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
Unless we were there we will never know the truth
I do find it interesting that I cannot find any reference to this in the Chicago newspapers. I believe the reason for the suspension was the box cutter and the pocket knife. The CTU wanted zero tolerance, I guess it applies to them too.
What about ‘shop’ class – the boys would learn how to make things in wood, etc. while the girls would take home ec…….doesn’t this exist anymore? Lots of *dangerous* items in both those classes!
So true, Helen! My daughter’s school had to be evacuated last month because of a fire in their auto shop.
For goodness sake! An ipad can be dangerous weapon if wielded. These are every day tools. No wonder children don’t know what real food looks like!
Even a book can be a dangerous weapon and in more ways than if applied forcefully to a face, with the majority containing misinformation and brainwashing tactics!
i’m so sick of stupidity.
This is crazy. By the way, these tools can be used by farmers and trade jobs. We have a shortage of workers in the US for trade jobs because they push college on EVERYONE. 4 year college is not for everyone. Why should we discourage schools from teaching all types of tools, farming, gardening and trade jobs.
The level of stupidity is astonishing and I am about to unplug from everything!
Wait a minute…how are wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers “gardening tools”. Not that I think they are weapons, but if that is how he gardens…
Agreed. There’s got to be more to the story. “Teacher Suspended for Showing Gardening Tools to Class” is a misleading headline, but I imagine was purposefully phrased that way.
sometimes you have to use tools on your gardening tools. the head of my rake is attached with a screw, necessitating a screwdriver. my window box planters have arms that need to be loosened and tightened with a wrench. it’s not that hard to imagine why he was using a few simple tools in relation to gardening.
This is why I will only put my kids an AMI Montessori school where these basic items are a part of everyday life in class.
wow