Author Topic: How fucking crazy is Utah?????  (Read 1302 times)

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Offline Anonymous

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How fucking crazy is Utah?????
« on: October 21, 2005, 12:20:00 PM »
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3137820

Sevier teacher trial: witnesses state that "she prefers the dark side"
By Pamela Manson
The Salt Lake Tribune  

 
 
Some community members in Monroe were concerned that Erin Jensen might believe in witchcraft, witnesses testified Thursday, and at least one janitor wondered why the English teacher resisted having her classroom cleaned.
   The talk grew, with the cleaning staff saying that the classroom windows were covered with black paper and someone even claiming that Jensen "kept blood in the fridge." Finally, after receiving several calls between them, two Sevier School District board members shared what they had been told with Superintendent Brent Thorne.
   "We didn't ask him to act on it [the information]," said Carolyn Washburn, one of the board members.
    Washburn, who left the board in 2004, said she did not take the allegations seriously. But she acknowledged parental concerns that Jensen told her class some people believe in witchcraft were part of the reason she voted to uphold Thorne's decision to fire Jensen.
    Thorne testified speculation from a few mothers and staff members about what students were being taught or how the classroom looked never factored into his decision to lay off Jensen at the end of the 2002-2003 school year. Because she was a provisional employee, he was not required to give a reason for picking Jensen as part of a staff reduction, the superintendent said.
    Washburn and Thorne  
  Recent Coverage
Religious bias cost job, says teacher, (10-20-05)

Jury gets an earful on missing minutes, (10-19-05)

Firing trial to focus on religion, gender, (10-18-05)

 
were testifying in a U.S. District Court trial, accused in a civil lawsuit of terminating Jensen because she is a woman and not a practicing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. JenÂsen, who says she was raised as a Mormon but has no religion, is seeking back pay, unspecified damages, and has said she wants her job back.
    Sevier school officials deny the allegations. Their lawyers say the officials were concerned about falling test scores and Jensen's teaching of core curriculum such as grammar.
    Under questioning, Thorne acknowledged that the district said nothing about test scores and teaching deficiencies when Jensen first filed discrimination complaints with the state Board of Education and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
   There was no need to mention any problems with teaching because the complaints involved allegations of discrimination, he said.
    The board voted at a February 2003 meeting to uphold Thorne's recommendations for layoffs, including Jensen's. Minutes show that the superintendent mentioned that Jensen had made a trip to a bakery during a training seminar and that he saw her later in the day sitting outside the meeting room for an extended time.
    The former teacher testified earlier in the trial that she left to get coffee during a break and that she left for about 20 minutes in the afternoon because her back was hurting.
    Besides the statements about JenÂsen's actions at the training seminar, the minutes said: "She also believes in witchcraft and paints her windows in her classroom black. Halloween is her favorite holiday and she doesn't hide the fact she prefers the dark side."
    Thorne and another district official later edited that part out of the minutes. He testified Thursday that he deleted those two sentences because the juxtaposition and wording inaccurately implied that those allegations were the reason for the dismissal.
    Instead, the section was merely reporting that rumors were circulating, he said.
   He also said inaccuracies in other minutes taken during the past eight or nine years were edited out.
    The trial continues today and the jury is expected to begin deliberations on Monday.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

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How fucking crazy is Utah?????
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2005, 08:20:00 PM »
Unbelievable! Read a couple of more articles on this case. This teacher was called a "witch" by the school board because she took her grandkids trick-or-treating? She was judged unfit to teach the same year she was voted "Teacher of the Year?"

But wait!  She was no longer LDS (Mormon)...and she dared to be a coffee-drinker!  Bad girl.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Antigen

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How fucking crazy is Utah?????
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2005, 09:12:00 PM »
Pretty friggin crazy, if you ask me!

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/ ... i_98780334

This article is 3 years old. Note that it mentions the Eagle Forum, the crazy notion of teaching creationism in the public schools and, renowed bloodthirsty drug warrior, Orin Hatch.

Nothing of value to the individual happens by coercion.

--Plato

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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Offline Anonymous

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How fucking crazy is Utah?????
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2005, 09:46:00 PM »
Ginger, think this teacher has any chance of winning this case?

After reading the article you attached, I sure wonder, and certainly feel sorry for her.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

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How fucking crazy is Utah?????
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2005, 04:14:00 PM »
This case should go to the jury today.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »