School bus driver fired after flipping off president

SuzannePjam
SuzannePjam Posts: 411
edited November 2006 in A Moving Train
A grievance with Bush leads to another one
School bus driver fired after flipping off president wants job back


SEATTLE - A school bus driver fired after she reportedly made an obscene gesture at President Bush has filed a union grievance in an attempt to get her job back.
The 43-year-old driver, whose name was not released, was driving middle school children back to school after a zoo visit on June 16 when the president and Republican Rep. Dave Reichert drove slowly by in a motorcade.
From the bus, the children waved; with the windows down in their car, Bush and Reichert waved back.
That’s when the driver gave the president the finger, according to Reichert and Issaquah superintendent Janet Barry.
“The congressman hadn’t seen it, but the president turned to him and said, ‘That one’s not a fan,”’ said Reichert spokeswoman Kimberly Cadena.
Reichert later called Barry to tell her about the incident, but the bus driver had already been fired. District officials learned about the incident after the driver boasted to colleagues about it, Cadena said.
District spokeswoman Sara Niegowski said the driver has filed a wrongful termination grievance through the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The union did not return calls seeking comment.
Niegowski said the firing was not politically motivated.
“The bus driver was not terminated for making an obscene gesture at the president. The bus driver was terminated for making an obscene gesture in view of the students,” Niegowski said. “That’s not the role modeling we need for our students.”
"Where there is sacrifice there is someone collecting the sacrificial offerings."-- Ayn Rand

"Some of my friends sit around every evening and they worry about the times ahead,
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference and the promise of an early bed..."-- Elvis Costello
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  • jlew24asu
    jlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    The bus driver was terminated for making an obscene gesture in view of the students,” Niegowski said. “That’s not the role modeling we need for our students.”



    I would agree
  • Dirty Mosquito
    Dirty Mosquito Chicago Posts: 621
    I agree that it was not appropriate in front of children, however, I give the driver props for standing up for her beliefs against the president. I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing.
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  • SPEEDY MCCREADY
    SPEEDY MCCREADY Posts: 26,956
    she deserved to be fired..........
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  • Will1659
    Will1659 Posts: 51
    As much as I find that story hilarious, I agree that it was a pretty dumb idea to do on the job in front of kids. Not that it's not something the kids probably see from each other nonstop in the back of that bus, but still.
  • jlew24asu
    jlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    not sure of the original posters intent but someone else had used this example of how america is loosing its freedoms. flip off the president, loose your job.

    when will people understand. with freedom comes responsibilty
  • Dirty Mosquito
    Dirty Mosquito Chicago Posts: 621
    jlew24asu wrote:
    not sure of the original posters intent but someone else had used this example of how america is loosing its freedoms. flip off the president, loose your job.

    when will people understand. with freedom comes responsibilty

    Agreed! Although, I do think there are certain situations where the government has taken way to much control and we've lost freedom for the illusion of saftey, to do away with our falsified fears.
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  • keeponrockin
    keeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Will1659 wrote:
    As much as I find that story hilarious, I agree that it was a pretty dumb idea to do on the job in front of kids. Not that it's not something the kids probably see from each other nonstop in the back of that bus, but still.

    I agree. Though it is hilarious.
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  • norm
    norm Posts: 31,146
    jlew24asu wrote:
    The bus driver was terminated for making an obscene gesture in view of the students,” Niegowski said. “That’s not the role modeling we need for our students.”



    I would agree
    I agree also, but it's a convenient excuse if the powers that be at the school district were more upset with what she did regardless of if it was in front of the kids or not.
  • SuzannePjam
    SuzannePjam Posts: 411
    jlew24asu wrote:
    not sure of the original posters intent but someone else had used this example of how america is loosing its freedoms. flip off the president, loose your job.

    when will people understand. with freedom comes responsibilty
    My position is that it wasn't right to do in front of the kids, but if it were anywhere else, God bless. Lord knows you certainly can't do it at a Bush rally either.

    Now that bus driver probably has a CIA file three inches thick.
    "Where there is sacrifice there is someone collecting the sacrificial offerings."-- Ayn Rand

    "Some of my friends sit around every evening and they worry about the times ahead,
    But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference and the promise of an early bed..."-- Elvis Costello
  • jlew24asu
    jlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    cutback wrote:
    I agree also, but it's a convenient excuse if the powers that be at the school district were more upset with what she did regardless of if it was in front of the kids or not.


    but it was in front of the kids
  • enharmonic
    enharmonic Posts: 1,917
    Because we all know that bus drivers are natural role models. why, when I was a boy, I always dreamed of growing up to be a...bus...driver.
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  • Dirty Mosquito
    Dirty Mosquito Chicago Posts: 621
    enharmonic wrote:
    Because we all know that bus drivers are natural role models. why, when I was a boy, I always dreamed of growing up to be a...bus...driver.

    Not the point, but you made me laugh...ha ha.
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  • SoonForgotten2
    SoonForgotten2 Posts: 2,245
    jlew24asu wrote:
    when will people understand. with freedom comes responsibilty

    Wow. How ironic. The US as a whole has no idea what that even means.
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  • jlew24asu
    jlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    SoonForgotten2 wrote:
    Wow. How ironic. The US as a whole has no idea what that even means.


    I do and I'm American. easy to point the finger from 4000 miles away as if you know so much about americans.
  • SoonForgotten2
    SoonForgotten2 Posts: 2,245
    jlew24asu wrote:
    I do and I'm American. easy to point the finger from 4000 miles away as if you know so much about americans.

    You're right, it's so hard for me to see how wasteful and destructive the US is as an American living abroad. Silly me.
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  • norm
    norm Posts: 31,146
    jlew24asu wrote:
    but it was in front of the kids
    I know that, but I'm very jaded and skeptical.;)
  • Vedderlution_Baby
    Vedderlution_Baby Posts: 2,535
    What's wrong with flipping off the pres jlew24asu? In regards to your great responsibility comment.
  • surferdude
    surferdude Posts: 2,057
    enharmonic wrote:
    Because we all know that bus drivers are natural role models. why, when I was a boy, I always dreamed of growing up to be a...bus...driver.
    Well with Bush as role model do you think anyone dreams of being the president anymore?
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  • jlew24asu
    jlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    SoonForgotten2 wrote:
    You're right, it's so hard for me to see how wasteful and destructive the US is as an American living abroad. Silly me.


    silly boy
  • jlew24asu
    jlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    Vedderlution_Baby! wrote:
    What's wrong with flipping off the pres jlew24asu? In regards to your great responsibility comment.


    nothing at all. its doing it in front of young children. or did you not catch that part?

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