A man lost his job as a part-time bus driver and was also asked to leave the Volunteer Fire Department where he was a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician. The man believes that it is due to his MySpace page, while the school board and the fire department say that it is for personal reasons. The man believes
that the school system and the fire department used his page as an excuse. He alleges that the real reason he was asked to leave both places is because he practices Wicca, a pagan religion that emphasizes nature.
The school says they fired him because of because of personal issues and because he has
damaged his position to be a role model for [the high school] and in the school community.
The fire department say that they fired him
for conduct unbecoming a member of the department. The fire department told [the man] that his wife had a blog on the page that solicited sex.
If the school board and the fire department did fire the man because of his religion, then they have no right to do so. The constitution allows us the freedom of religion and we may not be discriminated against because of it. Both reasons for firing the man are really kind of vague and could possibly mean that he was fired due to his religion. Also, he should not be fired for something that his wife does on the internet. Whether or not she did solicit sex should have no bearing on the man’s job status. Now if the man explicitly mentioned the school or fire department in any manner that would degrade their name or reputation on his MySpace account, then maybe they would have a case against firing him. Otherwise, the man deserves his job back if he still wants it.
Man Sues after Schools Fire Him Over MySpace Page
March 24, 2007
by Michael Hewlett
