I mean, Marge Simpson even gave up her well intended plight to go see Michelangelo's David, right?

Man, that's fuckin' stupid.

"It was a principal-approved trip. What's the big deal?

It was a fucking statue! What's the big deal?

Thank god I don't live in Texas. Oh, wait. At least in Austin teachers get fired for being nekkid on the internets.

Oh, for fuck's sake! What on earth is wrong with you people?

Texas drives out most of their "normal" people, and acts as a preview of what the United States would be like if it managed to do the same. That's why it pisses me of when people start talking about running away to Canada... you have to stay and fight the moronity, dammit.

/rant off

Just have to state the obvious: This could have happened anywhere. It's not a Texas thing.

Don't know why I feel the need to defend my home state -- because there's a lot about it that's indefensible -- but I do.

If people like this continue to breed and thrive and we, 'we' being the normal people of the world, never overcome them, then perhaps there really is no value in art after all. I always thought it was actually an essential part of a full life. But with numbskullz rutting over the landscape with more numbskull spawn, enough to suffocate all of the rest of us, I wonder sometimes if it's worth it. A full life, that is. What's the point, when all we are is a virus designed to spread and multiply, breed in our teens, live to about 30, and die? It takes years to educate a child and raise him or her with an open mind, progressive values, critical thinking skills, and respect. However it takes about 5 seconds for some redneck to spew into his sister and burden the world with another moron. I give up.

I don't know if that redneck comment is directed towards texas, so I won't go off on you.

Anyway, the Frisco ISD is trying to say that there were previous problems with the teacher that lead to her being fired. Probably just spin.

Sorry pup, this is not the Oregon way

I would really (sincerely) like to hear the parents' rationale about this, because I just don't get it. What bad thing happens when an 10-year-old kid sees a nude statue? What bad thing happens when anyone sees a nude statue?

Do some people get "tingly down there"? I don't, but probably some people do... Is this it? An effort to prohibit anything that might conceivably make anyone of any age feel tingly? Or just people under a certain age? Because you know they're going to see stuff, unless you blind them at birth. Then they'll still hear stuff... unless... well you know. Carry this through to it's logical conclusion and you get a kid that can't see, hear, feel, or smell... with a frontal lobotomy, because there's still that pesky imagination.

So, without putting them into a vegetative state, they will come across things that make them tingly... Why is it smart to try to make certain that none of them are actually real art or literature?

Is anybody else getting a mortgage ad feating what look like silhouttes of a nude couple dancing in front of the moon, or just me?

cause that's some delicious irony, there.

ha! No, I'm not seeing that, jon - I'm getting an image of a huge corndog (hint: penis?) with a bite out and a seductive trail of mustard. Or maybe my mind's in the gutter. Because I'm 10. (Show me to the nekkid statues!)

Nekkid statues? Ha, there are places where animals walk around naked all the time, heaven help us.

One person complains and a woman loses her job. Way to go, dumbfuck administrators.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news when it comes to righteous indignation, but the story isn't true. I'm on a museum listserv that got all fired up about this and we got a response from the school district, which I am copying here:

Thank you for your e-mail. I'm sure you understand that you cannot believe everything you read and hear in the media. A school district is at an extreme disadvantage in the area of personnel matters due to issues of employee privacy and ethical considerations.

However, since an employee of the district has chosen to express her concerns publicly in a hearing and in the media since that time, it seems fair that a school district can at least point to facts that were stated in that public hearing. Much has been misrepresented.

First, this is not about a field trip to an art museum. The timing of circumstances has allowed the teacher to wave that banner and it has played well in the media. FISD is a strong supporter of the arts and the Dallas Museum of Arts - our art program is rich and award-winning.

At issue here are performance concerns and the ability to supervise an employee. As early as May 2005 the principal verbally brought to the attention of the teacher that there were some performance concerns. She suggested at that time that a field trip experience might be a way to strengthen the art program. It was not mandated and is truly not the issue.
During the late spring of the next school year, 2005-2006, when the teacher began planning the field trip, the principal suggested that the field trip be delayed until the next school year because she was concerned that the planning process was not sufficient.
Then when the teacher received her evaluation conference, which was in mid May and after the field trip, some issues of concern were discussed and the teacher stated that she didn't think it was fair to evaluate her on expectations that had not been clearly communicated to her in writing. Principals try to work through informal methods first to address performance concerns (verbal instructions, etc.) before documenting expectations. The principal did then document the performance areas that needed to be addressed - at the teacher's request - but the documentation was not brought on by the field trip; the field trip was not a catalyst for anything or the final straw to get her in "hot water." She was never told there would not be a next year for her or that she was not "Frisco material" as has been reported.
After the memo was provided as requested, she did file a grievance and also asked to be transferred if there was an opening in the district. The transfer was denied because the central administration felt that if you allow a teacher to transfer after a supervisor has given them guidelines for improvement then you have weakened a supervisor's ability to address performance issues by essentially giving the teacher an "escape hatch" to avoid meeting the expectations of the supervisor.
What is getting lost here is that this is not about a field trip, censorship, or a parent complaint. It is not about age, tenure or salary level as has also been suggested in the media. This is about a school administrator working to help an employee improve her job performance and to improve the educational experience of students. Even someone who has taught for a long time can still have opportunity for professional development.

As an aside, the Star Award that is being mentioned in the context of the teacher being an award-winning teacher or Star Award Teacher of the Year 2004 is a recognition that took place periodically in the local paper because a local business wanted to sponsor the monthly ad to show support for teachers in the community - someone from each campus was usually represented. There was no set way employees were chosen at each campus for this ad. Some campuses went by tenure for inclusion, others were selected based on something that had occurred that month. Teachers were recognized, as were volunteers, custodians, receptionists, and others.

At this time, the teacher has been placed on administrative leave with pay. The Administration and the Board felt that this was the best action for the teacher, the students and the school. A recommendation for the non-renewal of her contract will be forthcoming from the superintendent.
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mygothlaundry, thanks. Now I am irritated by the media spin that court siem brought to light earlier. There where things about this story that didn't make any sense and this is the very reason. Still, like many fellow Meta's I reacted. And my comment was very generalized about Texas. Bad media is heavily centered on the Lone Star for obvious reasons. It's just sad... but temporary, at least. It's also refreshing to see the other side of the argument for once.

So, the parent complaint about naked statues was only a coincidence? They happened to complain at the same point that she was already being put on administrative leave? Or are they saying there was no parent complaint? Or what?

This is why I try to pay no attention to the news. The times I do, I always find out it was all a lie.