Originally published March 8 2011
Teacher fired for bumper sticker highlighting the over-medication of children
by Jonathan Benson, staff writer
(NaturalNews) When Tarah Ausburn, a former English teacher at Imagine Prep High School in Surprise, Ariz., refused to remove a bumper sticker from her car that asked the question, "Have you drugged your kids today?" officials fired her, according to reports from KPHO CBS 5 in Phoenix. The sticker, which Ausburn told reporters makes a statement about the over-medication of today's children, sits among 60 other controversial stickers that may have also played a role in her dismissal.
"It's kind of a criticism of us tending to over-medicate hyperactive kids who might not need those medications," said Ausburn to KPHO, likely referring to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs like Ritalin that are widely overused and abused (http://www.naturalnews.com/ADHD_drugs.html).
Ausburn had only worked at the school for two months when she was notified that some of her stickers were upsetting some parents, and that they did not fit into the school's culture. School officials told Ausburn that she could either remove the stickers or park her car off campus. She refused both options and was consequently released.
"You have to remain true to your beliefs, you have to stand up for what you believe is right and I don't believe it's right to censor people just because your opinion doesn't agree with theirs," she said.
Ausburn told 12 News in Phoenix that when parents first began filing complaints about the stickers with administrators at Imagine, Principal John Buzzard supported her. When parents did not get their way at the school, they allegedly went above Buzzard's authority to the regional board which ultimately sided against her, she said.
"This doesn't affect the quality of my teaching," said Ausburn to 12 News, referencing her defense before the regional board. "I've never been verbally reprimanded for any of my teaching instruction, I've never been written up at Imagine or any other school ... this doesn't impact my ability to teach."
Ausburn initially tried to regain her position at Imagine following the incident, but has yet to receive a response from the school. She is now pursuing legal action to "push the issue."
Other bumper stickers on Ausburn's car include, "I'm Already Against the Next War," "Military Solutions are Problems," "Don't Believe Everything You Think," and "Jesus Called, He Wants His Religion Back."
Sources for this story include:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1361...
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