Teacher Fired for Becoming Pregnant Out of Wedlock

[kpete]

Source: ABC

Teacher Fired for Becoming Pregnant Out of Wedlock
Woman Conceived Just Days Before Wedding, but School Fired Her for 'Fornication'

By RUSSELL GOLDMAN
June 11, 2010

When Jarretta Hamilton, a fourth grade teacher at a Florida Christian school, told administrators she was pregnant, she expected them to ask when she was due.
She did not, however, think her answer would get her fired.

In April 2009, Hamilton told her boss at Southland Christian School in St. Cloud, Fla., that she was pregnant and planned to take a six-week leave in October. When asked when she conceived, Hamilton answered honestly: She became pregnant just three weeks prior to her Feb. 20 wedding.

That was enough to get her fired under the school's strict morality rules, which prohibit teachers from "fornication," engaging in sex before marriage.

"Jaretta was asked not to return because of a moral issue that was disregarded, namely fornication, sex outside marriage," administrator Julie Ennis wrote in a letter to Hamilton's lawyer.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/teacher-fired-pregnant-wedlock/story?id=10878802

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Well, it's par for the course. I wouldn't work for such a place.

What they hell can you expect from a bunch of perverts who are obsessed with sex? These rw fundies spend way too much time thinking about inside their underwear. Seriously, they need to pull their heads out and get some fresh air.

[Wizard777]

22. Not all Christians are RW Fundies. Jesus was a flaming liberal if ever there was one.

But if you work for a company or church that has a moral code or code of conduct that you cannot live up to. Then it is best to seek employment else where.


I also need to do some etymological research to see if the term "flaming liberal" is a reference to when roman emperors used to use Christians as lawn torches.

[No Elephants]

46. Not liberal. Radical.

[Wizard777]

56. Either extreme can produce Radicals. So yes he was a liberal radical for his time.

But tame by todays standard of radicals.

[Kerrytravelers]

59. Of course, not all Christians are rw fundy-fruitcakes.

That goes without saying, as we have some very liberal members of DU who are also Christians.


It does seem, however, that this lady worked for a fundy school, so their over-reaction to her honesty is par for the course.

[Arkansas Granny]

29. The fundies you are referring to spend way too much time thinking about

inside other people's underwear.

[backscatter712]

45. Too many fundie Christians, not enough lions. n/t

[sharp_stick]

2. Ahhh fundies

She's probably better off not being exposed to the virulent assholes prevalent among them

[daggahead]

3. Before I read the whole story ...

The first thought in my head was, "This has to be in Florida."

And ... so it is.

:rofl:

[Warpy]

6. Florida, Texas, Utah, South Carolina

They're all states with a critical mass of fundy nutcases.

I have a strong feeling she was really fired for being in an inter racial marriage. I'm sure the bluenoses who fired her all jumped the gun, themselves.

I hope she's able to escape the fundy mindset now that she knows where they're really at.

[Kerrytravelers]

16. We have some pretty scary places here in Califrornia.

There are some places Mr. kt and I avoid like the plague. :scared:

[Warpy]

23. My dad decided to take the scenic route from the Orlando airport

toward the east coast of Florida. There was one town he drove through that he admonished us not to make eye contact, that the whole town had been taken over by religious nutcases and was a dangerous place.

There are religious nutbars everywhere, of course, but a whole town on a state road where they were making it dangerous for outsiders?

Only in Florida.

[jaded_old_cynic]

35. Really?

Do you remember what town it is? I live in South Florida on the east coast and I would appreciate knowing what towns to avoid patronizing whenever I am traveling through the state.

[Warpy]

47. It's on one of those state roads that meander all over the place

around Orlando. This was >20 years ago so I don't remember the name of the town.

Stick to I-95 and the Beeline and you'll miss it.

My dad was a tough old WWII vet and there wasn't much that spooked him. Those screwballs did.

[Enthusiast]

17. My first thought was

that it's mostly because of the interracial marriage. They COULD have found it in their hearts to forgive her, but........

[KamaAina]

4. Okay, boys and girls, take another look at the picture.

Then ask yourselves why the school was so interested in her due date in the first place. :eyes:

[Kerrytravelers]

5. That did cross my mind.

And the thought stayed there.

[cosmicone]

7. Why did she answer when she was conceived?

There is no way they could have compelled that answer out of her anyway.

[Kerrytravelers]

10. The power of Christ compelled her?

:rofl: I know, I know... :spank: :rofl:

She probably thought that lying about her baby and her life was worse in their eyes.

However, perhaps it is better she is away from them. Who the hell would want to work with people who always looked down their noses at you and whispered behind your back about your child? Not me.

[Arkansas Granny]

31. Maybe she is just an honest, truthful person and didn't realize that her

admission would be used against her.

[superconnected]

37. It's a tacky question for them to even ask. I suspect she answered because shes nice so overlooked

how tacky the question was, and she's honest so didn't bat an eye about telling the truth.

[Kerrytravelers]

8. Here is my favorite part of the story:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/teacher-fired-pregnant-wedlock/story?id=10878802&page=2

No court date has been set, but the administration said it's not courtroom "testimony" they are concerned about.

"We request," the school closed its letter, "that Jarretta withdraw her complaint and consider the testimony of the Lord."

The testimony of the Lord? Hey! Is Jesus going to show up in court and give testimony?!?


:eyes:

[daggahead]

9. Your honor, I'd like to call my next witness ...

[Kerrytravelers]

11. bwaaahhhhh... *snort* ... love it.

:rofl:

[daggahead]

15. Maybe this is the school's lawyer?

[Moonwalk]

38. Jesus would be on the side of the teacher. After all, his mom--

--Conceived him before she was married. I supposed, arguably, she didn't have sex out of wedlock as she was still a virgin, but all the school asked was when she conceived. If they'd asked that of Mary....

[ingac70]

67. who was conceived out of wedlock. n/t

[WinkyDink]

68. Au contraire. St. Anne was married:

According to the apocryphal Gospel of James, Anne and her husband Joachim, after years of childlessness, were visited by an angel who told them that they would conceive a child. Anne promised to dedicate the child to God's service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Anne

http://www.ewtn.com/library/mary/anne.htm

[superconnected]

21. I don't remember anything in the NT where Christ said anything about sex or no sex.

None of his quotes come to mind. I'm pretty sure there aren't any. It was all on how you treat others and these people are failing that. A person above said "why don't they forgive her". The answer - because they aren't really Christians. They are really fundy. These people would kill Christ in a heart beat if he actually did show up.

[LibDemAlways]

24. LOL.. Q: State your name and place of residence. A: Jesus of Nazareth

Q: Mr. Jesus, what is your occupation?

A I am the son of God.

Q. That is a very lofty title. I take it you are an expert witness on the topic of sin.

A: Yes

Q: Fine, sir. Now please state your relationship to the school and explain why you have been called upon to testify today.

A: The school administrators believe I will back up their claim that Mrs. Jarretta deserved to be fired for her act of fornication.

Q: And is that your belief, sir?

A: (Pauses) Actually, no. I include many so-called "sinners" among my friends, and I believe in forgiveness and tolerance. That is what being a Christian is all about. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," is my motto.

Q: No more questions for this witness. You are dismissed, sir.

[superconnected]

33. Good post.

What I don't understand is why the fundies latched on to Christ who said, opposite, everything they believe.

[No Elephants]

52. As I recall, the Lord's testimony on the subject was "Let he who is without sin cast the first

stone." At which point, all those with stones in their hands thought better of casting them.

Hey, it's your private school. You can have any rules you want. But don't lie and claim they're Jesus's rules. Some of us have actually read the Bible and may call you on your lies.

[sarge43]

12. I wonder what would happen if those idiots were asked the following:

Should Ronnie Raygun have been impeached and convinced because he knocked up Nancy before they made it legal?

[Kerrytravelers]

18. D'oh! Their hero!

Well, see, that was different. Because that was Reagan and that was just a mistake, but he got married, so it's ok now. But this teacher. She is a whore who laid down with a man. We can't have that around *the children*.

:eyes:

[ellie]

13. That baby is adorable.

[Kerrytravelers]

61. I agree. That is one cute kid.

[Kerrytravelers]

14. I don't know why I'm getting so bent out of shape on this one.

Skinner asked us this on our Moderator Application. :shrug:







:rofl: No, he did not. :rofl:

[Wizard777]

19. They are well within their rights.

[TommyO]

27. They were not within their rights to violate her privacy

by disclosing why she was fired to students and parents.

[Wizard777]

32. How would that violate her privacy? She volunteered the information.

Since she made no attempt to keep the information secreted. She has no reasonable right to an expectation of privacy.

[TommyO]

40. She did not divulge it to the students and parents

the school had absolutely no business disclosing the information to them.

[Wizard777]

48. You can't unring the bell. Once the cat is out of the bag it won't go back in quietly. If at all.

But lets just say this woman had violated other moral codes the school might have. Lets say she molested some students. Does she still have a right to privacy? Should the school not tell parent about that? The woman may not have violated US law with the pregnancy. But she violated Christian law. So I think the parents have a right to know.

[sarge43]

57. Child molestation is a violation of civil law.

Is pre-marital sex a violation of her contract? Was it so stated in the contract? Are violations of any of the Ten Commandments cause for termination? Have any other teachers or administrators been fired for such violations?

Didn't Jesus say something about casting stones? As memory serves He was kinda again' it.

[LarryNM]

41. This continues a disturbing trend

where workers have fewer and fewer rights. Financial background checks, urine tests, personal matters, in jobs where it has no direct bearing and the higher ups and owners are exempt. This added with telling people if they don't like a job they can just get one elsewhere adds to an environment where there are fewer and fewer "elsewheres". Humans are not property and have rights. If an employer will not abide by these then we need laws that will make civil and criminal action necessary. Otherwise, it will only get worse.

[Wizard777]

49. I understand that. But there is a huge difference.

The US Constitution does not exempt private corporation's from Law. Churches are exempt from US law when functioning as churches. Ironically enough all those people that enacted laws mandating urine testing cannot be legally required to submit to urine testing. Where the private and public sectors are concerned I agree with you whole heartedly. But not where the church is concerned. That's a whole different ball of wax.

[Hosnon]

55. There are, of course, limitations on what they can do.

Firing her for being black, for instance.

I assume the right to procreate independent of wedlock isn't a recognized protected class; perhaps it should be? I'm not sure where I stand on this.

[Kerrytravelers]

60. As a private school, they are well within their rights to fire her.

She signed on, she can't be surprised.

I'm wondering about telling the students and parents. Granted, anyone would likely guess the reason (baby 9 months after getting married) but I'm not sure legally they may disclose private personnel information.

I would be curious if someone who actually practices law, in particular employer/employee rights law could comment on that.

[hlthe2b]

20. the advancement of women's rights..

:sarcasm:

[Moonwalk]

28. Ah, no, it's only backwards for women if...

it can be proved that the same would not apply to a male teacher. That is, if a recently married male teacher had told them his wife was preggers, would they have asked him the same question and fired him if he'd answered the same way?

However, it's a private school and a religious issue--alas for us, such places are allowed to be both racist and sexist. Or maybe they just didn't want to pay maternity leave? :eyes:

[hlthe2b]

30. Ahem.. Have you EVER heard of a case involving a male

where they were dismissed for fathering a child out of wedlock (in the absence of other factors?)

Crickets???? Chirp Chirp


Then, I think my point is made...

[Alcibiades]

25. If she had had an abortion instead of her fiancee's baby

and didn't tell them about it, she'd still have her job.

As it is, though, she should win enough cash to put them out of business.

[TommyO]

26. Normally I would say that she doesn't have a cause, but the school violated her privacy

so all bets are off.

According to the complaint, Hamilton is suing under federal gender discrimination laws, a state marriage discrimination law and for violations of her privacy.

"The school told the students and their parents why Hamilton had been fired. Disclosing that kind of personal information was a violation of her privacy," Gay said.

[DesertDiamond]

34. Does she have to wear a big letter "A" on her chest???

[atreides1]

62. No

"A" is for Adultery, I think it would be the letter "F" for Fornication.

[Dr.Phool]

36. In the mean time, the Administrator was searching Rentboy.com.

Time for summer vacation.

[Fearless]

39. Anyone think that I, a white male teacher, could be fired for the same??

I don't think so!

[greiner3]

42. Meanwhile;

The students in xtian schools are getting STDs in increasing numbers. There are also increasing numbers of cases of AIDS there. Just because they can't perform coitus doesn't mean that they are not having sex. They are and a lot of it.

[wordpix]

43. actually, she was probably fired for having a mixed marriage-to-be

these fundies are ruthless racists

[femrap]

44. Welcome to the 1950's!!! nt

[Kelvin Mace]

50. "When did you concieve?"

Answer: I'm sorry, such a question is not really your business.

This woman is shocked that she was treated this way? had she not paid attention to the kind of people she was hanging with?

I am sorry she lost her job, but either she wasn't paying attention to the type of folk she was working for, or she was part of the problem.

[cstanleytech]

51. I shake my head in wonder.....

not at the teacher getting fired but rather the reaction here by some of you.
Its a Christian school so its kind of a no brainer that they would probably fire her for getting pregnant while not being married, I'm not saying I agree with them mind you however I do understand why they fired her for this.
Should they have handled it better though? Ya, they should that much is true.

[jayfish]

54. I Wonder If They Would Have Fired Sarah Palin?

:shrug:

FSH

[cstanleytech]

65. I have not seen anything to prove that they wouldnt fire her if she did this same thing

so I feel safe in saying yes they would probably have done the same thing even if it was sarah palin.

[atreides1]

64. It is a Christian school

And yet if they stoned a child for being rebellious, it would be a felony.

It isn't about her geting fired, as much as it is about the school violating her privacy.

The parents and the students had no right to know why she was fired.

This was about the school branding her as a wanton woman, someone to be avoided by all good "Christian" people!

[cstanleytech]

66. Ok, in that area of telling the students and parents why

she might very well have a case but as for them branding her a wanton women, technically according to their faith, she is.
Her best bet to make her case harder for them to overturn on appeal if she wins the trial would probably be (atleast imo) to limit it to that privacy violation aspect that you mentioned for telling the students why she was dismissed, the school didn't have to tell them exactly why and they could have just said they can't discuss such things and left it at that.

[pundaint]

53. Render unto the propagandists the things of the propagandists. Or to put it more clearly,

if you didn't know the Christian school was bat-shit crazy when you hired on, shame on you.

[HockeyMom]

58. At a NY Catholic HS several years ago

the students walked out and their parents refused to pay TUITION when the school fired two teachers for violating their morals clause. One teacher got a divroce and remarried. The other teacher had a vasectomy. I believe the latter teacher mentioned this to a coworker who apparently "ratted him out". This got a lot of local publicity and the reaction to the firings was all negative. The outcome was that the school scrapped their morals clause for teacher contracts. The teachers were reinstated, but NEITHER choose to return.

[RaleighNCDUer]

63. Obviously, she was a poor fit with fundie christians.

A proper fundie christian would have sinned, then lied about it. Repeatedly. If the face of overwhelming evidence.

[ZombieHorde]

69. Inexcusable behavior for a business.

Believing stupid shit is not an excuse for cruelty.