Here’s an apparent offensive artwork done in 330 BC found on the museum’s website. Cover your eyes!
NBC10.com – Education – Art Teacher Loses Job After Kids See Nude Sculpture — This is an incredible development and shows you just how backwards they are becoming in Texas. If you’ve ever been to an art museum in Texas you’ll discover that they are incredibly barren and lacking much art. Now you know why.
FRISCO, Texas — An award-winning Texas art teacher who was reprimanded after one of her fifth-grade students saw a nude sculpture during a trip to a museum has lost her job.
The school board in Frisco has voted not to renew Sydney McGee’s contract after 28 years. She has been on administrative leave.
The teacher took her students on an approved field trip to a Dallas museum, and now some parents are upset.
The Fisher Elementary School art teacher came under fire last April when she took 89 fifth-graders on a field trip to the Dallas Museum of Art. Parents raised concerns over the field trip after their children reported seeing a nude sculpture at the art museum.
I’m sure the sculpture will be removed. Heaven forbid!
related link: Interesting shcool website
Principal Nancy Lawson, arbiter of taste
Dallas Museum of Art Website — The big exhibit this month is a lone painting by Van Gogh that the museum is borrowing. Seriously. It’s laughable.
link found by Jonathan X
28. And we atheist pigs are beyond reproach? Thanks.
30. Truth be told, I tend to agree with you on this one. But I couldn’t resist responding to the frothing-at-the-mouth headline way above. Sometimes liberals believe their opinions are the only ones that should count.
That said, I still believe that the sexual messages absorbed by children are right out of control. We get all bent out of shape with Foley for his suggestive messages and at the same time allow 14 year olds to be formally exposed to explicit sexual messages in movie theatres and pretend like they are not watching the naked cannibal fetish special on cable. Is this the more educated look you had in mind?
RBG
RBG
You said you have a zoology degree. That would suggest you understand the importance of knowing facts over fiction. To have your children learn from each other while on the school playground or from their parents is a no brainer. If you and your wife don’t know the “facts of life” then yes, maybe you would be better off with a professional teaching your children. I would suggest, however, that a parent knows best and should be able to relate to their child.
A child knows when a parent is being devious or lying to them. That is not the way to build trust with your child.
#31
It’s mainly the parents who should educate children about sex, but I don’t see a problem in that children gets exposed to arts showing a penis. A 14-year old should be fully educated on sex or you’re in for a shock when he comes home telling you that his girlfriend is pregnant. 😉 As for cannibal fetish… hmm… I’ve never seen that.
32. “That would suggest you understand the importance of knowing facts over fiction. To have your children learn from each other while on the school playground or from their parents is a no brainer.”
I assume you mean given the choice between the two, not that either are no brainers.
If you are so interested in facts, let me help you out with a few others. Of course as a parent and one who studied zoology I could easily teach my child about sex. And certainly this will happen. But when an even better idea comes along – such as professional sex educator who gives hundreds of such talks and clearly has demonstrated unmatchable skill, rapport and even entertainment re the subject – I also understand the importance of not relying on tired, old sex education dogma for its own sake.
http://www.saleemanoon.com/
33: Don’t worry, the kids can tell you all about it.
http://www.citytv.com/vancouver/tvschedule.aspx?date=10-7-2006
11PM SexTV: In this Sex & Food issue, we explore the delicious – and sometimes dirty – relationship between two of our most raging appetites: We meet a fantasy cannibalism fetishist whose website … is dedicated to the pleasures of nude as food.
Believe me – this was more than a “talking head” as it showed those basic lessons every kid should know on female respect including how to tie up a woman like a honeyed ham on a spit complete with apple in mouth. And I bet you thought I was making that stuff up.
RBG
RBG I think you’re confusing theory with real-world experiences when it comes to kids. Getting back to artwork, when a kid sees something like the picture above or Michelangelo’s David they are not going to think to themselves “gee, I want to go have under-aged sex right now”. You’re a little in la-la land if you think that it will become an exercise in sexual assault. Please. Think back on your own childhood for a minute…do you ever remember seeing artwork like Michelangelo’s David and being “assaulted”? Or did you think “sure, I was mature enough to handle it, but not everyone else was”.
But really, this is an exercise in futility. From what I can gather from your writings here, you think sex and nudity are dirty dirty things and nothing I can say will change your mind about that, so why bother. If you don’t think this, then you haven’t explained your position clearly.
Or did you think “sure, I was mature enough to handle it, but not everyone else was”.
Does that ring in the least bit true to you coming from a kid? Answer: No
Do you think any kid is going to think sexual assault? Answer: No.
Do you think there is anything sexual about that statue? (Here’s a clue: penis.) Answer: Yes.
It’s not a matter about sex or nudity being dirty but the rejection of the way our society insists upon heaping sexual imagery and sexual situations upon kids. (That’s where the sexual assault part comes in.) This is the by-product of people desperate to make a buck off of sex and who couldn’t care less who gets hurt in the process. It all has to have some effect. And it is reasonable to believe that the effect is for sex to take a far bigger chunk out of the conciousness, and assume a similarly disproportionate role in what matters to a growing individual.
Also, understand that I really don’t have very strong objections to a fairly benign art situation and I’m, for a good part, playing devil’s advocate.
RBG
Nothing is “dirty” to a child until they are told something is such. Nude people are no big deal unless some prude makes something out of it.
We label anything that has to do with human sexuality as perverted and wonder why this nation has so many perverted people.
Wow, John…nice blanket statement on the museums in my state. I guess you’ve been to the Kimball in Fort Worth, right? Listen people… there is more to this story than what is currently being released to the public…but even with that being said, I am embarrased by how this “firing” was handled by the Frisco school board.
#9 – I say penises in the faces of ten year olds is not such a great idea. — RBG
#12 – Also, RBG, what would happen to those kids if they saw a piece of art that showed a penis? Would their heads explode? — John Urho Kemp
RGB isn’t concerned about kids seeing an exposed penis as part of a piece of art. He’s concerned about penises “in the faces” of 10 year olds.
This is just the kind of hyperbolic concern that many conservatives share. Innocent kids go to school and then get penises shoved in thier faces. These penises are probably being shoved in the students faces by the overwhelming majority of teachers who are obviously part of the “homosexual recruitment” agenda put forth by the America hating liberals who are brainwashing out children to love Islam.
The terrorists have already won….
And if my answer seems over the top, I simply ask, how seriously am I supposed to take a legion of backward-ass, slack-jawed Gomers who freak out over the notion of some simply artwork because they wrongly imagine that Jesus would dissapprove?
#38, …there is more to this story than what is currently being released to the public…
Comment by topcad — 10/12/2006 @ 4:58 am
That is extremely disingenuous to suggest there is more to the story and leave it there. If there is something else then say so. Otherwise, the evidence presented says that the only mitigating issue was the trip to the museum. If someone from the School Board’s side wishes to make a comment, let them.
#24 It spooks me that RGB said he wants his children instructed about sex from a sex educator, not by himself (the parent).
Eeep! — Comment by Gwendle
This might be the one little corner of RGB’s tattered psyche where his thinking is still clear… I know what most people know about sex and what most people don’t know would fill a library. The average person is as qualified to teach children about sex as I am qualified to teach nuclear physics*
And because your kid who you taught is going to be interacting with my kid who was taught by a knowledgable professional, it just became my business because I don’t want my kid damaged by whatever Jethro-grade notions about sex you planted in your kids head.
I want STD rates to be lower. I want teen childbirth rates to be lower. I want sexual assault numbers on kids to be lower. These goals all start with quality education, and not morals based hide your head in the sand Christian tactics…
And I don’t care what you think your rights are as a parent… your child has a greater right to be armed with good information when approaching a dangerous world than you have to sweep it under the rug.
*I am completely unqualified to teach nuclear physics.
boy..it’s so much more fun to be outraged (OUTRAGED, I TELL YOU) over this one-sided telling of a story that just doesn’t make sense instead of doing a little digging and so (as to not appear disingenuous!) I give you a condensed version of the district’s response: A school district is at an extreme disadvantage in the area of personnel matters due to issues of employee privacy and ethical considerations. However, since an employee of the district has chosen to express her concerns publicly in a hearing and in the media since that time, it seems fair that a school district can at least point to facts that were stated in that public hearing. Much has been misrepresented.
This is not about a field trip to an art museum. The timing of circumstances has allowed the teacher to wave that banner and it has played well in the media. FISD is a strong supporter of the arts and the Dallas Museum of Arts – our art program is rich and award-winning.
At issue here are performance concerns and the ability of a supervisor to address these concerns. As early as May 2005 the principal verbally brought to the attention of the teacher that there were some areas for improvement. She suggested at that time that a field trip experience might be a way to strengthen the art program and the Dallas Museum of Art was discussed as a viable option – it was not mandated as has been reported.
During the spring of the next school year, 2005-2006, when the teacher began planning the field trip, the principal suggested that the field trip be delayed until the next school year because she was concerned that the planning process was not sufficient.
When the teacher received her evaluation conference, which was in mid May and after the field trip, some issues of concern, unrelated to the field trip, were discussed and the teacher stated that she didn’t think it was fair to evaluate her on expectations that had not been clearly communicated to her in writing. The principal did then document the performance areas that needed to be addressed – at the teacher’s request – but the documentation was not brought on by the field trip; the field trip was not a catalyst for anything or the final straw to get her in “hot water.” No teachers’ job status would be jeopardized based on students’ incidental viewing of nude art.
What is getting lost here is that this is not about a field trip, censorship, or a parent complaint. It is not about age, tenure or salary level as has also been suggested in the media. This is about a school administrator working to help an employee improve her job performance and to improve the educational experience of students. Even someone who has taught for a long time can still have opportunity for professional development. Teachers were never directed to “ostracize” her as has been reported and she was never directed to not discuss her “plight.”
As an aside, the Star Award that is being mentioned in the context of the teacher being an award-winning teacher or Star Award Teacher of the Year 2004 is a recognition that took place periodically in the local paper because a local business wanted to sponsor the monthly ad to show support for teachers in the community – someone from each campus was usually represented. There was no set way employees were chosen at each campus for this ad. Some campuses went by tenure for inclusion, others selected based on something that had occurred that month. Teachers were recognized, as were volunteers, custodians, receptionists, others.
39. OhFor, somehow you accidently missed including the sickening and continuous barrage of sexual messages kids are already exposed to. But I guess that doesn’t fit into your view of Lefty Utopia.
And how serious am I to take a legion of forward-ass, sex-obsessed, flag-burning, NPR-loving, metrosexual elites who freak out over the notion of teacher and parental control because they imagine Barbra Streisand would disapproved?
RBG
42. Well that made things clear. It’s a right-wing Texas “dipshit” conspiracy. Or does dipshit include all Texans?
RBG
Ohhhhhhh… grrr… alright… The preceding post (44) was sarcasm. (And dedicated to Mr. Fusion.)
RBG
RGB – You are full of shit.
You are a crazy loonbird of loony craziness and that’s all there is to it.
A classical styled statue of a man is not sexual imagery just because you can see a penis. It isn’t. It wasn’t then. It isn’t now. It’s not gonna be in the future.
All you are is wrong and wrong is all you are.
And guess what Reverand… I agree with you. I am not at all at ease with the overwhelming barrage of sexually suggestive material (or violent material) that is paraded in front of children. I don’t like seeing children sexualized.
I wouldn’t ban anything because adults should not be punished because others happen to be parents… But medai outlets, shop windows, billboards, do not require blasting sexual images into public spaces where ALL ages and types of people are. In these places, practicing moderation is not a violation of our liberty. That’s why titty rags are behind the counter in brown wrap. That’s why zoning regulations restrict where a strip club can be built. That’s why good parents don’t let their 12 year old dress in slut gear just because the latest Mouskateer graduate doing a bump and grind on MTV happens to dress like a Times Square whore (God, those were the days….)
But niether David nor Venus are sexual images. And the body is not, in and of itself, an ugly dirty thing.
And when was the last flag burning in this country?
And I have never been a fan of Barbera Striesand!
I do listen to NPR though… But I’m educated and that’s their demographic.
I understand what you see. Now tell me what you’d see through the eyes of a 7 year old boy. The artistic discipline of disegno? The contrapposto posing? The mannerist style?
Or a mixed message concerning exposure of private parts?
…Those disgusting bits responsible for all the world’s perverse evil. With their vile fluids and other stuff I really can’t talk about.
RBG
Okay. Okay, already. I agree with you for pete’s sake. Though I’ll reserve judgement on your first part.
#47 – They were fifth-grade students…
48. That’s interesting… Now what age would you not allow a child to revel in the beauty of the human body in its full and glorious folliage?… 9? 8?
RBG
#49, I believe the point several us are trying to make is that there is no shame in the Human body until it is put there. It is only when we are told that love or breasts are dirty that we see them as such. Knowledge is power and those that wish to control our minds have deemed sex and our bodies as dirty and sinful. Sex, love, and our bodies should be respected for the beautiful parts of life they are.
NOTE: This is from an old fat guy who inspired a local No Speedo in Public law.
#42 your concern about a one-sided telling of a story may be true.
However, your disclaimer (school district is at an extreme disadvantage in the area of personnel matters due to issues of employee privacy and ethical considerations. ) and unfocused extensive verb-age in your reply doesn’t answer the basic question; why was she fired.
Your disclaimer assumes we accept the argument that Texas school districts are both ethical and competent.
With the current state of this nations public schools performance, school district in general are not both ethical and competent. All they seem to do is ask for more money to fix a problem, problem doesn’t get fixed, then they come back and ask for more money to fix a problem …. It seems to me there is more incentive and money not to fix the problem, given the public is too dumb to say enough is enough.
In many cases it’s not because of the teacher them-self, but school administration, Teacher Unions don’t help. In Texas (the red states in general), credibility may be all about who’s the authority figure (school board here); outside Texas, credibility is built by solid performance. In general Texas school administrations don’t have a record of solid performance.
#42, did you make that up or are you citing it from another source. It is considered quite improper NOT to cite your reference material, including either a link to an online source or the author, title and page, or publication for a published source.
50. Well, judging from movies, TV, billboards, abortion clinics, STD clinics, the internet, teen moms, skid row, hooker alley… I’d say there are a lot of people out there who would agree with you.
RBG
The reference material cited by #42 is factual. The information comes from the FriscoISD.org website. You can also check other blogs fromparents that supports the disctrict. It is not about art or nude scupture and the exposure of one kid to it. It is about the lack of performance of one teacher and her ability to manipulate the media and all of you into believing that is the basis of the dispute.
If you check around, you will see that the media did not present all of the information at first. Unfortunately, they did not make any effort to correct the situation either.
An ART teacher is responsible for TEACHING art, for giving professional and expert views and advice on HOW to understand and view art. An ART teacher should be able to take a piece of ART and explain its artistic qualities, including, in this case, nudes. If there was a fuss made at the museum, it seems that the best way of silencing the kid’s doubts is to give them a firm lesson on the spot on the artistic qualities of said museum piece. Parents, then, will hopefully be educated enough to support the teacher or lucidly describe other views or explanations to their children, especially when asked.
A SEX ED teacher is responsible for TEACHING sex ed, for giving professional and expert vies and advice on HOW to understand and view SEX. Parents, then, will hopefully be educated enough to support the teacher or lucidly describe other views or explanations to their children.
In my opinion, once the principal has authorized the visit to the art museum, the teacher is no longer responsible for the criticism that comes from THAT VISIT. The one to be held accountable for THAT TRIP is the principal. She has signed off on it and must defend its educational value to the parents. She must stand on her own two feet and defend the field trip.
As for the other side of the story, there appears to have been other transgressions made by the teacher. However, I have not seen any smoking guns that would warrant firing by a principal of her employee. This does not mean that they do not exist, and those records will probably come out in a court of law.
My hope is that this DOES go to trial. From the evidence that I have seen thus far, it appears as if Sydney McGee was wrongfully terminated by the board. It doesn’t seem as if the penalty she is paying matches the transgressions committed.
Tina Purvis F/K/A Leavitt Actively works at Catherine Fowler Middle School a new school at Frisco ISD.
She took nude photographs of herself and a convicted child sex offender having sex placed them all over the internet.
Perhaps, more concerning is that she actively engaged in the solicitation of Prostitution via Craigslist and Dallas Observer backpage over the course of 6 months.
These facts can be verified by court transcript record in the 416th District Court McKinney Texas.
She is Frisco ISD’s contact for Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Parents and other education professionals are outraged. Frisco is apparently a very interesting place to live. So much for “conservative” Texas.
Tina Purvis F/K/A Leavitt Actively works at Catherine Fowler Middle School a new school at Frisco ISD.
She took nude photographs of herself posing with a Registerred/convicted child sex offender (also nude) and placed them on the internet. The photos show her giving fallatio to the man and various poses of her naked.
Perhaps, more concerning is that she actively engaged in the solicitation of Prostitution via Craigslist and Dallas Observer backpage over the course of 6 months. What sickens me is she used her teaching credentials in her ad’s moniker “Biteach” and “Sexkittenteach” to name a couple.
These facts can be verified by court transcript record in the 416th District Court McKinney Texas.
She is Frisco ISD’s contact for Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Parents and other education professionals are outraged. Frisco is apparently a very interesting place to live. So much for “conservative” Texas.
I would say that the teacher is a victim of Liberalism, which didn’t come from Texas. That’s what you Democrats are creating, a liberal world where everyone’s thoughts and feelings are more important than common sense, and now you want to complain. Wait another ten years and this country will be so silly to live in that many Americans will leave voluntarily. Then the Democrats will have no one to blame and it will become apparent what the problem is, but it will be too late for the good old USA.