Loony Christian School Fires Teacher For Getting Pregnant Before Wedding
By Brian FairbanksJune 9th, 2010, 2:19 pmComments (14)
Jarretta Hamilton was working as a fourth grade teacher in St. Cloud, Florida, near Orlando, when she got pregnant. No big deal, right?
Unfortunately, her gig was at Southland Christian School, which had the Hooksexup to ask her when she conceived.
Of course, Hamilton could have lied and said she was not that far along or the baby was born premature or whatever, but she told the truth: her future husband put a baby in her three weeks before their February wedding.
Southland promptly fired her... and told everyone why.
...the school offended her by disclosing the information about when she conceived to other school staffers and the parents of students...
The school responded to Hamilton's lawsuit with these remarks:
"Jarretta was asked not to return because of a moral issue that was disregarded, namely fornication, sex outside of marriage. The employment application, which she filled out, clearly states that as a leader before our students we require all teachers to maintain and communicate the values and purpose of our school." [Orlando Sentinel]
Of course, they have a case there, but will it stand up against federal law? What do you guys think?
Via.
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Commentarium (14 Comments)
Fornication? Really? At a minimum, this is probably a HIPAA (Health Care Privacy) violation if she got her insurance coverage from the school.
Well this is touchy. Technically i believe that if it's a private school she has no case right? But then again this is just another one of those cases that should really show the world that religion isn't necessarily the great all mighty thing that people seem to blindly believe in. Maybe it's time for us to open our eyes and think for (gasp) ourselves for a change
As a private institution, they make the rules. But this has to fall under some sort of discriminatory practice...I hope?
As stupid as I think the school is, they are a private school and are entitled to enforce their rules and codes as they please. Furthermore, At-will laws probably protect the school. Look at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. They have an honor code, and if they find that any of their students are having pre-marital sex, the school will expel them. Lots of religious-backed schools have similar policies. Teachers and students sign up for it, and know the consequences if they violate those standards.
Now, if the school did indeed tell other people that she "fornicated," then she would have legal recourse based on libel/slander laws. The argument would be that because her reputation had been irreparably damaged, her ability to secure a job and live a normal life were destroyed.
depends: is there any evidence that any male teachers impregnated anyone outside of marriage, or otherwise were known to the school admins to have engaged in sex outside the bounds of marriage? if yes, and they weren't fired, there's a lot of ammo for a sex discrimination suit.
i can't say it wins, but it would be gloriously ugly.
Private institution, she entered into an employment contract which she violated, AND she self-disclosed. Forget a leg - a suit doesn't even have a toe to stand on legally.
Yet another reason to read a contract before you sign it.
CE, I agree with you, but they appear to have publicly disclosed details of her personal life -- so, she might have something to stand on, even if it's only a peg leg.
Also, about the libel/slander thing, I'm not sure that she'd have a case there, either. She already stated that she had premarital sex, so she'll have a hard time proving that the school thought they were maliciously spreading a lie to intentionally hurt her. It sounds more like they were explaining why she was fired.
Not saying you're wrong, Me, but does she have a case against them for revealing personal information publicly? Is there no law against employers doing that or does that only apply to say, incriminating information or whatever?
In some jurisdictions, what you say doesn't have to be a lie to be slander. It merely has to be shown that you said it maliciously or wantonly, thereby damaging a person's reputation. Don't know if that's the case in Florida.
Can they even ask that? I thought that was one of those questions that employers couldn't ask!
Why didnt she just say it was an immaculate conception
has crossed back into the religious dark ages with the right wing Baptists trying to take over the State Government in total and then passing in your face unconstitutional religious dogma
Now you say something