Pregnant Coach/Teacher Fired

[AnimatedDirt]

Fired for Out-of-Wedlock Pregnancy

This kind of thing saddens me.  While I do support the rights of the private school, sometimes we (and I mean Christians with that 'we') put the better Christian thing to do below "the law" of God.  This totally trashes the account, if you'll indulge me, of Christ and the prostitute brought before him.  According to the law, stoning was the correct sentence, but according to the Law Giver, mercy was given.

[Buddy]

I don't think that she should have been fired for something like being pregnant without being married. However, if she read the contract, she should have known that she could be fired for that. So really, it seems like everybody was in the wrong.

[AnimatedDirt]

I don't think that she should have been fired for something like being pregnant without being married. However, if she read the contract, she should have known that she could be fired for that. So really, it seems like everybody was in the wrong.

Mistakes happen and I'm sure she knew what the "rules" were if it was clearly worded in her contract.  However I'd agree, but then which is more of a "no-no"... normal pregnancy or an abortion?  

[Ali]

AD, I saw that too.

Obviously, as a non Christian, I think it's ridiculous.  However, I also agree that private schools should be allowed to have rules like that, and that she presumably knew the rules when she got hired on.

On the other hand, I agree with you about the problem with Christians not acting very Christ-like.  My upbringing was such that people paid a lot of lip service to the idea that we are all sinners, we all fall short, but through Jesus we can all be forgiven, that you don't have to be perfect, in fact you can't be perfect, but that's okay because Jesus already paid for our sins.  The idea of pushing someone away because she is a sinner seems very contrary to the ideology of Christianity.  But it also doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

[AnimatedDirt]

AD, I saw that too.

Obviously, as a non Christian, I think it's ridiculous.  However, I also agree that private schools should be allowed to have rules like that, and that she presumably knew the rules when she got hired on.

On the other hand, I agree with you about the problem with Christians not acting very Christ-like.  My upbringing was such that people paid a lot of lip service to the idea that we are all sinners, we all fall short, but through Jesus we can all be forgiven, that you don't have to be perfect, in fact you can't be perfect, but that's okay because Jesus already paid for our sins.  The idea of pushing someone away because she is a sinner seems very contrary to the ideology of Christianity.  But it also doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

As a Christian, I think it's ridiculous.  Neither does it surprise me.

[DeterminedJuliet]

Fired for Out-of-Wedlock Pregnancy

This kind of thing saddens me.  While I do support the rights of the private school, sometimes we (and I mean Christians with that 'we') put the better Christian thing to do below "the law" of God.  This totally trashes the account, if you'll indulge me, of Christ and the prostitute brought before him.  According to the law, stoning was the correct sentence, but according to the Law Giver, mercy was given.

This is why, for all of our grumbling, most of us consider you one of the "good" Christians.  

And I agree with the people who've said that this could backfire and actually encourage more women to have abortions (which is not what the "family values" religious folk want). The school is within their right to enforce their contract, but I really wonder how much they've thought through the implications of such a policy. I'd be interested in seeing the exact wording of this "morality" clause.

[Buddy]

What I would like to know is where the father is. If they were in a committed relationship and this happened I would feel that there would be no problem with having a child. But if this was just an accident baby with a random man, then I can see how she would be setting an example for the kids.

[Dobermonster]

I'd like to have a look at that contract, and what it specifically states. Not one teacher in that school is a paragon of virtue, I can guarantee. Does the school mete out the same punishment for the ones who fail to honor the Sabbath, or express envy over a neighbour's new acquisition? I fear that if the contract expressly forbids getting knocked up she's out of luck . . . but I don't see the school's actions as very 'Christian' at all. Christ accepted sinners into his group, he did not expel them, because he knew full well there was not one human who could claim exception to 'being a sinner'.

I don't really give a shit whether it was an accident, planned, whether the teacher was in a committed relationship or just had some fun one night . . . I don't think that's anyone's business but hers. But of course, I would never sign a work contract that made my vagina someone else's business.

[Dobermonster]

I'd like to have a look at that contract, and what it specifically states. Not one teacher in that school is a paragon of virtue, I can guarantee. Does the school mete out the same punishment for the ones who fail to honor the Sabbath, or express envy over a neighbour's new acquisition? I fear that if the contract expressly forbids getting knocked up she's out of luck . . . but I don't see the school's actions as very 'Christian' at all. Christ accepted sinners into his group, he did not expel them, because he knew full well there was not one human who could claim exception to 'being a sinner'.

I don't really give a shit whether it was an accident, planned, whether the teacher was in a committed relationship or just had some fun one night . . . I don't think that's anyone's business but hers. But of course, I would never sign a work contract that made my vagina someone else's business.

As an aside, I wonder what would happen if a male teacher knocked up a woman - would he see the same punishment? Or would he receive a pass because his 'sin' is less apparent?

[Tank]

I'd like to have a look at that contract, and what it specifically states. Not one teacher in that school is a paragon of virtue, I can guarantee. Does the school mete out the same punishment for the ones who fail to honor the Sabbath, or express envy over a neighbour's new acquisition? I fear that if the contract expressly forbids getting knocked up she's out of luck . . . but I don't see the school's actions as very 'Christian' at all. Christ accepted sinners into his group, he did not expel them, because he knew full well there was not one human who could claim exception to 'being a sinner'.

I don't really give a shit whether it was an accident, planned, whether the teacher was in a committed relationship or just had some fun one night . . . I don't think that's anyone's business but hers. But of course, I would never sign a work contract that made my vagina someone else's business.

As an aside, I wonder what would happen if a male teacher knocked up a woman - would he see the same punishment? Or would he receive a pass because his 'sin' is less apparent?

The same thought crossed my mind. 

[AnimatedDirt]

This is why, for all of our grumbling, most of us consider you one of the "good" Christians.  

Certainly I'm not nearly as good as some of you.  As I've mentioned, I know a few Atheists that are better "Christians" than I am.  Thx. though.  

I'd be interested in seeing the exactly wording of this "morality" clause.

Me too...

[Stevil]

I don't think that she should have been fired for something like being pregnant without being married. However, if she read the contract, she should have known that she could be fired for that. So really, it seems like everybody was in the wrong.

It ought to be illegal, to draft up an employment contract containing that clause.
This could be seen as discrimination against women, against atheists.
In my opinion it is a human rights violation.

People have the right to have children out of wedlock. Some people choose to be solo parents, some people simply choose to not participate in the tradition of marriage.

[AnimatedDirt]

I don't think that she should have been fired for something like being pregnant without being married. However, if she read the contract, she should have known that she could be fired for that. So really, it seems like everybody was in the wrong.

It ought to be illegal, to draft up an employment contract containing that clause.
This could be seen as discrimination against women, against atheists.
In my opinion it is a human rights violation.

People have the right to have children out of wedlock. Some people choose to be solo parents, some people simply choose to not participate in the tradition of marriage.

Under the "private" laws, it's not illegal.  My point is that while it is lawful, the institution promoting Chrisitianity should think better about their position/decision on matters like this.  If this person had thumbed their nose and gotten pregnant IN ORDER TO MAKE WAVES, then I would have a different opinion. 

[DeterminedJuliet]

I'd like to have a look at that contract, and what it specifically states. Not one teacher in that school is a paragon of virtue, I can guarantee. Does the school mete out the same punishment for the ones who fail to honor the Sabbath, or express envy over a neighbour's new acquisition? I fear that if the contract expressly forbids getting knocked up she's out of luck . . . but I don't see the school's actions as very 'Christian' at all. Christ accepted sinners into his group, he did not expel them, because he knew full well there was not one human who could claim exception to 'being a sinner'.

I don't really give a shit whether it was an accident, planned, whether the teacher was in a committed relationship or just had some fun one night . . . I don't think that's anyone's business but hers. But of course, I would never sign a work contract that made my vagina someone else's business.

As an aside, I wonder what would happen if a male teacher knocked up a woman - would he see the same punishment? Or would he receive a pass because his 'sin' is less apparent?

The same thought crossed my mind.  

Yeah, same.

But I've pretty much given up on trying to argue against all of the misogyny inherent in a lot of organized religion. It's like banging your head against a wall.  And it's just so ingrained in Abrahamic religions, I don't even know what they'd look like without it. My feelings are, generally, to let them do whatever they're going to do so long as they keep it in the private sphere and the people who are subjected to the thinking are voluntarily practicing in the religious practices - which I think, in this case, the woman was.

[Ali]

I'd like to have a look at that contract, and what it specifically states. Not one teacher in that school is a paragon of virtue, I can guarantee. Does the school mete out the same punishment for the ones who fail to honor the Sabbath, or express envy over a neighbour's new acquisition? I fear that if the contract expressly forbids getting knocked up she's out of luck . . . but I don't see the school's actions as very 'Christian' at all. Christ accepted sinners into his group, he did not expel them, because he knew full well there was not one human who could claim exception to 'being a sinner'.

I don't really give a shit whether it was an accident, planned, whether the teacher was in a committed relationship or just had some fun one night . . . I don't think that's anyone's business but hers. But of course, I would never sign a work contract that made my vagina someone else's business.

As an aside, I wonder what would happen if a male teacher knocked up a woman - would he see the same punishment? Or would he receive a pass because his 'sin' is less apparent?

The same thought crossed my mind.  

Yeah, same.

But I've pretty much given up on trying to argue against all of the misogyny inherent in a lot of organized religion. It's like banging your head against a wall.  And it's just so ingrained in Abrahamic religions, I don't even know what they'd look like without it. My feelings are, generally, to let them do whatever they're going to do so long as they keep it in the private sphere and the people who are subjected to the thinking are voluntarily practicing in the religious practices - which I think, in this case, the woman was.

Agreed.