Martin High officials reprimand teachers
Journalism, drama programs blasted for explicit material
By Tracey-Lynn Clough / Staff Writer of the Arlington Morning News
Published 05-21-1998
A Martin High School journalism teacher was removed as sponsor of the school newspaper after allowing students to publish offensive and lewd language in a recent edition, officials said Wednesday.
School principal Steve Jacoby recommended that Martin High teacher Robbie Griffin be transferred to another campus and not be allowed to teach journalism, officials said after a disciplinary hearing Wednesday.
Officials also reprimanded on Wednesday a drama teacher a who came under fire when her students students planned to put on a sexually explicit play.
Ms. Griffin was placed on paid administrative leave May 12 following the May 11 end-of-the-year publication of The Warrior Post, which was delivered to 1,900 students and contained vulgar, obscene and racist material, officials said.
Ms. Griffin did not return calls placed to her home Wednesday. But she gave district officials written permission to release the disciplinary action taken against her, district spokeswoman Charlene Robertson said.
After his investigation, Mr. Jacoby concluded that Ms. Griffin approved the newspaper's content before its publication, officials said. He also found that the issue contained defamatory remarks about students, teachers and community members.
The Rev. Barry Cameron of Arlington Christian Church, who had raised concerns about the newspaper, called the disciplinary action a "step in the right direction."
"Is this all the action that will be needed? We'll find out in the days ahead," he said.
Mr. Jacoby, who was unavailable for comment Wednesday, issued a personal apology to his faculty and staff after the publication was distributed.
Superintendent Mac Bernd said he agreed with Mr. Jacoby's findings.
"I believe Mr. Jacoby's actions thoroughly reflected the seriousness of the issue," Dr. Bernd said Wednesday. "It's now time to close this matter and move on."
Martin senior Matt Kellner, 18, said the action taken against Ms. Griffin was fair.
"If their decision is related to the publication, it's a fair sentence," he said. "I don't think she should have allowed it to be published. You know, we all make mistakes and we learn. I guess this is her second chance."
Mr. Kellner's father, Paul Kellner, said he is relieved Ms. Griffin will be forced to teach another subject.
"I don't think she had any business teaching journalism," he said. "That was a piece of trash they put out. I'm fine with the administration's decision."
In addition to the disciplinary actions against Ms. Griffin, drama teacher Karen Baker received a written reprimand with a three-point action plan to ensure she gives her students appropriate guidance, officials announced.
Ms. Baker came under fire the same week when a group of her drama students planned to put on a student-edited version of an adult play, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress.
School officials said the students renamed the play Mindless Sex, which included explicit language and a scene in which one student was to bare her breasts.
The play was to be presented to classmates as a final project, officials said.
Mr. Jacoby found that while Ms. Baker, "was not aware" of the student-edited version, "she was ultimately responsible for classroom presentations and for selecting appropriate instructional resources," officials said.
The directives include: prohibiting student access to obscene materials in the theater arts library; working with Mr. Jacoby to develop a professional growth plan for the 1998-99 school year; and submitting plays for future productions to the principal or his designee for prior review.
Both educators are members of United Educators Association and were represented at hearings Wednesday, said Larry Shaw, the association's executive director.
Prior to the hearings Wednesday, Mr. Shaw said: "We hope this will be resolved quickly."
However, UEA officials were unavailable for comment following the hearing.
Dr. Bernd said he believes the two highly publicized incidents and the outcome has increased awareness among Arlington teachers.
"We certainly think through a heightened awareness and the specific measures that have been taken, that we've forestalled the possibility of anything like this happening again," Dr. Bernd said.
Staff Writer Jenni Smith contributed to this report.