Scandalous!
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.
I thought it was a statue of a nude male.
What nuts!
I hope there is more to it than just a nude sculpture. I could understand it if there was some type of erotic sexual display. However, a "vanilla" nude sculpture is nothing to get upset about.
I did not know that guy was German!!
ROFLMAO! Too funny. Kids are all alike!
FWIW, I can't find anything I'd have a cow about a kid seeing...
I suspect this was a more explicit piece of art.
Not ancient Venus, or David, or any of the Greek gods stuff.
He is now. I saw one that was in Japanese once. Haven't been able to find it again.
The parents gave their permission when the slips were signed, and now they're upset? How about reading and paying attention to where your child is going during the day? Especially if you don't want them to see nudity!!!
Life imitates "The Simpsons."
I understand traditionalism, strong values and and beliefs concerning what we should allow kids to see, but this is way overboard. And I say that as a conservative. People like that give the party a bad name.
aristotleman
How much you want to bet that half the kids (at a minimum) went home and played a violence filled video game or watched a TV show with profanity and/or violence?
What does this say about a society where profanity and violence are acceptable and encouraged, whereas the beauty of the human body is not?
Odd...the Taliban ran Afghanistan like this.
"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...."
Thank you for the best laugh of the day so far!! How wonderful the self expressions of small children!
I don't think so. Look at the Museum website. This museum is like any other art museum. Its showing real works of ancient art not photos of nude people. BIG DIFFERENCE!
I'd like to slap some sense into that parent, but maybe slapping the school district with a lawsuit will have to suffice.
What I can't believe is the school board not sticking up for her. I rarely say this, but she should sue and demand her job back, plus all court fees and back wages. Utter idiots....
I agree with a poster above who said there has got to be more to this than is in the report.
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