It must be tough to be an atheist in Texas

[meegbear]

Just ask Richard Mullens, who has not said he is an atheist, but was suspected of being one…and lost his job as a teacher for that reason.

Then on January 7th, a student in my classroom in second period left my class, went to the Principal's office, and told him that there was an inappropriate discussion in my classroom. I was informed by the principal, Richard Turner, that I needed to talk to her mother because she was very upset. Her mother came to class on January 7th, came to the school January 7th, very upset. She made some threats to me in the hallway. And then on January 8th, Mr. Turner informed me that I needed to call the parent, Mrs. Lowe. On January 9th, I had Vicki Smith, the school secretary, call "REDACTED" on my behalf to arrange a conference at 10:35 Monday, January 12th. Monday the 12th, I met with REDACTED and School Principal Richard Turner in his office. REDACTED was very angry. She accused me of being an atheist, saying I was too liberal, and that I allowed the students to talk about inappropriate things in the classroom. I told her that occasionally students would get on topics and say things, but I was unable to censor them before they were able to say them. She said that I called her daughter a name and I denied the accusation. But then she said that I didn't believe in god and shouldn't be teaching. She also said that she had spoken to 3 other board members who agreed with her that I shouldn't be teaching because I was too liberal and I was an atheist.

On January 15th, there was a board meeting. Nothing was on the agenda concerning me. During the open forum, several audience members spoke to their concerns that I was an atheist and I was too liberal. On January 16th, I was called to Mr. Richard Turner's office (my principal), and he informed me that I had been put on administrative leave with pay. The reasons, as stated to me by Mr. Turner at the time, were that I was accused of being an atheist and teaching atheism in the classroom, and I was too liberal. On January 23rd, Mr. Turner and members of the board met behind closed doors concerning my suspension and allegations that were directed at me. On January 24th, I received a certified letter from Mr. Turner that stated that the causes for my suspension apparently had been changed to inappropriate contact with students and comments.

He should count himself lucky. If the parents had accused him of being a witch, he might have been hanged by now.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/02/it_must_be_tough_to_be_an_athe.php

[varkam]

1. My father lost his teaching job in much the same fashion.

The head of his science department instructed him to violate state law by not teaching the big bang theory, as the head of his science department was a bible-thumping fundie. Well, he taught it anyway in accord with state law, and was fired for it.

No wonder our education system is screwed.

[EmilyAnne]

3. Where was your father teaching?

Did he find another job?

[varkam]

5. This was in KY a few years ago.

He's semi-retired now, but he did find another position thereafter.

[meegbear]

4. Where and when did your father teach?

[varkam]

6. See above. eom

[EmilyAnne]

2. We all wind up in Austin!

This poor guy is near Jasper, TX which is where James Byrd was tied to the back of a truck and dragged to his death by three white supremacists. East Texas is nuts.

[hobbit709]

8. You got that right about East Texas.

My theory about E. Tx and similar parts of the country is that the combination of red dirt dust and pine tree fumes being inhaled addles their brains and makes them extra stupid.

[readmoreoften]

9. Exactly. Our cities are cheap. Every atheist hightails it to Austin/SanAn/Dallas/Houston, etc.

Good lord. Why do that do yourself? My gay atheist-ass is in AUSTIN.

[RadicalTexan]

22. Ding, ding, ding!

Came to Austin at 17 from East Texas.

Easy to be an atheist here.

[Lint Head]

7. Apparently it's OK to be a torturing war criminal and have a

Christian College have your library there.
:dem:

[lostnotforgotten]

10. I Was Born And Grew Up In Texas - Trust Me You Have No Idea How Fundies Have Ruined The State

eom

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. "Born Again" GW bu$h ruined this state.

[barbtries]

11. he should sue all the way to the supreme court

such ignorance and intolerance should not be allowed to stand.

[Strong Atheist]

12. It's tough to be an atheist ANYWHERE. nt.

[Hepburn]

14. Try being a Wiccan.

My pentacles are (according to one neighbor) "hex" signs and I do "voodoo."

The uninformed absolutely make me :puke: The stupidity of the American public ~~ especially RWs ~~ is frightening.

[RadicalTexan]

23. Personally, I don't understand how Wiccan rituals or Christian rituals or voodoo rituals differ

All superstition.

But I will fight for your right to practice it.

[raccoon]

15. I hope he sues the school district. nt

[eppur_se_muova]

16. Witches are burned or drowned, not hanged. But your point is well taken.

:)

[Critters2]

20. Those accused of being witches in Salem, who all stated they weren't, were hanged

with the exception of one who was crushed to death. None were burned or drowned.

[eppur_se_muova]

24. Yes, but none them *were* witches! :^D

Let's just say that justice is flexible. :evilfrown:

[tbyg52]

17. I give thanks every day

that I teach a subject where discussion of social issues is not usually a part of the class. Cowardly of me, I know....

[MajorChode]

18. Sweet Jebus, you HAVE to read this response all the way to the end!

Dr. John Lynch
Superintendent
Brookeland Independent School District
Brookeland, TX

Dear Dr. Lynch,

First, let me congratulate your purging of Richard Mullens for being "too liberal" and, possibly, an atheist. It's beyond me how such a man could be allowed to hold a teaching position in your district for nearly forty years. Even the Iranians are better at upholding local values than that. But then, I guess that's all in the past now that you've finally sent the godless compassion-monger packing.

Have you considered the possibility that Mullins might not have acted alone. Could there be more atheists--or even worse, witches, sorcerers, or ACLU members--teaching Brookeland's children?

Take a close look at your high school principal, Richard Turner, for example. Sure, he unquestioningly followed the purging command given by you, the school board, and the Holy Inquisition of The Brookeland Missionary Baptist Church, but did he do so only because he was trying to hide his own wickedness?

Like I said, take a close looks at Mr. Turner. He has been marked by the beast. The man has snake eyes--evil, lifeless non-human, blood-engorged slits perfectly suited for identifying righteous souls to devour. Perhaps that's how Mr. Mullens turned all liberal. Turner turned his serpent's gaze upon him, devoured his soul--no doubt by driving his long, thin, forked demon tongue straight up his nostril to get ever last remaining soul-bit--and, then, recruited him into atheism.

You need to prick him and see if you can find the devil's mark.

Heterosexually yours,

Gen. JC Christian, Homewood
http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2009/02/great-athiest-purge-continues.html

[vanderBeth]

19. Eh, it's okay in Dallas

So apparently in Texas you can be fired for
1) Being an Atheist
2) Failing the Football star (I hear this story every couple of years about some teacher who dared to do this)

[Diclotican]

21. meegbear

meegbear

Ist his the same country, who put Neil Amstrong, and Buzz Aldrin on the face of the Moon, and who have some of the finest schools in the world?:. Is this the same country who the rest of the world, untill resently was looking positively to, as a bright light, and where the sience and knowlegde seen to be the beam of light?
Is this the same country who for more than 200 year, was seen as the country of milk and honey, where the ressursfully, but poor europan could emigrate to, and build up a far better future than the parents?

To fire a teatcher, becouse he teatch is just..... amazing. And the bing bang theory is no theory, it is more or less a fact of what happend for 14-15 billion year ago when "something" happend, and the result are here all to se.. To fire a teatcher who was following the state law, and teatching the shildren the right and wrong when it came out... It just amazing from my point of wiew.. And I have my cristian belive.. But I would never try to fire a teatcher becouse he/she tried to teatch something that I was not in agreement with.. Wel, if he/she had teatchet the kids neo-nazi idelogy then maybe, but to fire a teatcher becouse he/she was trying the best to educate young students to be educated and to give the same students the right to learn to think for themself.. Is just mind bomgling for what I stand on..

If I was he, I would sue the board all the way to the Suprime Court in Washington DC... But on the other hand, he might be so tired about this bullying that he just wanted to get away from the all... And to a better school where he could teatch new student... Rather than sue the whole Board up to the Suprime Court in Washington DC.. I DOUBT he would not win, and I would also bet that he would fine some who would get him along..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language