Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
Teacher fired for flashing student
Long-term substitute says she lifted shirt, exposed sports bra
5/5/01
By KERRI WEBB
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
A teacher was fired from a private Catholic high school in Orcutt for flashing her sports bra in front of a classroom full of students.
Dana Gibson, 43, a substitute on a long-term assignment at St. Joseph's Catholic High School, says she was dismissed April 29 after lifting up her blouse in response to a student complaining that her Spanish class instruction was dull and repetitive.
"A kid walks up to me and told me that my class is boring, so I just flashed him," Gibson explained, when asked to elaborate on Friday. "I really didn't think that I did anything wrong. There wasn't anything sexual about it. It was like me saying, 'How dare you say my class is boring.'"
After she was fired, Gibson said she took off the shirt and waved it in protest as she drove out of the school parking lot.
Gibson, of Morro Bay, says she has only been a teacher for three months and dismissed the action as a joke. She said she never completely removed her blouse, as reported in other media. "I just flashed my jog bra, which I think of as just an undershirt, it's not like a sexy bra," she said.
According to Gibson, she flashed the one male student who approached her in front of the rest of the class. She said the students informed other teachers, who in turn notified the school's administration.
Her dismissal from the school was handed down by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the governing organization in charge of all Catholic schools in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, which found her actions inappropriate.
St. Joseph's staff and administration has forwarded all comments to Tod Tamberg, media spokesperson for the archdiocese. Tamberg said that while he couldn't comment on the specifics, the incident has caught the interest of news media from all over the nation.
"I'm telling all of the media that we have no comment because it's a personnel matter, but I'll tell you, I don't know how the word got out about this so quickly," Tamberg said. "I have received calls from 'Inside Edition' who is doing a story on it, and a CNN Spanish radio station from Miami has also expressed interest."
Gibson has received calls from "Good Morning America," Playboy.com, CBS Radio, "Inside Edition" and numerous newspaper reporters.
"To me, this is the story: The fact that all of these reporters are calling me because that one reporter completely got it wrong -- I never took my shirt off in that class," she said. "True, I took it off in protest after I was dismissed and I went back to my class to pick up my things. But the kids weren't in the class then."
Gibson admitted that she still had the shirt off when she left the campus and entered her vehicle. She said that she waved it around, calling attention to herself while she drove out of the parking lot. She said that contrary to rumor, she wasn't completely topless.
"Yes, I was waving my hands around driving and honking in the spirit of protest," she said. "But, I was still wearing the sports bra and I was never topless. I was bringing attention to myself then because I was angry."
She said she wishes everything would blow over and hopes to salvage her teaching career.
"Yeah, I messed up."
Uh-oh...a major boo-boo...no pics
There were no pix with either article - have no clue what she looks like. I'm kinda kicking myself now for having posted the original article - now she's gonna be a star!!!(barf)
a star, or a Playboy Centerfold. Me thinks her 15 mins of fame ain't up yet.
NOT too many 43 year old centerfolds.
Firing her was overkill for such a minor infraction. It would have been sufficient to issue a warning and require her to apologize.
Ooohh la-la!! What's happenin', hot stuff?
Somebody's gotta ask you, so I guess I'll do it. Where the heck did you get that pick?
Watch it Wiggle.......See it Jiggle........."
Sorry. I disagree, I didn't send my kids to Catholic school to be flashed by a teacher.
Also, her attitude and behavior upon leaving shows her total lack of dignity and common sense.
She is not teacher material in a Religious school.
Apparently, this was her third infraction. Her first one was for referring to a crucifix on the wall as "that thing", and her second one was for saying that a statue of the Virgin Mary should be dressed up.
She sounds like a real piece of work.
Why, at fatchicksinpartyhats.com, of course.
I suppose you wouldn't mind a male teacher exposing himself to your daughters either?
There have been studies showing that visualization techniques can be a great help with students in learning!
But what was she trying to teach again? About the Alps?
Her behavior, while unprofessional, was not particularly malicious or wrongful. Go to any coed run and you'll see women wearing jog bras. Sports bras don't exactly qualify as sexy lingerie. So I think they should have given her a second chance, an opportunity to apologize, reform and continue teaching.
Somebody's gotta ask you, so I guess I'll do it. Where the heck did you get that pick?
I would sincerely hope that the only reason you're asking that question is that you don't want to go there accidentally. :=)
She is not teacher material in a Religious school.
She is if the "religion" is scientology or Heaven's Gate. When god was handing out religions, the moonies must have been out taking a wizz.
I really agree with you. Taking off your shirt in class is very stupid and irresponsible.
Yeah, the 60's generation sure grew up well. NOT! "Do it if it feels good!". Hence, AIDS. Robbin Williams wasn't too far off in 1976 when he said, "What's next? Put your d*** in and it explodes?!"
Actually, I just referenced it off an earlier thread on this same topic! So I can't EVEN take credit.
What?!?!?!?! This shows total lack of respect for the student. Flashing your undergarments is a way of saying F___YOU. That is what is at stake here. A students says the class is boring and the teacher responds in this manner. She could have wondered why she was not reaching this student, or why he was not getting it. Instead she decided to try to hummiliate him... ( but really herself). She should be fired and never hired anywhere again... execpt for the strip, or with others who may appreciate her surley nature.
So, what IS that place (I'm not going to go there for obvious reasons. Just tell me what it is, in "PG" rated terms).
The problem is, it was INAPPROPRIATE. Here we live in a society where, ROUTINELY mind you, middle-aged female teachers are having babies with sperm donated by their teen-age student "lovers".
The lines have to be drawn somewhere, and I should think that a religious school would be more apt to draw them closer.
Actually, she's MY age, and we're "70s generation." As if that's an improvement.
So that's a sports bra. Heh heh heh.
Suppose she had flipped off one of the students at this private school. Just "unprofessional behavior"? How low are you willing to set the bar? If it is okay for her to teach in her sports bra, then why not let the girls in the class learn in their sports bras? And how 'bout the guys in their jockstraps?
Interesting how willing we are to accommodate to the lowest standards of decency. Oh well, my mistake for assuming that we might want to shoot for teachers who could be good role models.
Hey Rob, I'll bet she's single!
agh, you forgot the barf alert lol.
Actually, she's MY age, and we're "70s generation." As if that's an improvement.
The bubble-gum teeny boppers who got hooked on disco.
No, not much of an improvement at all.
"So I think they should have given her a second chance, an opportunity to apologize, reform and continue teaching."
Please don't tell me that there's four more of you who hold to that drivel.
Go to any coed run and you'll see women wearing jog bras.
Agreed! At a coed run, or any other appropriate site, not in a high school class room by the teacher.
The fact that she doesn't even understand what the "fuss" is about is enough proof for me that she is not teacher material at a Catholic school.
Re: Your post #5.
MY EYES! MY EYES! WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU IN THIS LIFE OR A PAST LIFE!
I grew up in Orcutt, CA...went to school across the street from St. Joseph's HS, and attended summer classes at St. Joe's to graduate faster (3yrs of hs v. 4).
I recall that girls were not allowed to wear open-toed shoes at St. Joe's because boys might see the cleavage between their toes and start to think about another kind of cleavage.
I can just imagine the hullabaloo over this teacher flashing a student.
ROFLMAO!!!!
Sorry. I disagree, I didn't send my kids to Catholic school to be flashed by a teacher. Also, her attitude and behavior upon leaving shows her total lack of dignity and common sense. She is not teacher material in a Religious school.
I totally agree with you, sam. I send my kids to Catholic school also. This woman shows extremely poor judgment, if she can't even tell now what all the fuss is about. Sounds like at least a few of the kids were on the ball enough to figure out that this wasn't exactly appropriate behavior.
I gotta admit, that is pretty hideous!
Suppose she had flipped off one of the students at this private school. Just "unprofessional behavior"? How low are you willing to set the bar? If it is okay for her to teach in her sports bra, then why not let the girls in the class learn in their sports bras? And how 'bout the guys in their jockstraps?
Why not, indeed. The teacher's offense was "flashing" the student(s), ie, lifting her blouse and exposing her jog bra with the intent to shock. She should be required to apologize for that and reform her behavior. Dress codes, however, are changeable, culturally relative, and suited to the occasion. In a different situation, like at a fun run, the sight of this teacher's jog bra would be completely inoffensive. Re your comment, it's not a stretch to imagine boys and girls wearing less clothing and even going nude to class without neither shock nor embarrassment.
Interesting how willing we are to accommodate to the lowest standards of decency. Oh well, my mistake for assuming that we might want to shoot for teachers who could be good role models.
Would Christ throw away this teacher without a second chance? Hmmm?
Lol, I right clicked the pic and saw the url.
I haven't been there, honest!
Oops. The sentence with a typo should read:
Re your comment, it's not a stretch to imagine boys and girls wearing less clothing and even going nude to class with neither shock nor embarrassment.
Agree, especially as she was never indecent, and at a high school on top of it... But don your asbestos... you'll need it.
Of course not....but we aren't talking about her eternal soul here. We are talking about a principle of decency and decorum - as an example to young people who are, by definition the "weaker brother" who should not be caused to stumble.
The teacher's offense was "flashing" the student(s), ie, lifting her blouse and exposing her jog bra with the intent to shock. She should be required to apologize for that and reform her behavior.
Indeed, but I think it represents a significant lack of judgment on her part. Plus her actions in the parking lot? To heck with her.
Can't answer the 'Christ' question since I'm agnostic.
I knew, Illbay, that sooner or later, I would find SOMETHING we agreed on!
Can't answer the 'Christ' question since I'm agnostic.
Does that mean you are going to have agnostic nog during Christmas?
PS: You are one of the most spiritual agnosticines (agnosticii? agnosticians?) I have ever met.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
[
Top
|
Latest Posts
|
Latest Articles
|
Self Search
|
Add Bookmark
|
Post
|
Abuse
|
Help!
]
FreeRepublic , LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794 Forum Version 2.0a Copyright © 1999 Free Republic, LLC |