ACLU to sue of behalf of breastfeeding teacher

[KamaAina]

http://news.yahoo.com/aclu-sue-behalf-breastfeeding-teacher-215215763.html

The American Civil Liberties Union intends to sue a Denver-area charter school for allegedly getting rid of a teacher who pumped breast milk on the job.

The ACLU of Colorado filed a "notice of claim" Monday against the Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen, a precursor to filing a lawsuit against a government agency. It alleges the school failed to renew the contract of Heather Burgbacher in February because of her pumping schedule.

Burgbacher claims she arranged to have her students do supervised desk work during her 20-minute pumping breaks three times a week....

In the notice of claim, Burgbacher says the school's human resource manager told her the school couldn't accommodate the pumping breaks three times a week and advised her to spend her Thanksgiving break rearranging her breastfeeding schedule and consider switching to formula.

If the suit's not successful, I heaar there are openings at Olive Garden... :popcorn:

[HockeyMom]

1. Sometimes breastfeeding isn't just a matter of choice

My daughter was severely allergic to all kinds of formula (cows and soy). In fact, I myself could not have dairy or soy products while I was nursing her because she would react to that also. Even today at 27 years old she still has all these same allergies and reactions. What we learned later on was that she could tolerate GOATS MILK, which is what she drinks, and "eats", today.

Just change to forumla isn't always an option.

[SoCalDem]

2. While they approached her in a rather callous manner,

this is yet another legal issue in the micro v macro world we live in..

Often there is a lot more to "the story" than what gets reported, and many times when bosses want to get rid of someone, they will find a way..

Time spent away from classroom duties for whatever reason, that requires a restructuring of other people's time (to cover for her) seems to be the main issue here.

Breastfeeding and holding down a full time job, must be stressful for Moms, but I have known MANY women who have managed to do this, and without inconveniencing coworkers. They would pump extra during the weekends, and freeze it for the rest of the week while they were at work. None of them needed to use formula.

[izquierdista]

3. No lunch, recess, or prep periods?

When did schools go to all work, all the time? I must have had a leisurely childhood.

[SoCalDem]

4. As I read the article, she did use those times, but had extra times too

when she had others fill in for her in class.

Back when I was in school each teacher had a "free" hour where they were paid, but did not have classes..they used that time for prep & planning or for student meetings.

This woman worked for a charter school., so who knows what rules they had? It almost seems to me that the were looking for a way to let her go, and this was the way the chose.