RUNNING HEAD: Assignment #2 1

Jason Atilano-Lopez

Nevada Law Edu 210

Ch.1 Assignment

Sat. Sept 7, 2019

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Assignment Two

Should Ann Griffin be allowed to continue teaching after her racial comments? After

being in an altercation with two African American co-workers, Ann Griffin bashed their race

stating that she hates all people of color. After word of the incident was revealed, she faced

negative reactions from all people in the school. Principal Watts recommended dismissal of

Griffin. Keeping in mind that most of the high school is predominantly African American,

should Ann Griffin still be allowed to teach in the school? Should she be dismissed from her

teaching duties?

One of the court cases that supports Ann Griffin would be Mt. Healthy Board of

Education v. Doyle (1977). In this court case, the superintendent recommended that the board

should not renew Doyle’s contract due to unprofessionalism (call to a radio) and gestures

towards other students. The court decided that Doyle’s call to the radio was protected by the first

and fourteenth amendment and that he be reinstated. This case ties back to our scenario because

Ann Griffin was protected by the first amendment, while also taking into account that those

comments could have been said in the heat of the moment.

Another court case that supports Ann Griffin would be Pickering v. Board of Education

(1968). In this court case, the teacher wrote a letter to an editor complaining about the school

board’s spending with funds. The school board opted to terminate Pickering’s employment. The

court ruled that Pickering was also protected by the first and fourteenth amendment. This ties

back to Ann Griffin because she would also be protected by the first amendment.

A court case that supports principal Watts would be Fowler v. Board of education (1987).

In this court case, the teacher has shown an “R” rated film to her class. The teacher had full

knowledge of the films rating and had no intent on teaching the students anything with showing
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the film. The school decided to terminate the teacher, but she fought the decision, claiming that

she was protected by the first amendment. The Supreme court claimed that showing the movie

does not constitute free speech and that she had knowledge of the movie being inappropriate for

students. This case ties back to our scenario because Ann Griffin’s comments are also not

supported by the first amendment as they incite violence and are inappropriate for her to make as

an authority figure.

Another case/law that supports principal Watts would be Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

of 1964. This act prohibits any sort of discrimination based to race to any school that accepts any

sort of federal funding. This would also apply to private schools that accept federal funding. This

law ties back to our scenario because the incident did occur in a school setting. Although it is not

known if Ann Griffin made her remarks in a public or private school, it is likely that the school

was receiving federal funds.

I truly believe that this teacher should not be allowed to teach in any school. These kinds

of hateful comments have no place anywhere. I understand that people may have personal

feelings, but these feelings should never be addressed towards any individual no matter the

circumstance. I honestly agree with Principal Watts and I truly believe that she needs to be

dismissed from education as soon as possible.

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References

Mt. Healthy City School District Board of Education v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274 (1977)

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

Fowler v. Board of Education of Lincoln County, 819 F.2d 657 (1987)

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C 2000d et seq.

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