Teacher of the Year Suspended for 'Go Back to Mexico' Comment

[Jeanfromfillmore]

Teacher of the Year Suspended for 'Go Back to Mexico' Comment
A two-time “Teacher of the Year” in Arlington is now fighting to keep her job after allegedly telling a Hispanic student to “Go back to Mexico.”
Barnett Junior High School math teacher Shirley Bunn has 24 years of teaching experience. But her career could end with what she called a moment of frustration.
Bunn admitted she lost her temper on Sept. 30 while distributing Title 1 forms to her eighth grade students.
According to public documents, a student who had a history of being disruptive repeatedly asked his teacher for a form printed in Spanish by saying, “I’m Mexican. I’m Mexican.”
The documents said Bunn tried to tell him that he could get the forms in the office but he continued to argue with her and repeat, “I’m Mexican.”
In response, Bunn blurted out “[Then] go back to Mexico.”
“This is a wonderful excellent teacher who simply made a mistake and the administration jumped to the worst case scenario of termination when they didn’t have to,” said Larry Shaw, a representative from the United Educators Association.
An independent hearing examiner has recommended that the district reinstate Bunn. In his opinion he wrote the district failed to provide sufficient grounds to terminate her. He also cited her student approval, excellent appraisals, two “Teacher of the Year” awards and volunteer efforts with a Hispanic heritage organization.
“I mean, she was a great teacher. She was really good at helping students. I wouldn’t expect that to happen,” said Shayma Sindi, a Barnett eighth grader.
The documents do reference one other incident in which Bunn refers to a disruptive group of boys in class as the “Mexican mafia” in a private conversation with a counselor.
But the independent examiner decided the remark based on its context was not disparaging, degrading or demeaning. He had the same conclusion about the “Go back to Mexico” comment.
“Under the circumstances when taken in the context of the moment and the lack of intent for ‘Go back to Mexico’ to be a racially or nationality-based pejorative remark, I find it was not a remark of an egregious nature,” the independent examiner said.
“I can understand the teacher getting upset. But at the same time they got to watch what they say,” said Darrell Holder, a concerned parent.
The school board is expected to meet about the reinstation recommendation before next month. Trustees could reject it, but Bunn’s union representative believes that is unlikely.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/new...#ixzz1mkwF14Os

[Don]

No free speech for Americans in America.

[Ayatollahgondola]

Originally Posted by Don

No free speech for Americans in America.

Well, this isn't a free speech violation, but I know what you mean.
This falls more in the realm of capitolizing and pouncing on molehills. Also falls into the hypocrisy column. A mecksican teacher can get away with murder as far as speech in the classroom, but let an American even make a slip and they are sent to the pen

[ilbegone]

Free speech generally doesn't extend to employment, the workplace is not a democracy.

One thing is becoming clear to me. As much as I believe the majority of teachers do everything but teach while living in another galaxy, the more people I talk to who are involved in education the more I believe we have something like 1 1/2 to two generations who have never learned what the word "no" means, which means there is no respect for either one's self or others.

No respect for parents, for teachers, neighbors, nor you and I. No respect for authority of any kind.

The "I'm Mexican so give me Spanish" in one kid could be "My parents are going to sue" in another after having a cell phone confiscated for texting rather than paying attention.

I think I wore out a couple of paddles, but at least classroom authority meant something then - misbehavior had consequences. Such a thing is unthinkable now.

Think things are a mess now with unbelievable politics and all the rest? Maybe just wait a few years.

Sorry about the negativity, but I'm just connecting dots I didn't see before between tagging and other vandalism, general current juvenile misbehavior, many of the something for nothing "occupy" crowd, and the general failure of education. Society is falling apart.

[Rim05]

There are times when I believe this 1 1/2 generation of people you speak of, is so acurate that no one can agrue with you.

You have to go back to what Art Torres said so many years ago that I can not remember the date. Something like "We are going to take the US by sheer numbers". I believe it is the time limit you give.
I also have seen the lack of respect for others that, what I believe are our own parents display.
One day, in a store no less, a 6 ft well built father told his little son , about 3 or 4 years old 'no'. The little kid was angry and started kicking the fathers feet. Dad just stood there as if this was supposed to happen. I wonder what little wonder boy is doing these days, he must be at least 25 now.

These days every one sues, I don't know where they get all the funds. I know attorneys are not cheap.
Those things called Schools Boards and teachers do not know what the words teach means.
It is all pretty much hopeless and lost now.
Just think the year 2032.