Substitute teacher Fired for Giving Student a Bible

[Zaac]

A teacher was fired for giving a Bible to a student, and now the teacher is firing back. Walt Tutka, a substitute teacher in the Phillipsburg School District, has filed a discrimination complaint. NJ.com shared the details on April 12.

Tutka says that he gave the student his Bible because he had quoted a passage and the student expressed an interest in it. The incident happened in October 2012 when the students were in line and Tutka said, “The first shall be the last and the last shall be the first.” The substitute teacher says that the student “repeatedly” asked where the phrase was from, and Walt Tutka said it was from the Bible.

Then apparently Tutka asked if the student had a Bible, and when he said no, Tutka said he could have his and he handed it over. On Oct. 18, Tutka says he was told by the superintendent that he was recommending the substitute teacher be fire for the Bible incident. Now, Tutka has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging religious discrimination and retaliation.

Teacher fired for giving Bible

 

[Magnetic Poles]

As it should be. The teacher should not have done this in the context of a public school.

 

[just-want-peace]

As it should be. The teacher should not have done this in the context of a public school.

And some people still wonder why this nation is crumbling?!?!:sleep:

 

[Don]

As it should be. The teacher should not have done this in the context of a public school.

Um...the teacher voiced a quote. The student asked where it came from, several times, and the teacher answered the question. The teacher offered information; the student accepted. There was no indication of proselytizing or attempting to sway anyone towards a particular religion; merely an answering of a question and providing the source material.

The incident occurred while the student was in a line. It doesn't mention whether this was in a classroom, or in another setting.

It is absolutely legal for teachers and students to discuss religious beliefs on school grounds. Your statement is incorrect. The teacher would have been wrong if it had been done in the context of in the classroom, as part of a lesson. But a public school should be exactly the place where people discuss varying beliefs and viewpoints, not excluding them.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Um...the teacher voiced a quote. The student asked where it came from, several times, and the teacher answered the question. The teacher offered information; the student accepted. There was no indication of proselytizing or attempting to sway anyone towards a particular religion; merely an answering of a question and providing the source material.

The incident occurred while the student was in a line. It doesn't mention whether this was in a classroom, or in another setting.

It is absolutely legal for teachers and students to discuss religious beliefs on school grounds. Your statement is incorrect. The teacher would have been wrong if it had been done in the context of in the classroom, as part of a lesson. But a public school should be exactly the place where people discuss varying beliefs and viewpoints, not excluding them.

Sorry, but even in line, it is a school venue and the teacher is a state employee. This is why prayers on the public address system at stadiums, for example, are banned.

 

[Revmitchell]

The teacher will win this lawsuit

 

[Salty]

Now, if this teacher had given the student some type of "protection" for night time fun - then the teacher would have been praised.


MP - you do now what the First Amendment says about religion - don't you?

 

[Don]

Sorry, but even in line, it is a school venue and the teacher is a state employee. This is why prayers on the public address system at stadiums, for example, are banned.

And again--there was nothing illegal about what the teacher did. It is legal for any employee, in any government position, to express a statement of faith. When that statement is met with offense, the employee is required to cease and desist. This was a wrongful termination.

 

[Salty]

And again--there was nothing illegal about what the teacher did. It is legal for any employee, in any government position, to express a statement of faith. When that statement is met with offense, the employee is required to cease and desist. This was a wrongful termination.

Of course the critics will say that children are a "captive audience"

 

[Oldtimer]

Wonder if..............

If this child had asked these questions about another faith.
If this teacher had given this child the applicable book for that faith.

Would the teacher have been fired?

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Now, if this teacher had given the student some type of "protection" for night time fun - then the teacher would have been praised.


MP - you do now what the First Amendment says about religion - don't you?

Of course I do. But I respect BOTH the free-exercise clause AND the establishment clause.

 

[Oldtimer]

Of course I do. But I respect BOTH the free-exercise clause AND the establishment clause.

How did this teacher enact a LAW proclaiming that this nation had ESTABLISHED an official "religion" for this country?

Actions done by individual citizens of this country do not "establish" anything that is the responsibility of the Congress to enact or is forbidden to enact.

Using the reasoning of those who have taken God out of the public square, any elected official or employee of any government agency enacts LAW with their every action. This teacher enacted a LAW establishing Christianity as the "official" religion of this country by giving a Bible to a student who was asking questions.

The board of commissioners in my nearby small town CANNOT pass a LAW ESTABLISHING a particular faith viewpoint as the law of the town.

Ditto for county commissions.
Ditto for state representatives.
Ditto for Congress.

Free exercise of religion means just what it says. Individuals have freedom of religion. I have the right to give a Bible to anyone I choose. They, as individuals, have the right to accept or refuse to take it from my hands.

A teacher, mail man, garage mechanic, county dog catcher, and the President of these United States has the same right. I also have the right to give the Koran or any other "religious" document to anyone I choose. So, do the people mentioned in the list. Including Supreme Court justices as long as they are not handing down decisions denying anyone else the same right they hold themselves.

 

[Salty]

How did this teacher enact a LAW proclaiming that this nation had ESTABLISHED an official "religion" for this country?

Actions done by individual citizens of this country do not "establish" anything that is the responsibility of the Congress to enact or is forbidden to enact.

Don put it best a few posts ago! :thumbs:

And again--there was nothing illegal about what the teacher did. It is legal for any employee, in any government position, to express a statement of faith. When that statement is met with offense, the employee is required to cease and desist. This was a wrongful termination.