Running head: TEACHERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Artifact #2 Teachers Rights and Responsibilities

Jennifer McNutt
College of Southern Nevada
09/07/2016

TEACHERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Abstract
In todays society not all cases involving Nevada School Law are straight forward when it comes
to decision making. Cases may have to go through many courts before a final decision is made.
Some may even reach the Supreme Court. The following scenario is just one example of this. In
the following paragraphs I will give examples on how either the school board and or the teacher
could have receive a favorable ruling in this give scenario. Lastly I will explain my personal
views on this case.

TEACHERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Introduction
The scenario takes place at a High School. At this particular high school the student
population is mainly African-American. The teacher in question, Mrs. Ann Griffin, is white. Mrs.
Griffin has also earned tenure. It is explained that during an argument with both the principle and
assistant principle, Mrs. Griffin made the comment that she hated all black folks. This
comment later makes its way around the high school. Other teachers, both American-American
and white feel unease about the comment that was made. The principal then recommends that
she be dismissed. The reason given is that there are concerns with her being able to treat
students fairly, along with there being questionable judgments placed on her as a teacher.
Pro Support
It is true that the school may have had reason to dismiss Mrs. Griffin for the comment she
made. Some may argue that she could have made such comment and been protected under the
First Amendments Freedom of Speech statute. However, in this case that may not be true. Mrs.
Griffin made a comment that could be classified as insulting, and discriminatory while in the
presents of others, thus effecting the work/school environment (District Henry B. AYERS et al.,
Plaintiffs, v. Western Line Consolidated School et al. (1977). By make the comment in front
of both of the principle and assistant principle it became public. Therefore, this act is not covered
under the Freedom of Speech Statue.
In addition, one must wonder if Mrs. Griffin is able to teach all students without
prejudice. Many of these same questions come up in the case of Vergara v California (Tommy,
N., (2014). Is her current feeling toward African-Americans affecting the way she may be
teaching? If she has feelings of hate toward this particular group of people maybe she is putting
less of an effort into getting children who are not of the white race to learn certain subjects.

TEACHERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Con Support
There was a case very similar to this that happened in Flint, MI. It is here that a teacher
by the name of Mr. Craig Hecht was said to have made a racially charged joke. Mr. Hecht was
later fired due to his actions (Gridley). Mr. Hecht argued that he did make the joke however,
other African-American employee were making the same types of joke and they were not
being reprimanded. Mr. Hecht attorney would argue that this case would go to prove that all
discrimination was against the law not just the discrimination of African-Americans. One
must wonder if Mrs. Griffin was not being discriminated against. What had happened to
employees in the past that had made similar comments? Equality does not stop at just race
alone. It is awarded to all of us as citizens. As was brought up in the court case Brown vs
Board Of Education Topeka education is perhaps the most important function of State and
local governments," thereby setting the Nation on a path towards a goal of quality education for
all children, a goal not yet achieved (Speeches - sp_05-17-04b).
On another note, the process by which Miss. Griffin had been dismissed may not have
been legitimate. Mrs. Griffin had earned her tenure. For this alone she should not have been
dismissed on the spot. She deserves due process. While the scenario does not give any
information about the tenure contract that she signed, the discussion for dismissal should have
been left to the school board (Teachers' Rights). Furthermore Mrs. Griffin was not provided with
a detail reason for dismissal (Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill 470 U.S. 1985).
Final Thoughts

TEACHERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Mrs. Griffin created an environment that became hostel for both fellow employees and
students. Words of discrimination send a powerful message when they are heard in our schools
by children. These negative words can send horrible messages when coming from people that of
whom they respect. While some rules were not followed in the process of dismissing Mrs.
Griffin, the end result would have been the same. Through reading the scenario there was
evidence of discrimination, creating a hostile environment, and evidence to case question in her
judgement. I do not believe that Mrs. Griffin has the ability to treat all students equally. It is for
these reason that I would support her dismissal.

TEACHERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

References

Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill 470 U.S. 532 (1985), No. 83-1362 1.
Gridley, G. R. (2016). Supreme Court upholds verdict in favor of teacher fired for racial joke.
Retrieved September 07, 2016, from
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/07/supreme_court_upholds_verdict.html
Speeches - sp_05-17-04b - Supreme Court of the United States. (n.d.). Retrieved September 07,
2016, from https://www.supremecourt.gov/publicinfo/speeches/viewspeech/sp_05-1704b
Teachers' Rights: Tenure and Dismissal - FindLaw. (n.d.). Retrieved September 07, 2016, from
http://education.findlaw.com/teachers-rights/teachers-rights-tenure-and-dismissal.html
Tommy, N., (2014, June 16). Vergara v California: The case in context. Retrieved September 7,
2016, from http://uscommonsense.org/research/vergara-v-california-case-context/
District Henry B. AYERS et al., Plaintiffs, v. Western Line Consolidated School et al.,
Defendants-Appellants, v. Ms. Bessie B. GIVHAN et al., Plaintiffs-Intervenors
Appellees., 555 F.2d 1309 (1977) (United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circut 1977).