Doug Bartlett, a veteran teacher with an upstanding record of 17 years, has filed a lawsuit against the school district of Chicago for suspending him without pay after giving a lesson on gardening tools to his second grade students.
The incident took place on August 8, 2011 at Washington Irving Elementary School.
Mr. Bartlett recently filed suit on April 17, 2013 saying that he suffered humiliation and embarrassment as a result of his reprimand.
The “hazardous” tools in question were pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches that only the teacher handled. The tools were kept in a locked toolbox high on a shelf out of reach before and after the gardening lesson.
The district says that Mr. Bartlett exhibited negligence in supervising the children and for “possessing, carrying, storing, or using a weapon”. Â He was subsequently suspended without pay for 4 days.
Mr. Bartlett’s lawsuit claims the suspension violated his Fourteenth Amendment right to due process as he asserts that there was never a full hearing on the incident. Â Further, he was disciplined without ever having the opportunity to plead his case.
According to the Rutherford Institute which is representing him, Mr. Bartlett is seeking damages and requesting the suspension be expunged from his teaching record.
It is important to have electronic records in order as the charge of possessing a “weapon”, in this case gardening tools, has the potential to prevent Mr. Bartlett from seeking employment elsewhere.
The incident is yet another example of an over the top reaction by school officials demonstrating poor judgment and a gross lack of common sense.
A related story occurred in the Fall of 2012 when the Vice Principal of a California school suspended a boy for bringing kombucha in his lunchbox.  With no parent or guardian present at any time, the boy was interrogated in the school office by school administration and a police officer and was ultimately suspended for 5 days for “violating” the school’s drug and alcohol policy. No tests were ever performed on the beverage which is able to be legally purchased by minors at local stores.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Teacher Who Showed Garden Tools to Second Grade Students is Suspended Without Pay
School should remove all those dangerous doors, windows and electrical outlets, before someone gets hurt. Also they should pad walls and floors just in case someone falls down. And while you are there you must watch 2hr of “safety at school” video every day.. just in case.. you know, to be safe.
And you guys call this the land of the free?? I’m gobsmacked. Here in New Zealand, we not only show the kids the gardening tool – we teach them how to garden! What is wrong with some of your people – how did they ever get into positions where they can make such absurd decisions as to suspend this teacher? I could not live in a country like yours, it is far too restrictive.
SO are they doing away with Ag classes and therefore, agriculture?
Well isn’t this ironic…because the Department of Homeland security recently released a video encouraging would be victims to ward off terrorists with scissors or just hide under a desk. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271244/Is-workplace-getting-shot-crazed-gunman-Just-grab-pair-scissors-Homeland-security-s-bizarre-advice-video-fighting-terrorists.html
welcome to crazy town
Welcome to ‘dope and change can believe in’. What a joke the city of Chicago become, what a bunch of authoritarian left wing trash.
Pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches? What kind of gardening was he talking about?
I know you have never seen a garden in your life, expect the Walmart’s vegetables section.. but believe it or not, those tools are used to install and maintain stuff like water-drip system, growing rails, growing racks, growing lights etc.
I see 2 images up there, one is of wrenches (okay not gardening tools per se)
But the rest seem fine to me?
Gardening shears and shovels etc, unless they changed the first image…
LOL! Was there a point?
you know how dangerous those weapons of “grass” destruction are!
Another prime example why parents should either put their children in private schools or home school them.
what about pots and pans I know some should not be allowed to use them as what they produce is …happy well fed families , cant have that now days oh my