The girl graduated in June. They don't tell you when he started texting her. Why do they always say he was black when it's a story like this, but not when they are seeking a person that raped an 80 year old woman. Then they never state the race of the person they're looking for.

GM Mary

agenda

Mary Jones-1616541 - They mentioned he was black because race is the basis of his lawsuit.

Got it?

I got it. But what difference does it make if he was black white or yellow. They fired him because he texted a student. Race doesn't even come into the issue. So why bring it up that he was black.? Or is it the race card?

gm Tramp, Mary

Mary Jones-1616541

Why do they always say he was black when it's a story like this,

For the benefit of those on Newsvine who might think a racial discrimination lawsuit is being brought by a Samoan.

GM Scooter

The texts were of a personal, not sexual nature. Not yet anyway. Judge I plead insanity, thats right I'm crazy about that young stuff.

Mary, please pay more attention. There were 2 paragraphs about the lawsuit alleging racial discrimination:

The federal lawsuit alleges that Matthews’ termination from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy was part of a pattern of discrimination at the “predominantly Caucasian” school, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

“Historically, black employees, regardless of their position, have been denied promotions and are subject to harsher discipline, unfair demotion, and unjust termination in circumstances where nonblack staff are, or have been, treated more favorably,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit mentions it therefore the article mentions it.

I personally think it's weird to allege racial discrimination after being happily employed for over 14 years with no problems. If discrimination was such an issue he probably should have mentioned it a long time ago.

This seems like fluff for the lawsuit, but I don't want to judge too much without seeing any evidence.

I would not like it if teachers were sending personal text messages to students. It seems highly inappropriate.

GM Bill, Pan.

Tap, Tap, Tap,...

Mary Jones-1616541 - You state that: "... Race doesn't even come into the issue."

Race is the basis of his lawsuit. The school states he was fired for inappropriate behavior. His lawsuit is that he was fired because of his race. Yes, race comes into the issue. Your point that "Race doesn't even come into the issue" is what the defense attorneys for the school will state. The attorney's for the teacher will claim the opposite. The article mentions race because that is the basis of the lawsuit. They mention he was black much for the reason denver bill 2 stated. Also, if they didn't mention race, someone would blog that the reporter did a terrible job by reporting on a race-based lawsuit but never mentioning the race of the plaintiff.

Hope you're not a lawyer!

It sounds like a bit of an overreaction by the school, but sending texts to students strikes me as highly inappropriate. This would seem to be common sense, but perhaps schools should set policy about communication between teachers and students, and communicate it up front.

I agree about the racial discrimination claim; after 14 years of employment, suddenly fired for being black? We'll see this tossed out of court, I'm sure.

The defense mentions it but not the facts. That's the race card. I have no idea if the girl he texted was black white or yellow or red or what. The fact that he texed a student is the point. But as an lawyer I would play the race card if I thought it would work. No question.

GM Mary, Scooter Denver Bill and Panhead.

The violation of sending any text, email or other socialization tool has to be controlled or else "loopholes" can be applied. As always, NBC is quick on the racial aspects on some articles, except those that describe a Perp.

The tenure of the teacher should be a moot point and is beyond his suit allegations. I think the school, Chestnut Prep is doing the CYA, should the parents think they can sue for harassment by the teacher to their daughter. Most, if not all schools have a policy that stipulates - a no contact policy unless it deals with official schoolwork.

Either way, I believe one or the other would have established the lawsuit. Wonder why NBC did not mention the race of the student? The one that he sent a text message to, in 1998, after she graduated. This does sound like the teacher and lawyers are using the race card, rather than facts.

GM Again Mary,and GM Jack,

Sick, bug going around here, i feel about as sharp as a two word takenada post, my heads about the size of Rosie O'Donald's posterior, and im passing gas faster then a NASCAR pit crew.But thanks for askin. how bout yourself.

If the teacher in this story was white, we'd never hear about this! In that sense, this is about race!

If the teacher in this story was white, we'd never hear about this! In that sense, this is about race!

Jim, I agree..... the story is about a teacher's allegedly improper conduct. The liberal media (in this case,NBC News) knows that mentioning the plaintiffs race will create more interest. If both parties, student and teacher were white... we wouldn't see the story or be discussing it today!

@ nissan Did they hire hire him when he was white and now he turned black so they want to fire him. He was black when they hired him and they gave him the job. He broke their rules. I'am not saying I agree. But it's their call.

This is precisely why we have a court system. There will be a trial or settlement and life will go on. If the man was fired unjustly then he will either win the case or receive a settlement from the school.

It is sort of funny in these kinds of cases that only one side will talk to the press while the other side is for the most part prohibited from releasing their set of facts. If it is found that he was fired properly do you suppose the school could counter sue him for slander and liable? Having the label "racist" hanging over their head could very easily cost them business.

Sally Rocks classically

the story is about a teacher's allegedly improper conduct.

Wrong. The story is about how a teacher responds to being disciplined for alleged improper conduct.

If both parties, student and teacher were white... we wouldn't see the story or be discussing it today!

Agreed.

How can one judge the case without seeing the e-mails?

I'll suspend judgement until such time as they are made public, or a judge and/or jury has examined them.

Sally Rocks classically

the story is about a teacher's allegedly improper conduct.

Wrong. The story is about how a teacher responds to being disciplined for alleged improper conduct.

Acutally, Denver Bill, Sally is not far off the beam here. As the article relates...

The suit said Matthews, who has been employed by the school since 1998, had a clean record until August, when school President Priscilla Sands issued a written warning and suspended him from coaching and advising duties because he had exchanged texts with a young woman who graduated in June.

Sands sent a letter to parents that said the school had concluded the texts were of a personal, but not sexual, nature, and that Matthews had used poor judgment, according to the suit.

Later, though, as gossip about Matthews spread, Sands called the teachers to a meeting Sept. 11 and demanded that he confess to improper conduct and resign, the suit said. Matthews refused, saying he had done nothing wrong, and was fired.

The school, in written communications, assessed the e-mail as merely showing poor judgement, but then in response to gossip and rumors, they demanded that he resign. If he is innocent of wrong-doing, as he claims, then his actions, both in refusing to resign and in filing a lawsuit, are quite proper and understandable. If, on the other hand, he did, indeed have an improper relationship with a student, then the school's demand that he resign are equally understandable. Ergo, the key issue here is his behavior to this former student, paired with the question of whether this teacher's race played any role in the school's decision.

How Mr. Marshall reacted is pretty much how I'd expect any innocent [or guilty] individual to act in his circumstances.

He has a very tough case; he is not alleging a federal or State guaranteed right of discrimination in hiring or promotion, he has been there for 14 years, if he was the one that started contact with the former student, then he has no case.

Man, didn't take long for the "Hate the Black guy" crowd to start posting comments. You know who you are.

Amazing how everyone ragging on the guy for filing the lawsuit ignored or missed one thing... THE GIRL HAD GRADUATED.

"The suit said Matthews, who has been employed by the school since 1998, had a clean record until August, when school President Priscilla Sands issued a written warning and suspended him from coaching and advising duties because he had exchanged texts with a young woman who graduated in June."

I guess teachers have to avoid former students for the rest of their life for fear of some moron trying to get them fired.

Jim Silver 1.16

You are correct. This is still one more story about a whiney black person claiming some form of discrimination. Thanks to the naacp and others, blacks have been conditioned to feel they have the proverbial "ace in the hole" of claiming racism to dilute any inappropriate behavior or incompetence on their part.

The teacher being black was mentioned but they never mentioned the race of the girl that the teacher was sending personal text messages to.

Isn't race involved in this case?

Isn't racism always the last resort when an AA is involved? Never about ability, inability, legal, illegal. Just race.

Saxon - he is alleging a pattern of discrimination regarding discipline, promotions and other employment issues. The texts are nearly irrelevant. If the same behavior by a white teacher or staff would routinely result in a less severe punishment, the school is guilty of discrimination. How long he has been working at the school is also irrelevant. If he didn't do anything wrong for those 14 years then the school had no cause to fire him. The only relevant factor in his race discrimination suit is whether or not the same actions are treated differently based on the race of the actor.

jw101 - the race of the student has nothing to do with the suit. Therefore it is of no importance to the story.

If the texts did not start until after the student graduated, the texts are none of the school's business. The article also states that both the former student and her mother found nothing inappropriate in the texts. The school should lose its proverbial shirt.

Wow, the ignorant haters are out in force today. This gentleman actually would seem to have a good case. He was repremanded for bad judgement but cleared of any wrongdoing. The school did this in writting.

Then, after rumors and gossip had made the rounds, he was terminated for the same actions for which he had already been cleared of wrongdoing. I can just picture the reactions of the parents, who shell out $17K+, to the rumor of an older black male predating their precious little daughters.

This publicity must be making the schools leadership cringe. The school will settle and this will quietly go away.

hey Sandy Missouri just because you look but can't see you listen but can't hear dosen't mean people can't see the real problem WAKE UP silly girl

sounds like the school ramped up the situation by announcing to other parents that some kind of texting had gone one. why on earth? then they add this requirement that he make in effect a public admission of guilt. the lawsuit also alleges a pattern of discrimination affecting other employees as well. it is certainly possible for someone to walk a narrow path for years in an environment where discrimination occurs in order to keep one's own job. the people who are immediately concluding his lawsuit is baseless use his 14 years as an argument against him, but if he'd been at the school a year or less they would have used that as an argument against him. the question is whether he will be able to make his case in the legal process.

For 14 years he was fine in that school and suddenly there is a law suit based on race. Sounds like BS to me. Somebody does not know better and plays the race card where it does not belong and probably because there is more to it than what we see in the article.

At what point can we just refer to ourselves as Americans ? Why do we go to such an extent to emphasize our differences rather our commonalities ? Do natural born Americans that immigrate to Africa, Asia or Germany refer to themselves as American Africans, American Asians or American Germans ?

Come on people, we were suppose to be a nation indivisible, with justice and liberty for all .

Would someone please tell me why they had to mention he is black. If they fired him over sending a text message it had nothing to do with his skin color.

If he came from Africa (African American) he should know that there is discrimination over there much worse than over here toward the black people.

Thank you Ellis, and I have a feeling the only part of him that might be from Africa was his great, great, great, grandparents.

Agree Ellis B. you beat me to it. When someone calls themselves ( ) Americans they are segregating themselves.

Is it possible that he was hired because he is black and fired for good cause.

First, it would be nice for a change if people would read the friggin article before commenting. How do any of you know what was in the texts? YOU DON'T, yet some of you are already on the racist bandwagon. Give me a break. Crying discrimination is the oldest ploy in the book when people get their hands caught in the cookie jar - unless if you're white. Second, his race IS relavant, because the race of an alleged perpetratory is often referenced in cases of sexual assault and sexual harrassment AND racial discrimination is the basis of the lawsuit and the gist of the article. Third, it is irrelavant what opinion ANYONE has on this since it is unknown what the standards of conduct are in place at the school. It is NOT unusual to fire people that violate a standard of conduct in institutions of higher learning regardless of what hue of the rainbow they are. It will be fairly academic for a THINKING judge and/or jury to see if his contacting the student was a violation of his work related standards of conduct. Based on recent trials, finding someone other than a nitwit to put on a jury may be difficult since many jurors make up their minds and start screaming "racist" without any facts - like some on this blog. Enough said.

@JP I and everyone else did read the story. The point is he texted the girl. Not that it was dirty or anything, but he wasn't supposed to have personal contact like that. That's why they're fireing him. Read the story and understand.

I think both "band wagons" are full of people who do not have any facts, just an agenda. Until we see the -e-mail, until we see te school policies, until we know when the e-mail was sent (was she no longer a student?). We do not know if this person was disruptive to the school, and the school just was waiting for a reason to dismiss (that is not racism) or if faculty just kept hounding him because he was black and the administration caved to the pressure (that is racism). There is not anywhere enough information to form an opinion, and those that have should examine theit own bias's.

@jp. Sorry, I read your post but I didn't understand. I think I got it now. Take Care.

Would someone please tell me why they had to mention he is black. If they fired him over sending a text message it had nothing to do with his skin color.

Deborah, because he filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination, which pretty much begs the question of his racial identity.

If "they", meaning nbcnews.com did not include this essential fact, they be doing an even worse job of reporting the news.

The lawsuit may or may not have merit; I defy anybody to draw any logical conclusions based upon the sketchy facts reported in the story. But you should not blame nbcnews.com for reporting the story; it is news.

1998, why wait so long if you're going to fire someone over their races? How did the school even find out about a text message to the student? There is a lot missing from the story but I'm sure the school had good reasons and again MSNBC is just trying to keep your short attention span!

Um, Why is this so hard to understand? THe case is going to court. Nothing has been "decided" yet.

On the side of the school:
1) teacher student texting is bad
2) rumors are bad

On the side of the teacher:
1) the texting was not inappropriate. Student and her family concur. Who filled the complaint?
Perhaps another teacher who overheard that the first teacher had sent perhaps a "congrats on getting intocollege note"
2) perhaps there was never a "rule" about texting until this teacher did it. Hence the law suit.

Face it guys, discrimination exists. Be it against blacks, gays, women, chubby people, muslims, even white men.
Let the teacher have his day in court.

Nice to see the usual suspects out in force whenever a race based story is seeded, lmao.

Who wants to take bets as to the race of the graduated student in question?

Zed, et. al,

The race of the girl is inconsequential to the issue, since she's not the one who's accused of racial discrimination.

No she isn't, but I'm willing to bet a large part of the rumors is based on the race of the former student.

I just think it's creepy that he would want to text an ex-student for ANY reason.

@ Sandy

Amazing how everyone ragging on the guy for filing the lawsuit ignored or missed one thing... THE GIRL HAD GRADUATED.

"The suit said Matthews, who has been employed by the school since 1998, had a clean record until August, when school President Priscilla Sands issued a written warning and suspended him from coaching and advising duties because he had exchanged texts with a young woman who graduated in June."

I guess teachers have to avoid former students for the rest of their life for fear of some moron trying to get them fired.

I don't think you are quite right. I don't think the messages started after she graduated. The article only mentions that she graduated 2 months before the guy was disciplined not that he waited until she graduated to start the messages. For all the article says he may have been messaging her for all her high school years.

I don't like Racist or Racism but I don't see either here, he had worked there over a decade so Racism is very doubtful, but personal contact with that student was a NO NO, I don't think color would have made a difference, if the communications were school related they may not have taken such a hard stance but personal I'd have fired him also.

Poor judgement does not = criminal act. However, the fact that he was comfortable enough to text anything to a very recent graduate indicates a level of familiarity existing before graduation that would not be particularly professional.

Some lawyers seem to make a career out of playing the race card and it has become like crying "Wolf! Wolf!"

Teacher with poor judgement=teacher that should be fired.

It was only a matter of time before something inappropriate happened and then everyone would have been demanding to know why he wasn't fired after all these warning signs.

This likely was a pre-emptive move by the school to avoid potential association with the overall teacher/student danger zone, regardless of race.

However, race is all Americans will see as long as we allow 30+ years of this silly political correctness to continue. There is no such country as Africa America; it makes no sense and serves no purpose but to be divisive. Pick a country within Africa, if one must, be it still will be just as dumb a descriptor. The absurdity of that nonsense plays out if one trips down that rabbit hole: anyone residing in the U.S. is North American American. Not to mention that the majority of Africans on the losing end of tribal sales into slavery by other African tribes didn't end up in what is now the United States or even North America. Anyone can call themselves whatever they want, given the amalgam most everyone on the planet is - except maybe Asians. That blacks have been so gullible as to buy into all the silliness that sprang out of reactionary post-70s dopey academia is what ought embarrass them.

Agree, @scubasteve, common sense would have you fire the guy , however common sense isn't always the law. Schools need good lawyers & VERY detailed descriptions in their contracts.

Teacher with poor judgement=teacher that should be fired.

Sorry Steve common sense is no longer allowed.

I would disagree with the assertion that he should be fired with the facts we have here. All we know at this time is that a teacher texted a former student. Was he a mentor of hers? Did he help her get into the college she chose or does he know the faculty? Is it the school's business to monitor communication between teacher and a former student? At what point does that end and they become two consenting adults communicating?

The texts were characterized as innocent in nature by the student and her parents. I can say without reservation that if text messaging existed when I went to school that I would probably have a number of former teachers' phone numbers so I could reach out to them. For a student starting college a former teacher could be a valuable resource and a sounding board that can be much more objective than a parent. I honestly wished I had such a resource as a college freshman.

Tramp and Scubasteve - I've never heard of the legal theory of guilt by clairvoyance. You both want him fired because you assume that he will do something inappropriate in the future? Overreact much?

I stayed in contact with several teachers after I graduated. They had positive influences on my life. In those days, you had to call or visit the school in person. Perhaps the recent graduate wanted a letter of recommendation. Perhaps she was thanking him for his excellent teaching and he replied. As a college professor, I urge my students to stay in touch. What's wrong with that? Banning all contact between students- especially former students- and teachers is stupid. Sometimes students are being abused or neglected by parents and turn to a trusted teacher. Compassion shouldn't be banned just because there are a few perverts out there. The parents said there was nothing inappropriate, so the issue should have been dropped.

right, we have zero information what was in those text messages.

Thank you. This is yet another "news report" that is designed to bait a reaction not an intelligent discussion. Little or no information and huge gaps in the details that tell the story. So it is a non issue without the information. Another huff and puff and blow somebody's house down story to rant and rave about. Back to football.

The student graduated. The parents said there was no problem. He will win a settlement. For those who expect it,"Ban handguns".

However, the fact that he was comfortable enough to text anything to a very recent graduate indicates a level of familiarity existing before graduation that would not be particularly professional.

Nothing in the article even mentions if the student was his student. She could have just been a student at the school.

# 2.12 is all speculation. Just that.

# 2.12 is all speculation. Just that.

Why, hello stalker, lol.

Pretty much everything in anyone's comments are all speculation. Just that.

Texting should not be a means of communication between faculty and students.

No, they are not "over-sensitive," they are trying to be proactive to head off lawsuits. If they allowed the teacher to remain and he later did something inappropriate with a student the school would be sued for not getting rid o him sooner. It is simply not appropriate for a teacher to have a personal relationship of any kind with a student unless that student is a relative or the child of adult friends of the teacher where there is an established connection separate from their role as a teacher. Teachers are not their to be their students friends, they are there to teach them. When teachers start engaging in personal relationships with students it is only a matter of time before problems start. Whether it is claims of favoritism in grading or some other inappropriate action, personal relationships between teachers and student is just a terrible idea. Teachers should not be having private, personal contact with students. Any teacher who does is exposing themselves and the school to a myriad of complaints and possible charges. These may be due to real improper conduct or just the perception that something is going on. In any case it creates problems and is something that should be prohibited. Sometimes just the appearance of impropriety can be just as bad as actual improper conduct.

If the messages were fine with the student (who had graduated and is therefore an adult and a former student) and her parents, then this should be no more of an issue than a teacher having a phone conversation or exchanging an email with a former student. In this context, "personal" could simply mean not school-related.

The article says the messages had no sexual content. So the teacher could have texted her that there was an upcoming art exhibit that she might want to see for all we know--or maybe he simply asked her how college was going for her. If the content of the messages is not inappropriate, then contact between teachers and their former students isn't inappropriate. I've kept in touch with some of my favorite teachers for years, exchanging holiday cards and such.

"Personal" does NOT necessarily mean inappropriate!

What is really weird is why the school would object if the parents and student don't. Private schools often encourage teachers to keep up friendly relationships with students and their families because alumni giving is such an important part of a private school's budget. Maybe that's why the teacher is suing--there is something else going on here.

Lee, Maybe in this case "weird" = "discrimination".

Why cannot teachers and students communicate about valid issues via text or letters or voice?

but william its been spelled out.....

Less than capable Affirmative Action hire to fill the quota?

It is in our teacher handbook and contract. It is spelled out we will be fired if we have contact by text with students unless it is a family member.

I missed the rule he violated. Are teachers not supposed to communicate with graduates? Are they not supposed to exchange text messages?

The parents said the messages were not improper. What were they? Congratulations on winning a scholarship?

Something's missing here. I'd reserve any judgement.

la

So after a clear cut violation of rules he was fired.

What clear-cut violation? The one where he sent a text message to an EX-student?

so its ok with you two when a teacher comes after YOUR recent graduate?...so whats his purpose there.. is he a teacher or just using his position to conduct his own little date site?

Scooter is ASSUMING that there is some kind of written policy in place disallowing communication of this nature between teachers and students (even recent graduates - who is to say what the fine print in the school's policy manual says - but the article never specifically says when the correspondence was dated, only that he was written up in August) because Matthews was issued a written warning and suspended from certain duties.

Just as Janet and nobody are ASSUMING that the young lady had graduated by the time the communiques took place and that the fine print in the school handbook doesn't cover this because according to their logic, it SHOULDN'T apply.

These message boards (and most others) are perfect examples of why cases shouldn't be tried in the court of public opinion. I don't have an issue with folks having opinions, but they are too oft formed with less than all the facts.

. I don't have an issue with folks having opinions, but they are too oft formed with less than all the facts.

Agreed and why is that? a bit of a slant to the article perhaps?.....naw....not NBC that would suggest an agenda.

bottom line he is playing the race card, can a white man do the same? of course, but he would be laughed out of court.

Has this story been updated ? Was something deleted?

I see no mention of an ex-student, recent graduate, etc.

The version I'm reading states that the teacher was sending text messages to a student.

cmdr I still show this text on my page:

The suit said Matthews, who has been employed by the school since 1998, had a clean record until August, when school President Priscilla Sands issued a written warning and suspended him from coaching and advising duties because he had exchanged texts with a young woman who graduated in June.

And Scooter, I don't expect anything less than the utmost liberal bias from NBC news anymore. The fact that "African American" is in the headline is all you need to know. Oddly enough, when the shoe is on the other foot and the apprehended perpetrators are African American, NBC hardly ever mentions it despite the fact that the local affiliate often states as such in their article.

steve

agreed

la

so its ok with you two when a teacher comes after YOUR recent graduate?.

"Attorneys for Arthur “Chuck” Matthews said the veteran teacher, who is black, was fired even though the young woman and her parents said the messages contained nothing improper."

It seems not to have upset the parents. So no. I saw on espn the other day. The high school couch for RGIII in Texas, had called RGIII. By your logic, they should fire that couch, right?

Scooter - "come after"?! Again, an overreaction on your part. Based on assumptions and prejudices??

Some of you need to get your minds out of the gutters. Good teachers care about their students in NONSEXUAL ways. Considering how long the teacher was employed by this elite school, there is no reason to assume that he wasn't a good teacher. Would the school have had a problem if the teacher had been female? My parents were thrilled that I had good relationships with several teachers and stayed in touch. This included teachers of the opposite sex. One of the great rewards of teaching is watching former students thrive and succeed. Teachers should not be assumed to be perverts unless there is evidence to that effect.

helicohunter

Good teachers care about their students in NONSEXUAL ways.

Agreed.

Considering how long the teacher was employed by this elite school, there is no reason to assume that he wasn't a good teacher.

Flawed logic in at least one of two ways:

(1) Assumes that elite schools always recognize and fire bad teachers

(2) Assumes that good teachers can't become bad teachers. By that logic, bad teachers can never become good. Neither can criminals ever be rehabilitated.

She might have given her her phone number DaveB.

Chance to stir the racial pot.

they already used the standard weekend eek global warming article, and the guy who killed his grandmother didnt use a gun so....

Growing up in the white suburbs during the 1960's - 1970's, we had crosses burned on our front lawn, racial statements spray-painted on our garage, and I was called n*gg** most every day in school. For each of those incidents, I was dealt a "race card". I will continue to play the "race cards" I was dealt until they run out.

Nissan

so you battle racial-discrimination with more racial-discrimination ?...psst....that makes YOU the racist.

Scooter, what is up with you today??? The student and parents said nothing inappropriate was in the texts, therefore, he probably didn't do anything wrong. Would you admit guilt if you had done nothing wrong just because your boss told you to? How is refusing to admit wrongdoing when you have done nothing wrong, blaming someone else for anything?

sorry joemike, got a virus. my head is as stuffed up as a lib on gun control. I do not object to the suit persey as in the means.

Dayquil high?? Feel better...

@ Nissan If they burned crosses on your front lawn for all those years where were you living? I really do think so. Get back and let us know where you were living.

African American teacher fired"? We are so not impressed

How true...had they said an "African American Buddhist monk hailing from Norway on a grant from Venezuela", then i would have been impressed.

The interesting thing is...your example is ONE example of one individual and one situation. Applying it to every sitaution that includes a black person...by definition...is called racial stereotyping. Kind of interesting your actions are exactly the same as what you are arguing against. It also says you have zero credibility.

William--Bingo. Thank you.

Great point!

punch,

He SHOULD have to prove Caucasians did the same and were not fired, but he won't have to. Even if he is an at will employee, by virtue of his color, he is a "protected class" and can't be fired without cause.

If you're paying $29,000 for tuition, you don't want an atmosphere of gossip about a teacher and student, especially a teacher/coach.

If you can't conduct yourself as a teacher, not a friend, you aren't properly doing your job and need to go elsewhere.

jrsygrl--

most likely yes, he would have to prove they weren't fired, unless he has direct evidence of racial bias (such as written communications, emails, texts, testimony)--being a member of a protected class does NOT mean you can't be fired except for cause, it just means you can't be fired ON ACCOUNT OF your membership is said class. I can be fired for wearing orange and purple at the same time or because a hiring manager just doesn't like me or just because the manager is a dickwad on Tuesdays--but if I can prove (burden is on me) he has fired me because of my gender (female), age (old enough to be protected by age discrimination laws), or my religion (non-Christian) then I would have a case.

and if there is an "atmosphere of gossip", well, that just depends. you don't just scapegoat someone who happens to be the subject of gossip. . . so, is it possible that parents of students started speculating and gossiping about what this African-American teacher might be up to, and rather than defend a lowly employee against a hoard of tuition-payers the school decided to sacrifice said employee (my hunch is the graduated student is not African-American)?

simply put? because txt is the newest form of dumbing down the population.

The school wants to make an example of a teacher who has inappropriate relations with a student. So they just happen to pick a black teacher who sent a harmless email. in essence ,like high students in zero tolerance programs, He appears to have been profiled.

so by your logic, or lack thereof, the school was looking for someone who broke the rules, and found one. but sense he was black he was "profiled".....??

you also babble on about "zero tolerance" yet believe that only applies to students?...

I totally disagree with your premise that "... In schools black students are often arrested -yes arrested- for things that white student either would not be disciplined at all or disciplined in a much milder way."

A previous posting made a good point in asking the question " Was this type of infraction being committed by any other teacher at the school was was not black and were they fired?" If not then I don't see the validity of a discrimination claim.

I think that any teacher-student contact outside legitimate school business while not on it's face inappropriate, is certainly poor judgement in this day and age of frequent teacher-student scandals.

A display of poor judgenment/ decision making seems to me a reasonable reason for termination of any employee at any employer.

cmdr358, That "premise" about black students being punished more harshly than white students has been the case for years, decades even, every since schools were integrated back in the 50's. It's not exactly a new revelation.

Secondly, your question regarding whether this infraction was being committed by other teachers is addressed in the premise of the lawsuit, which is stated in the article: “Historically, black employees, regardless of their position, have been denied promotions and are subject to harsher discipline, unfair demotion, and unjust termination in circumstances where nonblack staff are, or have been, treated more favorably,”. If this is the case, and he's able to prove it, then he definitely has a basis for a lawsuit.

Thirdly, the student graduated in June. Meaning this is no longer a student. Did the communication take place before she graduated or after? If it's the latter, does the school still have the right to dictate who a teacher communicates with if that other person is no longer associated with the school? I'm not sure they do.

Fourth, I disagree that communication of any kind should automatically be deemed inappropriate without taking the nature of that communication into consideration. If inappropriate behavior could not be determined or proven by the school, then he shouldn't have lost his job until the school was able to do so.

Ive always wondered that my self.

affirmative action...its the law. .....

That is just stupid and ridiculous racist logic. Are you serious? It's as if you think that NO black american could ever be discriminated against. When it does happen...are you saying there should be no consequences because you consider it to be the race card? You have no idea what really happened in this situation. If the action deemed the teacher be fired...then why wasn't he fired immediately when they found out he texted the FORMER student? I am not saying one way or the other but their actions alone are not consistent with needing to fire a teacher. They are basically asking to get sued. Its like getting pulled over...asking for your insurance. You don't have it so they give you a warning. Then they stop by your house 8 month later and say...hey, we want to give you a ticket instead and take away your license. The rationale and actions of the school is what is driving the law suit...no race card.

William,

This is racist logic? Again racist? What I am referring to is the cost factor: mental, emotional, and financial.

Just find a lawyer willing to deal with it and you have yourself a huge headache.

The school has no authority to control a teacher's text, phone calls, or personal life even if there is a sexual relationship after graduation and both are 18 years or older. The school needs to keeps its nose out of people's lives where they have no legal authority

So a teacher can now use his position for his own little dating site now?...boy that will help get the best grade of teachers.

A good lawyer will win him his job back with back pay too unless like I said they can prove something was going on before graduation. It doesn't matter what the race of the student or teacher is,

EXCEPT for the FACT that this lawsuit has been filed SOLELY on the grounds of racial discrimination.

suppose it were YOUR daghter "mom" feel the same?

Everyone can have their own opinion, but unless a law was broken and he is charged with a crime, then the people do the firing can be in huge troubles themselves for defamation of character

so you prefer being RE-active to being PRO-active?

Hey Scooter, I can answer that question. I have a daughter. Teachers and counselors have my daughter's information to give her updates on classes, career details, internships, etc. She is a freshman in college and looking for a lot of opportunties in different areas. To Mom's point...its the context of the contact we should be looking at. If there was zero ill intent or sexual/inapproriate conduct and after graduation...the warning should have been enough. And a policy should be set in place to make sure all staff is aware of what the school feels is appropriate conduct. If there is no such policy...and if the contact was genuine and not inappropriate in nature...the school is in trouble. As they should be.

Parents found no problem with the texting (read the story)...so why would they have complained?

Whatever the reason for texting, aparently, her parents didn't see anything wrong with the text.

Nissan

the suit was filed purely on the grounds of race..... as YOU said above (21.1).. read the article, it states and i quote here;

The federal lawsuit alleges that Matthews’ termination from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy was part of a pattern of discrimination at the “predominantly Caucasian” school

The Caucasians and the Native Americans should be the ones filing for racial discrimination they are the minority now, not the Afro Americans, not the Hispanics.They discriminate if you do not speak Spanish, but any other language (Hindi,Hebrew,Polish ,Obama's Austrian etc,) Now you have to know Spanish as a second language to get a job ....that is discrimination, prejudice...US language is English period..

Cons are funny.