California Teacher Fired For Being A Victim Of Domestic Abuse

[LanternWaste]

The firing was prompted by Charlesworth’s abusive ex-husband Martin Charlesworth, who invaded the Holy Trinity School parking lot after a weekend where Carie had called the police on him three times, sending the school into lockdown.

Martin was sent to prison, but Carie herself was also punished. On April 11th, the school sent a letter to her informing her of her dismissal. The grounds? Her husband was dangerous:

"We know from the most recent incident involving you and Mrs. Wright (the principal) while you were still physically at Holy Trinity School, that the temporary restraining order in effect were not a deterrent to him. Although we understand he is current incarcerated, we have no way of knowing how long or short a time he will actually serve and we understand from court files that he may be released as early as next fall. In the interest of the safety of the students, faculty and parents at Holy Trinity School, we simply cannot allow you to return to work there, or, unfortunately, at any other school in the Diocese."

Charlesworth cited the decision as an example of the pervasive stigma domestic violence victims face on top of the abuse itself. “That’s why women of domestic violence don’t come forward,” she told NBC. “They’re afraid of the way people are going to see them, view them, perceive them, treat them.”



http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/06/13/2148721/school-fires-teacher-domestic-abuse/





If this is indicative of our response to abuse, we may as well call that entire Enlightemnet thing a sweet, but failed experiment.

[ismnotwasm]

1. I read about this

It's disgusting. Why can't this be terrorism? If an entire school is frightened enough to fire this women, I'd call it terrorism.

[Warpy]

2. I think the idea was to keep Mr. Fuckhead away from the kids

when he gets let out of jail too soon. And he will be let out of jail too soon, they all are.

While it would have been better to let her finish out the term, it was a safety issue for all the kids in that school. The Mr. Fuckheads have been known to show up with guns and not be real good about aiming them.

This teacher will find another job, I hope, and Mr. Fuckhead will have one hell of a time finding her. I hope she takes the opportunity and moves far, far away because we know the legal system doesn't take obsessed males who are loath to have their human property escape them all that seriously.

[ismnotwasm]

3. I know

I don't know how rare it is for a firing to happen, but i know it does happen. Clearly the school took the danger seriously, which makes me wonder if he harassed the school. This women is not safe anywhere near him. I hope there is help for her, this is terrifying. Maybe the additional publicity will buy her some safety if she can get away. That his is all we have to offer is both sad and a statement on DM.

And those fucking piece of shit Republicans didn't want to renew VAWA.

[LanternWaste]

6. If he wants to find her, he will... regardless of what school she eventually works at

If he wants to find her when he gets out, he will... regardless of what school she eventually works at. And then those children will be in danger. And if she doesn't teach any more, he will be a threat to any workplace she winds up at.

She is being doubly victimized through absolutely no fault of her own, and from where I sit, the school is simply passing the buck to her next employer, and this specific problem is merely kicked down the road rather than being solved.

[Squinch]

4. How very Christian of the Holy Trinity School.

If they were truly concerned for the kids, they could have come up with a better solution than firing the victim.

[Sheldon Cooper]

5. While I feel very bad for the teacher, I really can't find fault with the school.

Her husband doesn't appear to have any qualms about going to a school and causing trouble. With his history, it's probably just a matter of time until he takes it to the next level. Were my kids enrolled in that school, I would not be willing to expose them to his rage. I hope she gets unemployment compensation and assistance with finding another job.

[ismnotwasm]

7. She notified the school herself

She went to her principal at Holy Trinity School in El Cajon the following morning and told the principal to be on the lookout for her ex-husband. As many domestic violence cases go, this one has a trail of restraining orders and 911 calls. When Charlesworth’s ex-husband showed up in the school parking lot, the school went into lockdown.

Charlesworth and her four kids, who also attended Holy Trinity School, have not been back since the January incident. A letter was sent home to parents the following day, explaining the situation and noting Charlesworth and her children were being put "on an indefinite leave.”

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/52183094/ns/local_news-san_diego_ca/t/domestic-violence-victim-fired-teaching/#.UbpRecu9KK3

I understand the schools position, although I would love to hear about an indefinite extension of sentence for this man. The school probably doesn't have resources to keep itself safe from predators. I wish this had been taken into account in sentencing. He wanted to stalk and terrorize his wife, but precipitating a lockdown on school property should be at the least, treated harsher than how some communities treat drug dealing near schools. He terrorized a large group of people, most of them children.

He's getting out at the end of June.

[Sheldon Cooper]

8. He should have been given a much longer sentence for terrorizing the school.

That poor woman - I hope she gets far away.

[BainsBane]

9. I hope she has a good lawyer to sue the school district

because this is outrageous.

[nomorenomore08]

10. +100

nt