Fired Shawnee Mission Science Teacher Fighting Back - WDAF

A Shawnee Mission School District teacher who was fired for using sexual banter in class says that he has been unjustly targeted and treated unfairly, and he says that he's going to fight to get his job back.

[Faultless Cast 1st Stone]

I have to say that the teacher did chose the wrong thing to say. However, may I pose this question, has anyone ever said something in the quick of the moment and regretted it? I know that I have, and I'm sure that this teacher has before. Should he be fired and attacked? I would say, no. In the case this is a problem that has occurred before or if he decided to expand on the comment. Then yes, there needs to be some action. I truly believe that the amount of support from parents and students shows you that this teacher is really making a difference. If this firing and such was because of one parent, I'm sorry to say it, but you can't please everyone all the time, every time. As a music teacher, I've had parents attack me because their child didn't get a solo, even as far as kids dropping out my class and filing complaints of favoritism. Seriously folks, I'm not trying to peg teachers as angels and parents as evil, but I believe that 99.99% of teachers are there teaching to improve and foster kids, not to hurt them. That's all I have to say.

[Cheryl Ray]

Students hear worse things on tv and in their own conversations. This man should not be fired from his job. He appears to be a good educator and influence on his students.

[Whacked out Parents]

Sounds like revenge by a parent to me. Who would want to be a teacher. One mistake and they have you by your balls. Anyone have the name of the whistle blower? The school board sure could use an enima.

[op mom]

The Shawnee Mission School Board is beginning to act like the KCMO school board. If the public only knew all that they do.

[Mark Milner]

Why would you censor p***s? You are as bad as those who fired him.

[LMG]

This is so stupid. How is this parent going to react if their child has to take sex ed? Kids talk way worst than this teacher did. It takes a special person to be a teacher. He sounds like he is a role model. Sometimes school systems are not really interested in our children's education.

[Bobbie Jamison]

The flip side to this is the student will think twice before telling his parents about their day at school for fear of causing another upheaval in their life. This age is as sensitive to routine as any other, if not more so, and stresses about change. You can't protect your children from experiences, you CAN help them to deal with their feelings and reactions. If this was truly upsetting to the student, a talk with the teacher should have been first on the list of solutions. Teachers are only human.

[Jodi Shireman]

Mr. Haraughty- Good for you! Has Shawnee Mission School Distrist become so uptight that they have forgotten that life still happens too? Did they forget to get involved in the lives of the kids you teach every day? These kids probably wouldn't have brought the drawing incorrection to your problem if they didn't feel in a comfortable environment...and knew you would handle it just as you did...with honesty that yes, part of middle school life is learning that "becoming excited" is a perfectly normal part of life..let's acknowledge it and move on. You didn't do anything inappropriate, and in my opinion, instead of hiding it and covering it up or correcting like "life" doesn't happen...let's teach our kids it is ok to understand it. These kids were middle school age for goodness sake they weren't four! Shawnee Mission School district should be ashamed that they allowed this to so "errect" and out of porportion! I'm behind you 100% Mr. Haraughty. Best of luck!

[OP Resident]

Parents drive me nuts sometimes... OVER REACTION.

[Madie]

What a joke!! To fire a good teacher (from all the comments) over a simple funny comment. I thought it was funny:) I would have laughed. I'm so sick needing to walk on eggshells around people who watch and listen for something to complain about. What happen to a good sense of humor?? I'm sure the student was sharing this with his or her parents, thinking it was funny...on second thought, maybe not. What's the expression..the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[SBK1]

many things in the schools today are over reacted. pretty soon you will be reminding your child every morning to not speak to anyone, don't touch anyone, keep your comments to yourself, etc. etc. The schools must have interaction to work. If you are that worried about your child maybe you better home school them so they are not exposed to the public and the normal things that happen.

[Concerned Teacher]

Others have said it all--this man seems to be a great teacher and it's not fair he should be out of his classroom. The district did make a bad call, the citizens should hold them to explain themselves at this Monday's "ask the board" open q&a forum at the Shawnee Mission Administration Building.
Another comment mentioned "revenge by a parent." That's possible, but another comment stated the school should have facilitated an open dialogue to work this out between the parents and the teacher--this issue NEVER should have reached this level! I blame the principal for not helping and for choosing to recommend this teacher for termination, rather than seeking out a peaceful solution.

[Another OP Mom]

As you can see, not one comment agrees with the complaining parent. I think that says it all.

[Dansei59]

As one who has watched morals decline so badly over the last 40 or 50 years, I am troubled by a LOT of the things I hear on TV, radio, in the halls of schools and at the malls (the latter two places from the mouths of children of the same age of Mr. Haraughty's students). Mr. Haraughty's comment, while a bit 'off color', doesn't come close to being as offensive as these.

[redcard]

Pseudo power trippers. Put the man back to work, he does teach Science after all.

[D_ Foster]

Where's the picture?

[Michelle]

This is insane. You can see and hear worse on primetime tv - including commercials. People need to quit being so easily offended. Maybe the "offended" parent should consider home schooling......

[patron]

Seriously? You think that a district with such a strong reputation as SM would fire someone over 1 comment? Anyone who signs a contract realizes that there is a procedure to follow when there is disciplinary action. It takes years to fire a teacher, especially one who is tenured and a member of the teacher's union. Come on! This is NOT the Kansas City school board. This is a district that stands by its commitment to the students and protects its teachers from exactly these kinds of invented scenarios. Perhaps the teacher should tell the whole truth instead of what he only wants people to hear.

[dog boy]

Whacked out Parents wrote:

Sounds like revenge by a parent to me. Who would want to be a teacher. One mistake and they have you by your balls. Anyone have the name of the whistle blower? The school board sure could use an enima.

Perhaps you should have attended school in SM so that you could spell enema the correct way...just a thought!

[DeAnna]

I feel really bad for this teacher! As important as male role models are in school, this is just sad! This man is a good teacher and a simple discussion with him about inappropriate behavior still might have been a little harsh but I am sure he cares enought about his job that he wouldve been careful about his comments from that point on. Mr. Haraughty if you read this please keep your head up! Good things happen to good people and your patience and the support that your community will give you shall prevail!