June 13, 2006
Let Your Voice Be Heard Regarding Firing of Local Teacher
For the large number of you who have expressed outrage at the possible firing of Austin High School art teacher Tamara Hoover, we thought we'd pass along the information listed below. You might no have children in school in the AISD, but it is a part of your community. Several of you have emailed us asking what can be done. We'd suggest starting here.
- List of AISD School Board Members and their phone numbers
- Email the trustees here
- Phone: 512.414.1704
- Fax: 512.414.1486
We do not assume that all of our readers believe the firing is unjust, but from the responses we've received, it is clear that most do.
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Thanks for providing this ~ and in such a compelling format, with easily accessed information.
The Austinist has got some power, and it's inspiring to see y'all using that power for good.
Thanks for providing this ~ and in such a compelling format, with easily accessed information.
The Austinist has got some power, and it's inspiring to see y'all using that power for good.
Hi there, Queen of Sky here, the blog-fired Delta flight attendant. I just sent a mssg (via MySpace) to Ms. Hoover telling her to contact my lawyer. But in case she doesn't get my message, someone forward this to here: his name is Gary Bledsoe and his number is: 512-322-9992
Peace out and FIGHT THE POWER, y'all!
-Q of S
I would like to make public my support of Tamara's struggle to defend her freedom of expression.
http://www.myspace.com/carlwebb
Yes, teachers should probably not be posing nude and "seminude" in pictures that are posted on a public website.
However, Ms. Hoover did not post the pics, her girlfriend did.
Should Ms. Hoover be held accountable for the actions of another person? Can AISD fire her for violating the base acts clause?
Good question. Though Ms. Hoover had to have known that the photographer/paramour would be posting the revealing photos on a public website. At the very least, Ms. Hoover displayed questionable judgement.
Also, any high school student with a rudimentary knowledge of the Internet could easily find much more provacitive images online.
On the one hand, the public should usually stay out of a teacher's private life. However, Ms. Hoover had to have known that the nude pictures were going to be made public - posted on the Web.
Would I fire Ms. Hoover? I don't know. Being a teacher, though, does require a certain level of decorum.
Fired? No. Reprimanded for poor judgement? Yes. Many many pictures have been posted over many months on flickr, where the photographer and Ms. Hoover are linked to one another, so the whole "I didn't know" excuse seems thin.
I agree that teachers should have whatever private life they choose, but many postings over many months on very public websites is like having them posted in your front yard..yeah its your private property, but all the public can see and evaluate you from it without looking too hard.
I think some of the pictures are absolutely atrocious. Some are just plain weird and pointless. Most are tasteless. Only a very small percentage required any thought and appear decent. I mean from a fellow artist, some people would want to call this human expression. But none of these photos express anything - a very poor job.
Art good or bad, is a reflection on the artist. And I agree with the firing. I wouldn't want this closet freak teaching my children. If you're going to be a daring, risky, and racy artist - AT LEAST be good at it. These photos are boring and stupid.
I stand beside the firing. Maybe shes can go get a job with the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I think some of the pictures are absolutely atrocious. Some are just plain weird and pointless. Most are tasteless. Only a very small percentage required any thought and appear decent. I mean from a fellow artist, some people would want to call this human expression. But none of these photos express anything - a very poor job.
Art good or bad, is a reflection on the artist. And I agree with the firing. I wouldn't want this closet freak teaching my children. If you're going to be a daring, risky, and racy artist - AT LEAST be good at it. These photos are boring and stupid.
I stand beside the firing. Maybe shes can go get a job with the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
To JS: You are making lots of comments about the artist. You are aware that the teacher is not the artist responsible for these photos, right? What you seem to be saying is that the subject is responsible for the art, not the artist.