORMOUS stink here over some of the stuff - pics of people urinating, etc. I hardly consider that "traditional".........

[Doomonyou]

Smut!

[TWfromTEXAS]

Teachers pensions in Texas come from the Teacher Retirement Fund, paid like we pay SS. It is a state administered program and kicks in at 20 years. Total retirement comes when age and years taught reach a number around 62 or 65.

But don't let facts interfere with a sarcastic post.