[Chyld]

Middle School Teacher Fired For "Wizardry"
May 8, 2008 12:33 a.m. EST

Land O'Lakes, FL (AHN) - A local substitute teacher was terminated from his post here after being accused of performing "wizardry."

According to Jim Piculas, a substitute teacher at the Rushe Middle School in Pasco County, he was removed from his post last January, with officials bearing their accusations on a disappearing-toothpick act that he performed for his students a week before.

"She said, 'You've been accused of wizardry,'" the UPI quoted Piculas, recalling the words of the school district's Pat Sinclair, who terminated him over the phone.

Piculas, both amused and frustrated, explained to Sinclair that the trick was merely a magic act, and that no evil nature was at play.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, reported the Tampa Tribune. "It's not black magic. It's a toothpick."

The trick included a hand maneuver that made the toothpick seem to disappear, when it was merely hidden beneath the performer's thumb. The toothpick was attached to the thumb by means of transparent tape.

Renalia DuBose, assistant superintendent, said that the accusation was merely one of many factors that led to Piculas' termination. Other incidents involved him diverting from the lesson plan, allowing students the use of computers despite the disapproval of the regular teacher, and putting a fifth-grader in charge of the classroom.

Piculas refuted the accusations, saying that he followed the lesson plan, the computers were used with permission of the teacher, and that a fifth-grade student was never placed in charge.

He also accused DuBose of skirting around the concept or word "wizardry," "because it sounds so goofy."

http://www.allheadli...cles/7010883227

Thanks to JM for this astounding piece of Only-In-America-ism. His thoughts were "At least he can still get a job at Hogwarts."

Quite frankly, this is to be expected from a country where Harry Potter gets banned because of its Satanic connotations. By this logic, my fifth birthday party must have made a black mass look like a tea party.

[J m HofMarN]

Little do they know that just before he left he put a hex on their Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

Seriously, I don't know why most of the things I've submitted are about schools being fucked up, especially in florida. Regardless, I totally want to get a job at that school so I can have the word "Wizardry" put in my resume. In most places outside of the south I'd imagine that would be something that employers smile upon.

[Deucaon]

I am not surprised for we are talking about a country that hasn't even embraced the metric system.

[TheOrator]

I am not surprised for we are talking about a country that hasn't even embraced the metric system.

Screw you guys.

Remember the teacher in the Middle East (I forget which country, they're all the same) who - at the suggestion of her students - named a bear Mohamed?

Remember how they were going to put her to death?

Yes, I realize this is a pretty backward thing to have occurred.

But I was surprised.

And I'm in America.


J M himself noted that the country actually makes sense outside of the South, and even that's just a joke we having running here in the real US.


And Deuc, we haven't "even" embraced the metric system? Like that's the least we could do, and we're all behind everyone else in many other ways, too?

And Chyld, it only got banned in the crazy places by crazy people. There are crazy places everywhere.Also, it's not like the government banned them or anything. All the stories I'd heard it was private schools doing it.

Anyway, anti-anti-American rant done.

I like how objectively they explain the trick. All that's missing is "The trick was done to cause amusement in the children, who might be entertained by the apparent disappearance of the toothpick."

[Slade]

If scotch tape is now considered wizardry, I can only imagine the Terror that will occur when Florida realizes how ubiquitous this black magic is in offices world wide.

[J m HofMarN]

I am not surprised for we are talking about a country that hasn't even embraced the metric system.

That system were forged by the devil and propaganted by familiar demons! And for proof, your black magic system would change my weight from what the Lord intended to some silly number of kilograms. Take your black magic elsewhere heathen! BUUUURN THE WITCH!

This post has been edited by J m HofMarN: 15 May 2008 - 01:10 PM

[Dr Lecter]

the Middle East (I forget which country, they're all the same)

Yeah, I think you've just put my opinion of americans (I forget which state, they're all the same) down about 2 notches.

[J m HofMarN]

I agree with Orator here Lecter. I'll prove to you that my country isn't ignorant by producing stereotypes about other countries. And you should know too, I mean, you live pretty close to them dumb polish folk right? All those European countries are the same anyhow.

[barend]

Oh God, America, I thought we were past this whole, "He's a Witch!" phase in your history...

Just, yikes.

[Slade]

Ugh. It's just Florida. It's a very fucked up place. The rest of the country isn't quite that crazy.

[reiner]

Florida: religious whackos, rednecks, and frightened seniors. It's a powderkeg of mental instability.