Teacher fired for Wizardry. I can't make this up.

[Knightshade Dragon]

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=79533

The rumor is that the trial will consist of a duck and some sort of weighing device...

[kadnod]

My first thought was, "That game was good back in the day, but it's probably not worth getting fired over."
 

[CeeKay]

My first thought was, "That game was good back in the day, but it's probably not worth getting fired over."
 

mine too.  I was going to post it but I needed to run to the bathroom and my iPhone doesn't always get good reception there.

[Remus West]

Nobody likes a Harry Potter wnna be.

[dbt1949]

[whiteboyskim]

"It's a fair call."

[CeeKay]

ah, life in Hogeye!

[Larraque]

KD, you've gone too far.
Summon the weeeezard!

[rickfc]

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=79533

The rumor is that the trial will consist of a duck and some sort of weighing device...

Next thing you know, people are going to start demanding your head because you reference dragons in your name! 

[the Nightbreeze]

A thread about teachers?  Yeah, I admit I have a habit of showing up in threads about teachers.

It is disappointing in this age that this sort of fear and superstition exists anywhere, let a lone a school.  If my (fictional) kids  were in this district, I'd be planning a move out of it this summer.

And I do believe the teacher here, that the other charges can be tagged on after the fact very easily and without validity.  If a teacher was under performing like they described, that's a poor reflection on the administrators who kept sending him assignments without trying to remedy the points of these all of a sudden "long standing complaints" about his work.   You can't hope that complaints fix anything if you don't bring them to the attention of the person about whom the complaints were made.  Mrs. Jones didn't like your work. I hope you can tell by how I am breathing, because I can't be bothered to tell you.

And even bearing all of that in mind.  He's a substitute.  They can decide to not give him work because his socks don't match or he has brown eyes.  He doesn't have much choice except to seek employment elsewhere, and if that part of Florida has him blacklisted, and not just that district, it is sadly time to move.  I would encourage it, really.   

I know by reading this story, I would want no parts of working in a district like that.  I am tempted to wonder how hard it is for them to find subs after this press, but then I realize that overly-religious kooks can get education degrees and credentials as well.  Hopefully they find each other.

Those poor kids.  How can they learn when the people acting in their interest have such fear?

[DamageInc]

I accuse the accusers of moronacy. (Yes it is a made up word  )

Just for clarification

Def: Wizardry

Wizardry \Wiz"ard*ry\, n.
   The character or practices of wizards; sorcery; magic. "He
   acquired a reputation bordering on wizardry." --J. A.
   Symonds.
   [1913 Webster]

Def: Moronacy

Moronacy \Mo"ron*acy\, n.
   The character or practices of stupid people; ignorance; lack of logic. "The accusers
   acquired a reputation bordering on moronacy." DamageInc
   [2008 GT Forums]

I call for their termination and they be sent on a rocket to the sun, Andromeda, or what ever as long as it is not on this planet.

[Remus West]

The year I taught in Florida I was involved (well, my part was very short as I had to bite my tongue) in a discussion during lunch regarding the Harry Potter books.  I was the only one speaking about how silly it would be to ban these books from the school library.  High school library.  I spent the lunch getting more and more sick listening to supposed educators talking about how these books were a bad influence on children.  One of the participants was not a teacher by the end of the year because she could not pass the basic skills exam.  I spent several hours trying to get her to understand the idea of solving linear systems.  Very simple linear systems.  Yet she failed the math section badly all 4 (yes, they allowed her 4 tries!) times she tried the exam.  Fail exam = Fail to get licence to teach.  Fail to get licence = Fail to keep job.

[rickfc]

Fail exam = Fail to get licence to teach.  Fail to get licence = Fail to keep job.

How did you do in the English portion?  License

Sorry, I couldn't help myself! 

[Remus West]

Fail exam = Fail to get licence to teach.  Fail to get licence = Fail to keep job.

How did you do in the English portion.  License

Sorry, I couldn't help myself! 

They grade for grammar not spelling.  You have to be a complete moron to not pass the exam with flying colors.  Plus, you can blame the spell check for that since I used it but did not bother to look at what it changed my spelling to/from.

[rickfc]

They grade for grammar not spelling.  You have to be a complete moron to not pass the exam with flying colors.  Plus, you can blame the spell check for that since I used it but did not bother to look at what it changed my spelling to/from.

I kid, I kid.  You know I had to give you a hard time for that.

[Remus West]

They grade for grammar not spelling.  You have to be a complete moron to not pass the exam with flying colors.  Plus, you can blame the spell check for that since I used it but did not bother to look at what it changed my spelling to/from.

I kid, I kid.  You know I had to give you a hard time for that.

LordMortis was an English teacher.  Go read his posts.  I teach Mathematics which is far superior to English.

[Bullwinkle]

I enjoyed the video news story and the reporter hanging up the phone as she explained that she spoke to the school board.

[GGMark]

and here I thought maybe he had turned someone into a newt, and it was simply making a toothpick disappear.  thats not wizardy.....thats sleight of hand.....

[wonderpug]

I came in expecting the teacher to be fired for:


But for making a toothpick disappear?  Do they also expel students who wiggle their pencils to make them look like rubber?

[JohnathanStrange]

BTW, I can't find my Wizardry 8. I wish it were abandonware. Or is it??

On topic, I think that teacher could've avoided being fired if he hadn't been waving his wand at every passing female teacher. That's the inside story.

[Knightshade Dragon]

This sort of craziness just reinforces my belief that if I ever want a kid, the wife and I will buy one.  One of us will have to stay home and home-school the kid.  For every level headed teacher like the folks that have already chimed in here there are 10 other teachers that haven't a clue what is or is not good for a kid. 

I suspect that some day I'm gonna end up in the paper for the way I conduct my self defense classes, but it damned well better not be for "Wizardry" or some other nonsense.

[morlac]

I suspect that some day I'm gonna end up in the paper for the way I conduct my self defense classes, but it damned well better not be for "Wizardry" or some other nonsense.

You better hope it is.  Everyone knows a high level wizard is way more powerful than another equaled level warrior.

[Freezer-TPF-]

FFFPPSTILTOWAIT

It's the only way to be sure.

[SpaceLord]

The Mad Overlord will now run amok!

 

[Destructor]

I suspect that some day I'm gonna end up in the paper for the way I conduct my self defense classes, but it damned well better not be for "Wizardry" or some other nonsense.

You better hope it is.  Everyone knows a high level wizard is way more powerful than another equaled level warrior.

But can a high level wizard take out a Monk? I doubt it.

Land 'O Lakes, Florida -- The stories in the news about inappropriate relationships between teachers and students have been overwhelming.  There was even a substitute teacher in New Port Richey who got in trouble after investigators say she had a relationship with an underage student.

I grew up there! What the heck has happened to my home town?

[Lee]

Oh those crazy Christians.

[Hemlock Bones]

Oh those crazy Christians.

Assumption!  Witches have never gotten along with wizards.

[kronovan]

Sometimes as a parent you just have to be prepared to fight back against this kind of nonsense. I had a run in with a vice-principal at my son's school who blamed just about everything bad on video games including all forms of violence amongst youth. She was very instrumental in disallowing the kids from bringing GBA's to school for lunchtime play and even discourage my son's friend from bringing a Pokemon guide to school; I mean WTF? She was tough to deal with because she had the backing of a number of the women on the PTA.

Finally at a PTA meeting I asked her what specific studies she was basing her opinions on and I then preceded to name a number of studies, including the US Surgeon Generals, that countered her claims. She couldn't name a single study she read and her only comment was a condescending thank you for your opinion and information, but it wouldn't change her policies. It was tough to deal with her because the teachers federation in my province more or less holds the same opinion about violence and video games. I didn't give up and I eventually took it up with the school board with the result that eventually her contract wasn't renewed for the district.

Of course some of the women teachers at my son's school that were cronies local reps  for the teachers federation thought that I was a power-tripping chauvinistic pig for doing what I did. As far as I'm concerned if you're an Educator in a position of power and you want to effect others with your personal opinions, you'd better be able to back it up with fact.

[Dan_Theman]

Ever try your hand at career day while possessing an "interesting" job?  I think I became a hero in my son's eyes when I did that, because all his classmates that I was amazingly cool (I'm not, but I can fake it pretty well).  His teacher's viewpoint?  Not so much 

[Daehawk]

The firing is probably just cover for his new job at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Ever try your hand at career day while possessing an "interesting" job?  I think I became a hero in my son's eyes when I did that, because all his classmates that I was amazingly cool (I'm not, but I can fake it pretty well).  His teacher's viewpoint?  Not so much  icon_lol

What was your job?

[Knightshade Dragon]

Ever try your hand at career day while possessing an "interesting" job?  I think I became a hero in my son's eyes when I did that, because all his classmates that I was amazingly cool (I'm not, but I can fake it pretty well).  His teacher's viewpoint?  Not so much 

What is your 'interesting' job?  Other than being "The man"?

[Biyobi]

The firing is probably just cover for his new job at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Obviously the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

[Canuck]

If the state of Florida keeps firing teachers for simply doing magic tricks or wearing bikinis then they're going to run out of decent educators real fast.  Especially if prospective teachers avoid Florida like the plague out of worry of being crucified in a witch trial.

[JohnathanStrange]

Regarding the Wizardry Teacher: Expelliamus!

Regarding the Buxom Bikini Teacher: Boobilcious!

(Yes, I'm aware that removing a Muggle's bikini is usually outside the "rules", but what's a wand for, if not to occasionally have some fun?)