Meeting Sydney McGee

Last night at the Barnes & Nobel at Preston and Park, I ran into Sydney McGee. "Who is that?" you're asking. Ms. McGee is a former art teacher from Frisco, TX, who was fired because an elementary student she took to a museum on a field trip saw abstract art of nekkid people.

Seriously.

Here's a recap from a NY Times article:

But Ms. McGee, 51, a popular art teacher with 28 years in the classroom, is out of a job after leading her fifth-grade classes last April through the Dallas Museum of Art. One of her students saw nude art in the museum, and after the child’s parent complained, the teacher was suspended.

Although the tour had been approved by the principal, and the 89 students were accompanied by 4 other teachers, at least 12 parents and a museum docent, Ms. McGee said, she was called to the principal the next day and “bashed.”

She later received a memorandum in which the principal, Nancy Lawson, wrote: “During a study trip that you planned for fifth graders, students were exposed to nude statues and other nude art representations.” It cited additional complaints, which Ms. McGee has challenged.

I found her to be a really nice woman and I gave her encouraging words, telling her that the firing was unjust and that I hope she can eventually find work again. That work, however, will have to be found in Austin as she is trying to sell her house. She told me she is unhireable in Dallas because she's too controversial. I would have loved to sit and talk with her, but I had my daughter with me and she couldn't stand still and it was late.

Best of luck, Sydney! I think you'll find Austin to be more receptive to rational thinking and artistic interpretation.