Art Teacher Loses Job After Kids See Nude Sculpture

[Rose Siding]

FRISCO, Texas -- An 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 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.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/education/9936513/detail.html?taf=den

There's a poll on the page. While its findings are reassuring, the woman's livlihood is still gone.-

Would you be upset if your child saw a nude sculpture at a museum of art while on a field trip?
Choice Votes Percentage of 38711 Votes
Yes 949 2%
No 37762 98%

[havocmom]

1. Parents going after gym teachers when kids hit jr high school?

Gym teachers make ya take SHOWERS where there are NAKED PEOPLE!

[niyad]

2. some parents are unbelievably stupid, and so is the school board

here. honestly, people, get a clue, get a life, get a freaking GRIP already!!

[Fierce]

3. That poor teacher.

What an insult. I'd like to know what parent raised the stink.

[Poiuyt]

4. Maybe if Michaelangelo's David was wearing boxer shorts it would

have been acceptable

(PS - Yes, I know David isn't in Dallas)

[sui generis]

23. they're referring to a marble sculpture in the lobby space

it's not even officially 'nude' since she's recumbant on a couch wearing what would be a sheer top that you can "see" her nipples through.

There's a piece called "Semiramis" by William Wetmore Story

, not to mention all the Kali's and Astartes and other classic greek nudes, both female and kouroi.

What a bunch of uptight busybodies. Personally I am simply overcome with lust and am rabidly humping my coffee table as I type this . . . :eyes:

[Kali]

24. link didn't work for me

[verse18]

5. I feel sorry for those poor children.

This will completely warp their minds regarding the human body and human sexuality, seeing their teacher fired for trying to teach them to appreciate the art of the human form.

[knittinliberal]

6. Oh for crying outloud.

There's a beautiful bronze sculpture of 3 nudes -- just installed in the center of a roundabout the next town over. The OUTRAGE! The FURY! Children might SEE something! Can't believe the firestorm of controversy it's touched off.

Meanwhile, many of these people are the same people who see nothing wrong with 16-year-olds being verbally molested by a congressman, A president who lies us into war, the US torturing people, and thousands of soldiers and innocent civilians dying....

But my GAWD, children might see a (gasp) human body. Now there's something to get outraged about. Something to fire a teacher over. Sarcasm off.

[newyawker99]

22. Hi knittinliberal!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Hangingon]

7. Sounds good but...

Dallas Morning News has some different reasons for her present situation. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/100506dnccofriscoteacher.28d02d0.html

[marshall]

10. Dragging out her dirty laundry

Apparantly her employment records are public domain and Frisco is having McKinney ISD drag out their dirt on her. It has long been the practice of Texas public schools to bounce difficult teachers from one district to another, it's termed taking care of each other's trash or something like that.

[Rose Siding]

12. "she never received a negative review"

"Ms. McGee says she never received a negative review or criticisms in Frisco until after she took the 89 fifth-graders to the museum in April.

Her lawyer displayed copies of some positive reviews on Wednesday."

Looks like a bunch of CYA mush from the district in that article. What long-time teacher hasn't had a kid transfer from her class? And a generic accusation of "spotty lesson plans" is laughable.

[Warren DeMontague]

20. That's funny. I can't find a single specific complaint anywhere in that

article. If you ask me, this is about religious right nutjob parents who can't deal with the human body in art. Feh.

[LynnTheDem]

8. The American Talebornagain at it again.

And America takes another large stride back to the cave days.

[bmbmd]

9. Here's another take on the matter...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/frisco/stories/100506dnccofriscoteacher.28d02d0.html



FRISCO – Was a Frisco art teacher pushed out of a job over a flap about nude art, or is the national media spotlight shining in the wrong place?

The case has spawned national squabbles over religion, politics and art. Not to mention stereotypes about conservative Texas.

At issue is Sydney McGee's contention that the school district plans not to renew her contract at Fisher Elementary School after a parent complained that a student saw a nude sculpture during a field trip to the Dallas Museum of Art.

Frisco ISD officials ­ who have been contacted by 16 media outlets including Inside Edition and The New York Times since the case surfaced ­ say she is using the trip to take attention off other performance issues.

Personnel records released this week show the 28-year veteran teacher was paid to leave McKinney ISD after parents complained about her in 1998, a few years before she came to neighboring Frisco.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

17. Ah

I thought this seemed a bit odd. I've taken kids to museums hundreds of times with nary a peep from parents.

[Journeyman]

11. If the body's dirty, and God made the body. . .

then the fault lies with the manufacturer, not the product. -Lenny Bruce

[sui generis]

13. This is the same school that had to allow that brat

to pass out jesus loves you candy canes at christmas two years ago . . . go figure.

[Ian David]

15. The ACLU defended the kid handing out Jesus candy. n/t

[bainz]

16. I thought that incident was in Plano n/t

[sui generis]

18. I just got a pm to that effect too

the revenge of gated bedroom communities - they think they can build a wall around anything and control it. . . . even marble boobies.

[Ian David]

14. Shocking! Absolutely shocking!

[Swamp Rat]

19. Are we going to let ourselves be held hostage to this minority of x-tian

thugs? How much longer must we endure this bull shit?

[WI_DEM]

21. didn't these idiots think that they might see nude pictures or sculptures

at an art museum!!??