Fla. School Dismisses Teacher for 'Fornication'

[ScratchIt 12]

Fla. is a right to work state

True - meaning they did not have to have cause. Since they volunteered the info and spread their reasoning not only to other staff but the parents of the children, I would venture they are in a world of hurt. Curious to hear more about the angelic Mr.Jon Ennis. Seems all these types have dangling skeletons in thier closets.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

True - meaning they did not have to have cause. Since they volunteered the info and spread their reasoning not only to other staff but the parents of the children, I would venture they are in a world of hurt. Curious to hear more about the angelic Mr.Jon Ennis. Seems all these types have dangling skeletons in thier closets.

Even if they had just fire her without explanation, there was the fact that she had just requested maternity leave, which wouldn't look good... They went from a 50/50 chance of winning to probably 5/95.....and will likely pay out considerably more now.

[Ban Hammer 14,292]

I guess being pregnant is sure evidence of fornication ? Yes? No ?

maybe there was a star in the east....

[BobandXiaomei 14]

maybe there was a star in the east....

It could happen

Seriously, it's a private school. They can do what they want.

[ValerieA 350]

maybe there was a star in the east....

What if it was AI???

[Ban Hammer 14,292]

What if it was AI???

or maybe aj!

[chri'stina 190]

Isn't that the point? She was not fire asking for maternity leave, she was fired because she was pregnant without being married. Are they going to do the same thing when a male teacher gets his girlfriend pregnant? Its the same issue.

I went to Christian school for much of my life before college. This would definitely be a tricky situation. The fact that she told them after she was already married, seems like they should have let it go. Obviously she wasn't visibly pregnant before her marriage while teaching classes or they would have noticed, right?

I do think at a Christian school with rules like this, they would fire a man for getting his girlfriend pregnant - if they found out. That one is much easier to hide though. But if the school is wanting to put forth a certain Christian image, they wouldn't want to be represented by teachers who aren't following their religious views to students. There is forgiveness though which should have been given to the teacher in my opinion, considering she was married now.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It could happen

Seriously, it's a private school. They can do what they want.

They can't discriminate against their teachers with application of policy no matter how private they are.

[Fandango 1,440]

Fla. is a right to work state

It is, but I'd say that firing someone after the request maternity leave falls into grey category...

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Apparently the principal reacted badly to the pregnancy BEFORE asking questions about conception dates etc.

Sounds to me like they wanted to avoid maternity leave or......no proof here, but could the interracial thing factor in?

[Heracles 417]

They can't discriminate against their teachers with application of policy no matter how private they are.

The first Amendment is arguable the most important of them all in the US, hence it being first; however, a private forum like VJ can set its own rules. Can it not? After all I can be banned [fired equivalent] without cause if I breach their TOS. How is that any different to this private religious school saying we want x type of teachers employed. After all, they are no discriminating against her based on sex, age or race. Funny how modeling agencies or bars can pick good looking people and that is not considered discrimination. Furthermore, are able to fire those who let themselves go but do we cry murder when we see religion.

[natty bumppo 297]

It is, but I'd say that firing someone after the request maternity leave falls into grey category...

it appears that nobody (eg ... principal) didn't notice she was pregnant before leave was requested ...

she must have hidden something very well ....

[Marilyn. 340]

When Christian school teacher Jarretta Hamilton informed her employers that she was pregnant, she expected to have a discussion about maternity leave.

Instead, she was asked when her baby was conceived, and, after admitting it was three weeks before her wedding, she was fired.

I was only requesting a standard six weeks maternity leave, and as the conversation progressed, he said, "I’m just trying to do the math here. When did you get married?"

'I said Feb 20,' she continued.

'He said, "Well, did you conceive prior to marriage?" I answered and I told him, "Yes".'

Mrs Hamilton - a widow with five children from her first marriage - said she answered as she was so surprised by the personal question.

'I was absolutely shocked. It came out of nowhere. I was honest about it. I didn’t know it would cost me my job,' she said.

The school, which has strict morality rules, which ban teachers from ‘fornication’ before marriage, said Mrs Hamilton was informed of the values when she was hired as a fourth-grade teacher in January 2008.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1286510/Christian-school-fires-pregnant-teacher-fornication-husband-be.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Edited June 14, 2010 by Marilyn.

[natty bumppo 297]

guess nobody in the administration, teachers, etc. has never broken a commandment ...

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

So from what I've read there was no specific morality clause in her contract, at least according to her. Also isn't asking a woman's conception date at work bordering on sexual harassment?