EDU 210 Portfolio Artifact # 2

Tiffany M. Connally
EDU 210
January 2015
 Two African-American administrators who are assigned to administer a primarily black
high school get into a heated conversation with a white teacher. The teacher states a negative
statement against the racial difference. Several colleagues of different racial backgrounds are
informed of the statement causing a negative reaction. The administrators feel based on the
concerns of other staff members that Ann be dismissed.

In the court case Plessy v. Ferguson the Supreme Court ruled that “separate but equal”
page 15, decided (1896) was permissible. Plessy was arrested for violating railroad
accommodations. It was stated that those individuals who were not designated to certain facilities
were violating the statue. Plessy was found guilty on the grounds of the law’s reasonable
exercise of the state’s police powers. In the scenario both the principle and the assistant principle
appeared frustrated at Ann’s negative reaction towards the different race. Separating of the white
and black staff would fall into a case of segregated facilities.

The Principle’s dismissal based on concerns opposes Pickering v. Board of Education.

391 U.S. 563 (1968) Teachers as citizens have the right to make critical comments. If in any way
it does not affect the teacher’s ability to perform their job duties there shall be no disciplinary
action taken. Ann Griffin expressed her personal opinion but in any way does it show she is
incompetent as an educator. The case rules that dismissal upon exercising freedom of speech is
prohibited.

In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka the court rules that separation of blacks and
whites was biased. State laws established that separating students due to physical color was
unconstitutional. Parents felt that the school district needed to reverse the policy of racial
segregation. If a white teacher was hired at a predominantly black high school this does not mean
she would treat her students unfairly because of a personal opinion. Equality is what the district
court found as a huge factor.

Based on the scenario, I feel the court will rule that the administration can not dismiss
Ann Griffin. Each teacher can exercise their personal opinions without it reflecting on their job.
Whether her comment was negative or positive does not have anything to do with her fulfilling
her job duties on a daily basis. There are no proven facts that Ann will treat students unfairly due
to racial difference. Each individual shall be entitled to freedom of speech.
 References

Underwood,Julie.Webb,Dean.L.(2006)School Law For Teachers: Concepts and Applications.

New Jersey

Plessy v. Ferguson, page 15, decided (1896)

Pickering v. Board of Education, 391 U.S. 563 (1968)

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, page 15, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)