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.
Several of copies of Rodin's thinker exists. One is at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Back in 1970, some a$$ tried to blow it up. He succeeded only partially. They decided to leave it "as is" as a monument to stupidity rather than restore it. Compare the 2 pics.
good the the children didn't see any hideous pornographic works like David or the Cistene Chapel that glorify the beauty of God's creation.
...or all we just "assuming" that this MSM article is "fair and balanced", with no desire to paint the citizens of Texas in the worst possible light.
I have this gut feeling there's more to it than this.
Well when I looked at the website the sculptures there look like ancient art to me. In a Modern Art museum the sculptures would be more graphic I would say.
I do think that's the one they're referring to. I see nothing objectionable - it's a piece of ancient art!!!
Hey! Dummies! It was a MUSEUM not a porn shop! Lighten Up!
What was this "nude" anyway? The Venus de Milo? Get a life.
There could be more to this story in a couple of different directions -- (1) very explicit statue - (2) other problems with this teacher.
It's VERY unusual for a school board to take action this quickly on a long-time employee. It usually would get them in serious hot water with the union.
Uuuuungh!
"Art" doesn't have to be pornographic to be disgusting.
After thinking about it and reading some other posts, there's probably more to the story....but assuming there's not, i think this is a case of over-reacting. However, though I think this situation is dumb I believe parents are the ones who decide what is appropriate for their own children to see or not.
Not even close.
Is all their artwork posted on their site? I just saw a photo of the nude sculpture from the "Sensation" exhibit a few years ago - women with penises for noses and anuses for mouths. I'd be very upset about a kid being told that was Art (more so than I would be about him seeing it). I just think there's got to be more to this than standard nude sculptures.
I'm also in the "this doesn't make sense" camp and I think some facts must be missing. Maybe the teacher made inappropriate comments about some of the nude statues? There just has to be more to this.
Even if inappropriate for the age, the school approved, and the parents consented. If no one bothered to check things out, how can they blame the teacher , who at that point could only redirect her pack of gigglers ? Besides, 89 kids? No way was she on this field trip, alone.
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