Teacher fired for porn past

First of all, thanks to Wendy for bringing this story to my attention with her 12/9 post about Tericka Dye's appearance on Dr. Phil.  She does a wonderful job of ripping that self-serving moron to shreds.  But I can't not comment on this case.

For those of you who had missed this case when it was first reported last spring (as I regrettably did) the short version is that Tericka Dye was homeless with two little girls to raise in '95.  She ended up doing one (ONE, for cryin' out loud) porn movie.  She soon after joined the army, served a military police officer, and then used the money from serving to go to college and become a science teacher.  She is such a good Science teacher that she's even won awards.

I have several close friends who are teachers.  One in particular and I have spoken at length about the problems that come with being a person in the public eye as a "role model" and the constraints it then forces you to place on your life.  She doesn't go to strip clubs in this state.  She worries about being seen out in public in slutty clubwear (not that she clubs often, but still).  She is nervous about being seen at an adult store.  None of this is illegal.

Point of fact-it's also not illegal to appear in an adult movie if you're legally an adult, which she was at the time.

So what's the big fucking deal?  It's that every teacher, in every town, in this country is subject to a "morality clause" which usually says something like "a teacher must show good moral character."

Dye, when it somehow got out (not like she was advertising it or anything) was sent on leave with pay for the rest of last year, and the next day she got a letter saying her job wouldn't be there for her this school year.  She has not been able to get another teaching job.

It is ludicrous that a teacher should feel ashamed or be afraid of being a healthy sexual adult.  What is wrong with this country for turning her into the Whore of Babylon when she deserves applause for getting her kids fed, serving her country, and furthering her education?  Teaching pays on average around $25k less than other jobs that require a master's degree (as my state does within the first five years of teaching).  Many teachers, especially in their first five to ten years of teaching (with big college loans to pay back) take second jobs.  Knowing that, why wouldn't a teacher pick up some extra cash working as a stripper or a phone sex operator if she likes it?  Why should a teacher worry for her career if she wants to go to an adult store and buy a strap on and a big bottle of lube?  If s/he publishes an erotic novel, why should they be scared that someone might connect their pseudonym to their "real life" self?

I'm not saying that this is constantly on the mind of every teacher, but it IS there.  I surveyed my friends and there was a general consensus that it feels easier to be their authentic sexual selves when they aren't near the town they live/teach in, out of the state they live in, or best of all out of the country they live in.  It's like your authentic sexual self is your secret identity-kind of like Superman.  NO ONE MUST KNOW THE SECRET IDENTITY! (Insert dramatic music here.)

I couldn't find a legal defense fund for Ms Dye, but if someone finds it, I'll link it on my page so that we can send her the best support possible-funds to sue the pants off this district.

Comments

[Will Belegon]

Unfortunately, it's not only teachers. I am very familiar with morality clauses. They exist in my industry too, as well as rather undefinable things about reinvesting in the community and being a good business citizen. It's why you'll never see my face on my work. At least not until my writing brings in enough that I can quit the day job.

I feel for her. I wish it could be resolved, but I fear even if she were to sue and win, she still won't ever have what they have taken from her.

[Wendy]

As a former sex worker I would hate it if my past interfered with my future.

[Note]

Let's just say something about Dr. Phil, as I see and understand him: he is judgment, not therapy.

This came to me as I was watching the UK's favorite moderator, Trisha Goddard from Channel 5, a talk show host who also focuses on the disparities of human life; and brings people in who need counseling, not just to share their story; ostensibly, just like dear ol' Phil; but the similarity ends drastically at the premise.

Often, Dr. Phil is acting out on behalf of the victims of bad behaviour, not the health and well-being of all parties involved. He uses shame and ridicule to bring out admissions of wrongdoing, transgression and shame. He's tough love. Tough love is great for those beside the patient, those who want vindication and vengeance, but it has a spotty record of success with the people who actually let themselves be ruled by their flaws.

Trisha, on the other hand, seems not out to judge, but rather maintains authority over bad behaviour, by not bringing in the hammer of prescribed morality. She asks questions, patient and loaded, and nine times out of ten, uncovers the tip of an emotional iceberg before summarizing what she sees as the root of a problem, before pointing out that they can choose to become better people. A crazy amount of the time she succeeds in winning seemingly genuine confessions from people, often showing that they do know how they affect the others around them, and that they just don’t know how to be better. Then she packs them off to proper therapy.

There's a problem with a nation that can accept Phil as an icon, because it's an icon that doesn't belong in an Age of Information, an age that should make it obvious that absolutely no one is entitled to judge another, as there is no middle ground or normalcy; all there is is diversity.

I’ve never seen a doctor when I’ve looked at him, all I’ve ever witnessed is a warden out to prove a chimera: the American status quo.

[Oscar the Observer]

My dream is that all sexbloggers and other type of bloggers who blog about sex but not in-depth but enough that they are forced to be anonymous get together and agree on a date. That date will be the day EVERYONE of bloggers who blog about sex in supportive way (was going to say pro-sex as opposed to anti-sex but ti was wieldy word *lol*) disclose their real identities all over the country. Then what will happen? The companies and schools will notice and try to boot them out BUT! It will be in overwhelming numbers! I dream that people will notice that court system is CLOSE to breakdown because of lawsuits going on and finally DEMAND THAT MORALITY CLAUSE (OFFICIAL OR NOT) IS JUST PILE OF SHIT! Then after that everyone can be open about their sexuality anywhere appropriate because everyone else will nod in understanding since THEY are just as sexual!

At least that is my fond fantasy till people arise and REBEL against our tradition of being prudes *smile*. Good post!

[Travis Thebes]

It's more like she starred in around TWO DOZEN not one porn (which she lied about). She also lied in that she'd already done one stint in the Army and was already eligible for GI Bill and VA assistance. She also lied that she was married and abandoned he husband and her child (which he adopted) to star in pornos. She also had a reputation in the Army as the barracks slut (I know I was in the same unit as she was).

Funny how things aren't quite what they seem at first.

[Deliciously Naughty]

Travis-a few points

1-I don't care how many movies she starred in. It's not illegal for someone over the age of 21 to star in an adult movie. It shouldn't be grounds for firing her as a teacher. Period.

2-I've gone back through the articles and can't substantiate any of your claims. I'm pretty certain that if they were true, the media would've had a field day with it. So I'm guessing you're just not that credible as a commenter.

3-Your comment about her being a slut is your third strike in the mind of this sex positive/feminist/teacher site owner.

Your IP is now banned.

[Jason]

Just a little clarification, Ms. Dye wasn't fired. She was not tenured which means that she has only a "year to year" contract. In the state of Kentucky there has to be absolutely zero cause for a year to year contract not to be renewed and hers simply was not. She was paid out of her existing contract and that is that. This is fact, not opinion.

What else is fact is that she thoroughly lied on her board application in regards to her credentials and military background as well as her former employment. She was asked for her last three employers of which one was the film industry and she did not list that.

So regardless of what the "reason" is, she lied. She lied on an application and even if her motives were innocent and not meant to be abusive, it was still a lie nonetheless. Any employer in the US that is worth working for would not tolerate deliberate ommissions on their resume and application.

I do not disagree that it is unfair that we hold certain job descriptions to a higher standard, but the bottom line is that we do and it is expected. This revelation created a situation where no one attending this school would have had any respect for and would never see her in the same light ever again. It may have happened years ago, but to the teenager who watch the video recently, it was just like it was last week.