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News & ArtsWednesday, June 9, 2010
News / Sex / Religion Florida Teacher Fired For Fornication
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 12:13 PM
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... 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.
I hope Hamilton prevails and wins a large settlement because, hey, I'm for anything that distracts Southland Christian from its mission of turning their wee charges into rabid right-wing Jesus freaks like their parents. But the school is run by fundamentalist Christian nutters for fundamentalist Christian nutters and presumably Hamilton applied at Southland Christian because she's a fundamentalist Christian nutter herself. (A Jarretta Hamilton in Orlando, Florida, lists "Jesus" and "Gospel Music" as her only interests on her Facebook page.) As Southland Christian requires all applicants to affirm in writing that they will "maintain and communicate the values and purpose of our school," Hamilton knew what she was signing up for. And frankly I think it's refreshing when a fundamentalist Christian nutter winds up on the receiving end of the kind of discrimination, persecution, and sex-negative batshittery that fundamentalist Christians nutters subject others to.
Of course it's possible that Hamilton isn't a right-wing Jesus freak herself and the gig at Southland Christian was just a job. But even then it's hard to feel that bad for Hamilton. If you crawl into bed with assholes you can't complain about getting shit on.
2
"batshittery"
my new favorite word.
and yeah, she must have known what she was getting into with this pile of crazy.
my new favorite word.
and yeah, she must have known what she was getting into with this pile of crazy.
3
Even tho she had to affirm in writing that she'd follow their values, isn't it illegal to ask about conception dates? Equal Employment Opportunity and all that?
5
Heh, I just saw this story on Yahoo and thought, "I wonder what Dan Savage would have to say about this..."
This story sucks and it's stupid, but if it's a private school and there was a "values stipulation" to her employment, then she's got nothing to complain about, fucked up though the situation may be.
This story sucks and it's stupid, but if it's a private school and there was a "values stipulation" to her employment, then she's got nothing to complain about, fucked up though the situation may be.
6
i almost got kicked out christian college because of dancing..this was before 'footloose' the dancing was off campus at the time so they decided to let me off with a warning. and all that time i was scared they were gonna bust me for gving out free leg and backrubs to the soccer team.
7
gosh Dan we are puzzled why you want to distract Southland Christian from teaching fundamentalist Christian nutter material to kids since obviously it won't affect them.
Cause if hours and hours of looking at porn that presents a distorted message about women and sex is not harmful then what harm could come from listening to a boring fundy teacher?
Cause if hours and hours of looking at porn that presents a distorted message about women and sex is not harmful then what harm could come from listening to a boring fundy teacher?
8
Yeah, as effed up as it all is, I do think that a batshit crazy religious school should be afforded the right to have their employees act in accordance with their ideals. Of course, the question becomes where the line is. Religious freedom vs. Equal Employment.
10
@3 do you think religious groups really care about our little mortal or secular 'laws'? They'll do their thing, and when their host nation--us, this time--slaps them for violating local laws they'll whine that they were "set upon" by "evil".
12
Say it with me now, Jarretta Hamilton! "I'm sorry, I am not comfortable discussing that with you." Repeat as necessary.
13
Is that kind of contract stipulation ... legal?
Also, was "no premarital sex" actually spelled out in the employment application, as in "this is legally binding"?
According to a summarized version of the application, the application simply stipulates teachers "maintain and communicate the values and purpose of our school." It's fairly clear that it probably includes fucking your fiance, but there could be a legal case there if it's that vague.
That said, I do tend to feel extra sympathy for teachers. Some of my friends are newly graduated teachers and they're *desperate* for jobs. If they took a job in a Catholic school, I'd understand.
Also, was "no premarital sex" actually spelled out in the employment application, as in "this is legally binding"?
According to a summarized version of the application, the application simply stipulates teachers "maintain and communicate the values and purpose of our school." It's fairly clear that it probably includes fucking your fiance, but there could be a legal case there if it's that vague.
That said, I do tend to feel extra sympathy for teachers. Some of my friends are newly graduated teachers and they're *desperate* for jobs. If they took a job in a Catholic school, I'd understand.
14
From CF News 13:
"Officials at the school said because they are a private Christian school, they are protected from certain civil rights violations."
Well, hell. *I* should run one.
"Officials at the school said because they are a private Christian school, they are protected from certain civil rights violations."
Well, hell. *I* should run one.
15
People lack the talent of how and when to lie in creative and constructive ways. If she was three months pregnant that's one thing. But getting knocked up three weeks before the wedding? WTF did she have to admit to that for? What she should have done is waited another week and claimed the pregnancy was a special honeymoon blessing from Jesus. Hallelujahgobble!
Then 8 1/2 months later if any of her co-workers are anal enough to count the weeks (and let's face it, the custodians of the Xtian school probably are) she cops the premature excuse. If this was her first kid it would probably be a week or two late anyway. Problem solved.
Then 8 1/2 months later if any of her co-workers are anal enough to count the weeks (and let's face it, the custodians of the Xtian school probably are) she cops the premature excuse. If this was her first kid it would probably be a week or two late anyway. Problem solved.
16
You know, some people only learn empathy the hard way. Maybe being treated like this will make her reconsider the people she's associated herself with, and whether Jesus would have had much patience for such judgemental, fearful, hateful self-righteous vipers.
17
Even apart from the legal-or-not aspect of it, I find it hard to picture a woman in this day and age so meek and authority-worshiping that she could respond to such a question with anything but a dropped jaw, quickly followed by "we are all going to pretend, right now, that you did NOT just ask me that question."
But then, if she is so meek as to answer it in the first place, what changed her from Submissive Christbot to Modern, sue-their-pants-off American Woman? Ah, money can change the most pious mind.
But then, if she is so meek as to answer it in the first place, what changed her from Submissive Christbot to Modern, sue-their-pants-off American Woman? Ah, money can change the most pious mind.
18
If this person was a lesbian, and she signed a morality clause (or knew the school disaproved of homosexuality) then how would her case be different if the school chose to fire her? I'm not equating being a lesbian with being pregnant - it takes a choice to be the latter - but rather I'm asking if people would make the same "what goes around comes around" comments if the woman were gay and had chosen to work at a conservative school in a conservative area. Because I'm imagining that in some places, that is the case.
19
My seventh grade teacher was canned for exactly the same reason in 1975. Good to know some things never change at religious schools.
21
@18 - people would be less inclined to make the karma argument because discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is more widespread; thus, it's harder to make the argument that a lesbian really went out of her way to find an oppressive, discriminatory environment the way this woman seems to have. Still though, as Dan points out, she has the right to sue; the 'karma' argument is just a related point.
P.S. your question seemed genuine and politely asked, so I assume I'm not feeding a troll here. Why don't you register? The water's fine. : )
P.S. your question seemed genuine and politely asked, so I assume I'm not feeding a troll here. Why don't you register? The water's fine. : )
22
I agree totally with your message: If you work at a private school full of loons, don't expect any sense of decency.
But I question your editor's credentials here Dan. I believe that last phrase should be "shat on". That construction calls for a past tense, and the past tense of "shit" is "shat", one of the wonderful examples of how the ancient method of forming the past tense is changing an internal vowel. (For example, "slide" / "slid", "hide" / "hid".)
Make a note of it, and please use proper English from now on.
But I question your editor's credentials here Dan. I believe that last phrase should be "shat on". That construction calls for a past tense, and the past tense of "shit" is "shat", one of the wonderful examples of how the ancient method of forming the past tense is changing an internal vowel. (For example, "slide" / "slid", "hide" / "hid".)
Make a note of it, and please use proper English from now on.
23
She should up just keep her mouth shut on the conception date. But since she did say something she got fired for it. She works at a Christian school. What did she think would happen? You accept the job, you accept the rules of that job. Or go somewhere else. Or just f'ing lie! I would be up in arms if this was a public school but this is a private school.
24
Actually, @22, I believe "If you crawl into bed with assholes you can't complain about getting shit on" is the future conditional tense, while "shat" is past tense, so the proper form of the future conditional would be present tense "shit." "Shat" would be appropriate if the sentence had read: "When you crawled into bed with assholes you shouldn't have complained about getting *shat* on."
And a big thank you, @22, for allowing me to use my swanky English Lit degree from a small liberal arts college out east for the first time since graduating in 1987. Huzzah!
And a big thank you, @22, for allowing me to use my swanky English Lit degree from a small liberal arts college out east for the first time since graduating in 1987. Huzzah!
25
Ironically, if she had an abortion, no one would've ever known she was pregnant in the first place, and she would've kept her job.
Go fundies, for ironically promoting things even more contrary to your values system.
Go fundies, for ironically promoting things even more contrary to your values system.
26
Hey Dan, does this rationale apply to gays and lesbians thinking about serving in the military? It has an overwhelmingly conservative culture and a centuries-old tradition of homopobia, after all.
27
If her husband were employed by the school instead, would he have been fired? I'm thinking; probably not.
29
@26: The military is an arm of the government. The government must be held to a higher standard than private entities, because the law does not give private entities the power to tax at gunpoint, to arrest at gunpoint, or to imprison at gunpoint.
30
It is not the fact they fired the teacher,as that is their right.
They do not know God,as why scandalize the teacher to other members, teachers and parents?
They did the right thing,they got married. I see the Pharisee and Sadducee spirit is alive and well , self righteous,hateful evil people,Christian School ,yeah right!
PEOPLE LIKE THEM BLASPHEME AND DEFAME OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SIN. HE THAT IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE!
Jaretta Hamilton our most sincere prayers are with you and your family.
They do not know God,as why scandalize the teacher to other members, teachers and parents?
They did the right thing,they got married. I see the Pharisee and Sadducee spirit is alive and well , self righteous,hateful evil people,Christian School ,yeah right!
PEOPLE LIKE THEM BLASPHEME AND DEFAME OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SIN. HE THAT IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE!
Jaretta Hamilton our most sincere prayers are with you and your family.
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