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Teachers’ Rights and Responsibilities

Briana Torres-Chavez

College of Southern Nevada

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How would you feel if a white ​tenured teacher in a predominantly black high school

claimed she “hated all black folks?” In this scenario, Ana Griffin was the ​white ​tenured teacher

who said this statement to both the principal, Freddie Watts, and the vice principal, Jimmy

Brothers, during a heated conversation. Take in mind the school administration was primarily

African-American. When word came out that she was the one who made such a hateful

comment, confusion and chaos took over all colleagues, both black and white. Freddie Watts

took matter into his own hands and discharged Ana Griffin from her position as a teacher. He

had reasons to believe she was incapable to fairly treat her students. Under ethical and moral

values who do you believe is right?

One court case that defends Freddie Watts and the school would be Brown V. Board of

Education of Topeka (1954). This court case ruled that segregation due to race in public schools

violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. In this court case multiple African

American students were discriminated due to their color and race. In this scenario, Freddie Watts

was able to suspend Ana Griffin and prevent any further racist comments. What would've

happened if no action was taken and Griffin blurted out she “hated all black folks” in her

classroom, in front of her African American students? The Brown V. Board of Education of

Topeka (1954) court case relates to the scenario because just like African Americans were racial

segregated back then, Ana Griffin is starting to reveal her true colors and racially discriminating

her colleagues. This is just the start and Griffin will probably end up doing the same to her

students.
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Another court case that supports Freddie Watts and the school would be Garcetti v.

Ceballos (2006). This recent court case judged that public employees do not have protection

under the First Amendment for speech in their official duties. To go more in depth, this court

case ruled that employees abandon their rights to speak out of matter simply because they have

accepted a government position. In this scenario, Ana Griffin spoke out a hateful comment in a

heated conversation. According to this court case, she is not protected by the First Amendment,

meaning that she doesn’t have the right to freedom of speech. When she expressed how she felt

about African Americans she wasn’t protected by the First Amendment because when you

become a teacher you accept a government employment.

One case court that defends Ana Griffin and her actions would be Pickering v. Board of

Education (1968). In this court case, the Supreme Court ruled that the school was violating the

teacher’s right to free speech. When Ana Griffin commented that she “hated all black folks” it

was during a heated conversation. What if Freddie Watts and Jimmy Brothers offended her in

some way that made her react the way she did. If you pay attention to the scenario it was a 2:1

ratio. Two African Americans versus a white female. Griffin might have acted the way she did

because she felt attacked because she was only one of the few white teachers. What she

commented was out of anger but caused no harm to anyone.

Another court case that supports Ana Griffin and her actions is Tinker v. Des Moines

Independent School District (1969). This court case makes it clear that teachers and students live

under their constitutional rights, both expression and speech at the school setting. Tinker v. Des

Moines Independent School District (1969) has made it possible for both teachers and students to
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freely express themselves by defending their rights. Such as, Ana Griffin had the right to make

the comment she made.

This scenario was straightforward and there was no thinking to do regarding which side

to pick. I side with Principal Freddie Watts and the school. I believe there should be no kind of

discrimination, hateful comments, or racist acts in this world. As a future teacher, I understand I

will be educating the future of Nevada which also means giving an ethical example. My belief is

backed up by the court case Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka (1954). We as humanity

are all equal. There is nothing that should divide us up, no factor that can possibly segregate one

form another.
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References

Brown​ v. ​Board of Education,​ 349 U. S. 294 (1955)

Garcetti v. Ceballos, ​547 U.S. 410 (2006)

Pickering v. Board of Education, 3​ 91 U.S. 563 (1968)

​ chool District, 393 U.S. 503, 506 (1969)

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent S