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Freddie Watts, an African American high school principal, recommended dismissing Ann Griffin, a white tenured teacher, after she stated "she hated all black folks" during a heated conversation with Watts and another administrator. As a tenured teacher, Griffin could only be dismissed for "good and just cause" following due process procedures. Watts believed Griffin's statement undermined her ability to treat students fairly and perform her duties, citing a previous Supreme Court case that allowed dismissal for expressions undermining work relationships or school operations. However, the Fifth Amendment only protects against self-incrimination in court, so Griffin could be required to answer questions at a dismissal hearing. The document predicts the court will rule in Watts

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97 views4 pages

Portfolio 2

Freddie Watts, an African American high school principal, recommended dismissing Ann Griffin, a white tenured teacher, after she stated "she hated all black folks" during a heated conversation with Watts and another administrator. As a tenured teacher, Griffin could only be dismissed for "good and just cause" following due process procedures. Watts believed Griffin's statement undermined her ability to treat students fairly and perform her duties, citing a previous Supreme Court case that allowed dismissal for expressions undermining work relationships or school operations. However, the Fifth Amendment only protects against self-incrimination in court, so Griffin could be required to answer questions at a dismissal hearing. The document predicts the court will rule in Watts

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Artifact #2

Teachers' Rights and Responsibilities


Kacie Gottenborg
College of Southern Nevada
September 23, 2017
Artifact #2 Teachers' Rights and Responsibilities 2

Freddie Watts, a high school principal, along with Jimmy Brothers, an assistant principal,

are both African American administrators assigned to administer a predominantly black school

high school. Ann Griffin, a white, tenured teacher employed at this high school got into a

heated conversation with two administrators and during this conversation stated she "hated all

black folks". When word got around of her statement, it caused negative reactions among her

colleagues. Freddie Watts, recommended dismissal because of concerns regarding her ability to

treat all students fairly and her judgement and competency as a teacher were also put into

question.

Because the high school teacher, Ann Griffin is a tenured teacher this means she has

served a specified probationary period that guarantees her continued employment unless the

district can establish "good and just cause" for dismissal. Tenure is a right by statute; it is not a

constitutional right. Once the teacher is granted tenure the teacher is said to have a "property

right" to continued employment, which cannot be taken away without due process. Most

tenure statutes specify the requirements and procedures both for acquiring tenure and for

dismissing the tenured teacher. When tenure is created by the state, the local school board

cannot change the terms of its acquisition and the procedures and grounds for dismissal.

Being an American, we as people have rights. These rights are stated under the

constitutional amendments. For instance, the First Amendment of our constitution addresses

several basic personal freedoms. It states that Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of

speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the

Government for a redress of grievances. The second clause of the First Amendment, which

deals with freedom of speech, has also been the subject of a growing number of education

cases. For instance, in the Pickering v. Board of Education case, which will be presented in

Freddie Watt's favor, Marvin Pickering was terminated after writing a letter to the newspaper

severely criticizing the superintendent and school board over their handling of school funds.

The Supreme Court found that the school had violated the teacher's rights to free speech. The

Court further held that unless the public expression undermines the effectiveness of the

working relationship between the teacher and the teacher's superior or coworkers, the

teacher's ability to perform their assigned duties, or the orderly operation of the schools, such

expression may not furnish grounds for reprisal. I say that this case is in Freddie Watt's favor

because I do believe Ann Griffin's comment undermines the working relationship between

herself and coworkers and it affects her ability to potentially perform assigned duties.

The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution protects individuals from giving self-

incriminating testimony, but this is only in a courtroom or in court-like situations. At a dismissal

hearing, a teacher may not invoke this privilege and may be required to answer direct questions

related to his or her employment. This would not be good news for Ann Griffin.

I feel the court will rule in Freddie Watt's favor in this case. I don't think Ann Griffin had

any right to say what she did. I think the court will agree that her ability to treat students fairly

are extremely questioned.


Artifact #2 Teachers' Rights and Responsibilities 4

References

Underwood, Julie and L. Dean. Webb. School Law for Teachers: Concepts and Applications.
Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2006.

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