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
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
this is p. w had all the weapons out to day no hurt was done , will have a lot of pretty soon
Many schools, public, private and charter start in August now. Depends on the town/school.
Good thing I do not live in that third world country mental case land they call America. LOL
So crazy….common sense went south on this decision!
The education system makes me absolutely sick now a days they are so brainwashed with terrorism and see something say something, these educational systems have become terrorists in our own schools watching our children teaching them government and globalist propaganda. These people are so far from reality and whats really going on in this world the creep me the hell out and resemble mindless zombies and more of a threat to my child than a benefit. this school system should be ashamed of itself and I hope that teacher wins his lawsuit, their is very few teachers that want to veer out of the government propaganda and actually teach our children survival skills such as this excellent example of a teacher. I suggest that you home school your children as soon as possible and get them away from these corrupt school systems. god bless that teacher and I hope that he finds another school to teach in that isn’t communist police state style.
God help us if these kids start growing their own tomatoes.
Ridiculous.
Ah the good old days!