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Art Teacher Loses Job After Kids See Nude Sculpture
The Indy Channel ^ | September 26, 2006 | AP

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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: libertarians; mad; nea; tardsonparade
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To: flyingtabby
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.........
101 posted on 09/26/2006 10:02:00 AM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: BritExPatInFla
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.

102 posted on 09/26/2006 10:02:24 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Burglar drops dresser, shot in chest, fills drawers." --Titan Magroyne)
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To: All

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."





103 posted on 09/26/2006 10:02:49 AM PDT by Elyse
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To: Abathar
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.
104 posted on 09/26/2006 10:03:35 AM PDT by TWfromTEXAS (We are at war - Man up or Shut up.)
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To: BurbankKarl

105 posted on 09/26/2006 10:04:30 AM PDT by jimbo123
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To: CindyDawg

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!


106 posted on 09/26/2006 10:05:21 AM PDT by flyingtabby
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To: Elyse

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.


107 posted on 09/26/2006 10:05:26 AM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: jimbo123

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


108 posted on 09/26/2006 10:05:49 AM PDT by flyingtabby
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To: Warren_Piece

HA! Thats good!


109 posted on 09/26/2006 10:06:05 AM PDT by Leg Olam ("There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell them." Louis Armstrong)
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To: nina0113
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.
110 posted on 09/26/2006 10:06:20 AM PDT by beezdotcom
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To: Elyse
I hope she sues the school out of business.
111 posted on 09/26/2006 10:06:41 AM PDT by Blackirish
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To: Lekker 1
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.

112 posted on 09/26/2006 10:07:04 AM PDT by arizonarachel (Praying for a miracle!)
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To: flyingtabby

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.


113 posted on 09/26/2006 10:07:29 AM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: arizonarachel
like in idiot

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

like an idiot.

114 posted on 09/26/2006 10:08:04 AM PDT by arizonarachel (Praying for a miracle!)
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To: Elyse
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.

115 posted on 09/26/2006 10:08:16 AM PDT by highball (Proud to announce the birth of little Highball, Junior - Feb. 7, 2006!)
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To: Abathar

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!


116 posted on 09/26/2006 10:08:22 AM PDT by MineralMan (Non-evangelical Atheist)
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To: mockingbyrd

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

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


117 posted on 09/26/2006 10:09:12 AM PDT by MineralMan (Non-evangelical Atheist)
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To: durasell

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


118 posted on 09/26/2006 10:09:17 AM PDT by flyingtabby
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To: Abathar

Smut!

119 posted on 09/26/2006 10:09:21 AM PDT by Doomonyou (Moderate Bumper Sticker: Bush Lied, Terrorists Died!)
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To: 100-Fold_Return
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.

120 posted on 09/26/2006 10:09:54 AM PDT by TWfromTEXAS (We are at war - Man up or Shut up.)
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