Teachers Rights and Responsibilities

Teachers Rights and Responsibilities

Fatima Palacios
Edu 210- Summer
College of Southern Nevada

Teachers Rights and Responsibilities

Anne Griffin, a white tenured teacher, stated that she hates all black folks
during a conversation with the High School principal, Freddie Watts, and with the
assistant principal Jimmy Brothers. Both principal and assistant are AfricanAmerican administrators who were assigned to administer this mainly black high
school. When Mrs. Griffins colleagues heard of her statement, it caused negative
reactions. This comment made the principal question her ability to teach students
fairly as well as her teaching etiquette, which led to her dismissal.
I believe her dismissal will be held. By making such statement, Mrs. Griffin
shows incompetence, discrimination and immorality. In School Law for Teachers by:
Julie Underwood and L. Dean Webb pg 67, One of the actions stated in immorality is
use of obscene, profane, or abusive language. This is a just cause for dismissal.
Mrs. Griffins message was abusive and racist. Also, her statement caused
negative reactions, which means it disrupted the school work environment.
In the case Loeffelman v. Board of Education of the Crystal City School
District, the court held a termination of contract because a teacher made a racial
and discriminatory comment in her classroom in which many students were
offended. The court held the termination of contract because the teacher violated
school policy in making such racial comments that were more her personal opinion
then an educational discussion. For this reason, I believe Anne Griffin will and
should be dismissed.
On the other hand, we are all protected under the First Amendment,
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. Mrs. Anne Griffin
does have the right to express her thoughts and opinions. And although her

comment was not the friendliest, she didnt direct it to any specific individual.
Also because she is a tenure teacher, she has property right to continue in her
employment.
In the case of Pickering v. Board of Education, the court overturned the
dismissal of a teacher because of critical public comments that were made
regarding a school tax matter. The court backed the teacher up because of his right
to freedom of speech. This leads me to believe that Mrs. Griffin might have not
committed any serious offense by stating her personal feeling.
However, my conclusion is that Mrs.Griffin will be dismissed. Even though we
all have a right to freedom of speech, her statement was racist, hateful, and
disrespectful. It offended many colleagues and by doing so, this created a disruption
in the school environment. Also, in the schools rules and regulations, discrimination
plays a big role. Mrs.Griffin not only violated these rules but can no set a positive
example to her students. In Loeffelman v. Board of Education of the Crystal City
School District, the court ruled to end the contract of a teacher for also making
racial statements, for this matter, I not only agree with the dismissal but have an
actual case to back it up.

References:
Underwood, J. Webb D.L, (2003), School Law For Teachers, pg s 48,49, 58,59,67,68
and 69.
www.caselaw.findlaw.com/mo-court-of-appeals/1109760.html