Teacher Accused Of Wizardry?!

[KansukeKojima 0]

http://www.wtsp.com/

Land O' Lakes, Florida -- The stories in the news about inappropriate relationships between teachers and students have been overwhelming. There was even a substitute teacher in New Port Richey who got in trouble after investigators say she had a relationship with an underage student.
Well, another Pasco County substitute teacher's job is on the line, but this time it's because of a magic trick.

The charge from the school district Wizardry!

Substitute teacher Jim Piculas does a 30-second magic trick where a toothpick disappears then reappears.

But after performing it in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land O' Lakes, Piculas said his job did a disappearing act of its own.

"I get a call the middle of the day from the supervisor of substitute teachers. He says, 'Jim, we have a huge issue. You can't take any more assignments. You need to come in right away,'" he said.

When Piculas went in, he learned his little magic trick cast a spell that went much farther than he'd hoped.

"I said, 'Well Pat, can you explain this to me?' 'You've been accused of wizardry,' [he said]. Wizardry?" he asked.

Tampa Bay's 10 talked to the assistant superintendent with the Pasco County School District who said it wasn't just the wizardry and that Piculas had other performance issues, including "not following lesson plans" and allowing students to play on unapproved computers.

Piculas said he knew nothing about the accusations.

"That... I think was embellished after the fact to try to cover what initially what they were saying to me," he said.

After the magic trick, Rushe's principal requested Piculas be dismissed. Now, Piculas believes the incident may have bewitched his ability to get a job anywhere else.

"I still have no idea what my discipline involves because I've never received anything from the school district actually saying what it entails," said Piculas.

As a substitute teacher, the Pasco County School District considers Piculas to be an "at will employee." That means the district doesn't need to have cause for not bringing him back at all.

Honestly... that is utterly retarded

I mean seriously, he does a slight-of-hand trick to entertain his students before a lesson, and BOOM, he ends up losing his job?
There is something seriously wrong with people, when something like that gets you fired from your job.

It would appear they accused him of poor performance ( ) in order to cover up their initial reason for firing him... which is mighty stupid...

[Watermonkey 0]

We live in disturbing times when a teacher is accused of "Wizardry"! Even more disturbing is that someone above him took it seriously. It's sad to watch this civilization falling apart, one idiotic story like this at a time...

[serverph 0]

if he were a real wizard, surely those school authority figures who wants him dismissed out of his job should have been turned into warty toads by now.

 

we may get some laughs at this, but it's actually sad. a sad story of the education system and people who run it.

 

it's a good thing however that it's getting some media attention. hopefully, those warty toads can realize how dumb their actions have been in dealing with a substitute school teacher who knows a magic trick or two.

[adriantc 0]

I don't know what is happening to the world... First there are student - teacher relationships (which, if I were them, I would strongly encourage). Who wouldn't want a hot 20-25 years old teacher teaching you "more" then the usual math or grammar ... some of the more basic facts of life That would really be an incentive for students to learn more . I can only imagine what a better world that would make...That being said - how in the name of God could you blame a teacher (!!!) in the 21st century (!!!) in the USA (!!!) of being a witch (or doing wizardry). That is absolutely crazy. What on earth could you ask your children if you accuse the teacher of doing wizardry. And what is worse is the fact that somebody took this accusation seriously.

[KansukeKojima 0]

I don't know what is happening to the world... First there are student - teacher relationships (which, if I were them, I would strongly encourage). Who wouldn't want a hot 20-25 years old teacher teaching you "more" then the usual math or grammar ... some of the more basic facts of life That would really be an incentive for students to learn more . I can only imagine what a better world that would make...

That being said - how in the name of God could you blame a teacher (!!!) in the 21st century (!!!) in the USA (!!!) of being a witch (or doing wizardry). That is absolutely crazy. What on earth could you ask your children if you accuse the teacher of doing wizardry. And what is worse is the fact that somebody took this accusation seriously.

Dude... that is just sick... lol

I mean... I suppose its a little more of a hands on learning environment... but... dude... thats just screwed up

 

Also, I'd like to note that most teachers aren't 20-25 year old hotties.. hahahaha

I'm sure that if they were, my friends wouldn't miss as much school....

[heavensounds 0]

Now that really is weard! I'd say that this article is not the complete truth, because we all know how media is able to exaggerate stuff. I think this is the case here also, because he must have done something else beside this simple magic trick to get fired! I really think that that would be possible only in the dark middle ages, but not know!

[cangor 0]

I dunno... if he did something else serious then it should have come out, and it sounds like the school district didn't even tell him why he got fired... the whole article doesn't really describe what exactly happened. Maybe he was really creepy and trying to pretend to have magical powers... but think about it, say, if he seriously did have magic powers, would he not be allowed to teach? Hmmm... that's kind of weird to think of but, I mean, come on, it's something ridiculous to fire someone over something like that. I've seen teachers do stuff that could definitely get them in trouble, and nobody ever does anything about it, and that's fine with me but... when a teacher is fired over something so little it's ridiculous.Whatever, interesting, if not disturbing, story.

[Plenoptic 0]

I live in Pasco county and know people who have had that substitute and have seen that trick. They all thought him as a normal person who just tried to make a connection with his students and be able to entertain them. It was his way of breaking the ice. It is rather sad the people things accuse others of. There are some real sick people in the world and I hope this man gets his job back. The other accusations were probably just a cover up because I am sure there is nothing against wizardry. This stuff seems to be heard all over the radio around here these days.

[saitunes 0]

That is messed up. And the first thing that he was told was because of his wizardry... What a load, i mean does every substitute teacher stick to lesson plans? No. Half really don't care and as long as the students are quiet thats all they care about and they read their magazines. That's just going too far

[osknockout 0]

@adriantc: I totally agree.

@KansukeKojima: I suggest we boost teacher pay by 3x and make preferences for 'suitable and talented' young men and women in the educational field. See how fast education becomes enjoyable.

 

Huh. Pasco. Not too far from me then. I'm sure there is some old law lying around against wizardry. Wouldn't be too surprised by that. However, I do think this is downright asinine. wizardry. Wizardry. WIZARDRY? In an academic environment? For chrissake, this isn't even in a church or cult where it's even a reasonable expectation! Ah well, hope all goes well for the guy.

[adrianator 0]

Composition IIYesterday, actuallyThe in-class activity for writing:The teacher, a hot looking mid-30s lady, told us to pick a photograph from her box of photos and we were to write a page about what we think is happening in the picture.Well, when it came time to discuss our writing, she went first. She was like, "oh my god, i mentioned boob in the first sentence.." The photograph was just a portrait, breast bone and up and she was wearing a turtle neck (the photo was of her). She went on to describe how she'll never wear turtle necks again cuz they make her boobs look big. LOLYea, the photographs were of her and her friends and various things throughout her life. Innocent photos, nothing indecent, of course.It gets better though.One of the students picked out a photo (at random). He saw what was in the photo, but he kept his writing clean. I forgot what he wrote, but as he read his writing, the photo got passed around, as with everyone else's when they read their writing.Anyways, the photo got back to the teacher. She was describing what really was going on in photos and mentioned that it was her in a dress at a freshman dance. The top was strapless and she had a hard time keeping it up. Her friend in the photo had a priceless look on her face. So the teacher wanted everyone to take a second look to have a laugh with the look on her friend's face. Well the picture was taken from a side view and as with all v-neck type of shirts, you can see the breast from the side. Well the funny thing was.. the whispering started. You could see her nipple! LOL.The teacher was like, "what are you guys whispering about, let me see". We told her. OH MY GOD IT WAS SO HILARIOUS. She's like, "you pervs, since '85 when the picture was taken, I never saw it". You had to have been there.The uproar brought in the teacher from next door and she showed him the picture. His reaction was so funny. It was such a laugh.I still laugh thinking about it. At least we're all adults and can laugh over something like that. The photo really was innocent. She worried about her teaching job, "oh my god, i made you all look at porn", oh man... so funny. We re-assured her though (she's a great teacher), we're not going to say anything. We all had a laugh.

[EngrJayze 0]

wizardry? seems like Harry Potter movie to me..that teacher may had came from Hogwarts School of Magic..jokes aside,,they shouldn't have fired the poor teacher..maybe he is just amusing his students by doing magic tricks..but who will believe about "true magic" nowadays..

[coolcat50 0]

This is messed up. How is there even a charge for wizardry? Seems pretty moronic to me. He was just trying to entertain his students and he loses his job. That is quite stupid. How is a magic trick an act of wizardry. Besides, I'm sure nobody has ever been to Hogwarts or something.

[KansukeKojima 0]

Composition IIYesterday, actually

The in-class activity for writing:
The teacher, a hot looking mid-30s lady, told us to pick a photograph from her box of photos and we were to write a page about what we think is happening in the picture.

Well, when it came time to discuss our writing, she went first. She was like, "oh my god, i mentioned boob in the first sentence.." The photograph was just a portrait, breast bone and up and she was wearing a turtle neck (the photo was of her). She went on to describe how she'll never wear turtle necks again cuz they make her boobs look big. LOL

Yea, the photographs were of her and her friends and various things throughout her life. Innocent photos, nothing indecent, of course.

It gets better though.

One of the students picked out a photo (at random). He saw what was in the photo, but he kept his writing clean. I forgot what he wrote, but as he read his writing, the photo got passed around, as with everyone else's when they read their writing.

Anyways, the photo got back to the teacher. She was describing what really was going on in photos and mentioned that it was her in a dress at a freshman dance. The top was strapless and she had a hard time keeping it up. Her friend in the photo had a priceless look on her face. So the teacher wanted everyone to take a second look to have a laugh with the look on her friend's face. Well the picture was taken from a side view and as with all v-neck type of shirts, you can see the breast from the side. Well the funny thing was.. the whispering started. You could see her nipple! LOL.

The teacher was like, "what are you guys whispering about, let me see". We told her. OH MY GOD IT WAS SO HILARIOUS. She's like, "you pervs, since '85 when the picture was taken, I never saw it". You had to have been there.

The uproar brought in the teacher from next door and she showed him the picture. His reaction was so funny. It was such a laugh.

I still laugh thinking about it. At least we're all adults and can laugh over something like that. The photo really was innocent. She worried about her teaching job, "oh my god, i made you all look at porn", oh man... so funny. We re-assured her though (she's a great teacher), we're not going to say anything. We all had a laugh.

dude... that is... creepy... lol


Yeah... I'd really like to know more about this story myself... hmmm.... if anybody sees any articles about this teacher that has lost his job, please post them here, because I'd really like to know for myself if he'll get his job back, etc...

[Carson 0]

They school were probably looking for a good excuse to dismiss him. This is just crazy. Can someone even be accused of wizardry? Don't they know it doesn't exist? I wonder how what he did got back to the people who want to fire him. And for making a toothpick disappear. Surely there is something he can do to keep his job, even though he's a substitute.