Evidence of Hope and Change
Three days ago, I reported on the case of a 9-year-old boy suspended from elementary school because a substitute teacher overheard him referring to another teacher as "cute." The substitute informed on the miscreant, taking this appalling example of "sexual harassment" up the chain to the principal, who handed down punishment.
Boys and girls, the America we love and fight daily to preserve is still alive and kicking.
Jerry Bostic, the out-of-control principal resigned his position yesterday in the face of demotion or termination.
Jerry Bostic told The Gaston Gazette he could understand being written up for the suspension and having someone follow up during the school year, but he added that he was disappointed because this is how his 44 years in education ended.
“To me it’s a really sad final note to a career that I have found very satisfying and enjoy working with kids,” Bostic said. “I really don’t believe I was treated fairly.”
As you can tell, Bostic departed in high bureaucratic dudgeon.
“He (McGlohon) told me he had made the decision he was going to terminate me or drop me into an assistant principal position,” Bostic said. “I admit I made some errors in what I did, but to fire me or to demote me with 44 years in it, it just doesn’t make sense. To me he was a very heartless man, and he did it because of politics.”
Not to worry, I'm sure the ex-principal has a far better pension than anyone reading this post.
And 9-year-old boys can again compliment a teacher without fear of reprisal.
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Comments :
Aug '11
Re: Evidence of Hope and Change
Wow. If that article is any indication, there's not a contrite word from Bostic about how he treated this 9-year-old. Just a complaint about how unfairly he was treated by the administration.
Nov '11
Re: Evidence of Hope and Change
Live by zero tolerance, die by zero tolerance.
Jun '10
Re: Evidence of Hope and Change
Maybe the principal's irrational over-the-top decision stems from emotional scars--nobody ever called him cute. He can spend some of his pension on therapy.
Jun '11
Re: Evidence of Hope and Change
He's cheesed because he thought suspension was merciful. Apparently the school counselor recommended a Clockwork Orange-inspired reeducation for this miscreant. They'd use the Ludovico technique with VH's "Hot for Teacher" on a loop.
Dec '10
Re: Evidence of Hope and Change
The therapy will be covered by his healthcare for life. The pension is safe.
Feb '11
Re: Evidence of Hope and Change
I wonder...Absent the public outcry resulting from blog and media coverage of this matter, would the superintendent have still fired the principal--or even reversed the suspension?
I also wonder...was there a climate established by earlier decisions on the superintendent's part that made the principal think he was doing something that his boss would approve of?
Aug '10
Re: Evidence of Hope and Change
“I admit I made some errors in what I did, but to fire me or to demote me with 44 years in it, it just doesn’t make sense. To me he was a very heartless man, and he did it because of politics.”
He did it because of politics? Bravo!
One of the things that can be good about a locally controlled public school system is that it will respond to the needs and desires of the community. How are those expressed? Politics.
For too long, we have thought of teachers and administrators as bureaucrats insulated from the whims of the community. The true "owners" of a school are those local citizens who financially support the system, their taxes are akin to shares in the school.
The school board aren't the owners of the school. The superintendent and "management" aren't who employs teachers and administration. It is the community. And when outrageous things occur, it is right and just that the community apply political pressure to shape administrative decisions.
Certainly teachers and administrators have rights that the community should not infringe upon, but suspending a kid for saying a teacher is cute isn't one of them.
Dec '10
Re: Evidence of Hope and Change
As he was fired and did not quit, I expect we will find Bostic attempting to augment his pension by applying for unemployment compensation in 3, 2, 1, ....