Posted on 06/09/2010 10:00:05 AM PDT by inflorida
Fourth-grade teacher Jarretta Hamilton was newly married and expecting a baby when she went to speak with her supervisors in April of last year.
But the administrators at Southland Christian School in St. Cloud parried her query about maternity leave with a query of their own: When did she conceive?
After Hamilton admitted that her child had been conceived about three weeks before her February 20, 2009, wedding, the school fired her.
Now she's suing in federal court.
"She wants compensation for the loss of the job, and she's seeking compensatory damages for emotional distress," said Edward Gay, Hamilton's attorney who filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Orlando.
In the complaint, which asks for a trial by jury, Hamilton alleges her termination was based on the fact of her pregnancy — and that the school offended her by disclosing the information about when she conceived to other school staffers and the parents of students Hamilton taught during the 2008-2009 school year.
Hamilton did not authorize the school to reveal that information, according to the complaint.
She also tried to keep the matter from getting to this point, Gay said. She filed discrimination charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations, but has since exhausted her options.
A July 20, 2009, letter signed by school administrator Julie Ennis explains why the school's administrators thought they had to fire Hamilton:
"Jarretta was asked not to return because of a moral issue that was disregarded, namely fornication, sex outside of marriage," the letter reads. "The employment application, which she filled out, clearly states that as a leader before our students we require all teachers to maintain and communicate the values and purpose of our school."
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
The letter declares that sex outside of marriage is immoral and that other pregnant teachers have been able to remain employed with the school because they conceived within marriage.
"We request that Jarretta withdraw her complaint and consider the testimony of the Lord," closed the letter.
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She should have just said it was the honeymoon night. Close enough.
It’s right wing extremism to the core. This is the kind of BS that turns people off from the party.
ahhh my old hometown of st cloud fla...was a nice quaint little cow town but has been taken over by the hispanic community like kissimmee and orlando areas....
all the big ranching families moved out to other states years ago....
Excuse me Mary, when did you conceive that child?
The biblical injunction against fornication, ya think? Seriously, dude, this isn't rocket surgery...
Really wish these institutions acted so swiftly when their teachers are caught screwing around with their students.
Haven't heard of that sort of thing being slowballed in one of these Christian schools. I think you're thinking of the public schools.
It is no ones business period. I am tired of man acting like god and being the decider and judge. Rediculous. No ones business what goes on in the bedroom unless it is illegal, with a minor, or someone’s life was in danger.
The statement in bold, I will point out is an absolute and unavoidable requirement to achieve what you posted. Private medical information indeed.
How judgemental of them...
So, it's right that they told the parents of her students that she did this?
Who benefits from that?
Hey Jaretta, file this one under “to bad, so sad”.
Dude, I know - actually having principles and sticking by them, drives people away, we'll never get anywhere with that.
Moron.
sounds christian-talibanish to me.
And Christianity.
So she signed the contract AFTER she was pregnant. HMMM
One of my cousins was born 6.5 months after aunt & uncle were married. Aunt always maintained he was “premature.” I prefer to think he had a front row seat at his parents’ wedding. 8~D
and I’m sure you have never had premarital sex yourself. *rolls my eyes* get a life.
So what exactly is the moral lesson here, abort before anyone finds out?
Three weeks ain't countable.
She could easily have said she was pure as the driven snow when she got married, and no mathematics could have proved otherwise.
All I'm saying is that there are laws against revealing medical information, and this would count.
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