[andyt]

$1:

due to her fear of children

A teacher from Mariemont, Ohio, is suing her school district, claiming discrimination. What makes the case unique is that the teacher, Maria Waltherr-Willard, suffers from pedophobia, a crippling fear of young children. She claims her disability led to the discrimination.
We first saw the news over at the Cincinnati.com. The paper reports that Waltherr-Willard began her career as a high school teacher, a position she held for decades. She was reassigned to teach in a junior high in 2010, despite, she claims, being assured earlier in her career that she would not have to teach younger children.
According to the Enquirer, pedophobia can lead to shortness of breath, vomiting and feelings of terror when around young children. Waltherr-Willard claims that she was discriminated against based on her age (she's 61) and her disability.
"It's a tough phobia. You can't really get away from [children] when you're outside," Dr. Caleb Adler, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati, told Cincinnati.com. Adler did not treat Waltherr-Willard.
[Related: Teacher claims school district forced her to purge classroom of Bible verses, Reagan quote]
The backstory, as described by the Enquirer, goes as follows: Waltherr-Willard taught foreign languages in high school for many years. Several years ago, word got to her that her district was considering putting those classes online, a move that would have had an effect on her position.
Waltherr-Willard apparently spoke to parents about the district's decision to eliminate face-to-face French courses. Parents spoke out, and the district was not amused that one of its teachers was stirring the pot. Waltherr-Willard claims she was sent to teach at junior high as a kind of punishment for speaking out. She eventually resigned her position.
"Good Morning America" reports that the lawsuit says "both parties agreed the phobia and anxiety disorder fell under the Americans With Disabilities Act and exempted her from future transfers within the school district."
Parts of the lawsuit have already been dismissed by a federal judge. Three allegations remain. The case is scheduled to go to court in early 2014.

[raydan]

Just imagine...

A fireman afraid of fire...
A veterinarian afraid of animals...
A doctor who faints at the first sign of blood...


At what point do you consider a career change?

[andyt]

raydan raydan:

Just imagine...


A doctor who faints at the first sign of blood...

That made for a pretty good show, actually.

[sandorski]

Hmm, weird. Why not just accommodate her? Unless she's faking it anyway.

[Brenda]

sandorski sandorski:

Hmm, weird. Why not just accommodate her? Unless she's faking it anyway.

I agree.

[BeaverFever]

If she's 61 and it's been documented over the course of her career as she claims, it's probably not fake.

Although, I find it odd that someone with a phobia would chose to enter a field where there is even the remote possiblity of being involuntarily reassigned to an area where you have strong phobias. My total guess is that the elmenentary and secondary schools were separate school boards at one point when she started and then signed this disabilities agreement when they were merged. Otherwise I can't imagine she just made these demands when she first applied for the job. Also likely is that at age 61, the board is simply tyring to force her to retire so they can bring in someone younger and cheaper.

[Brenda]

A high school teacher usually is not assigned to become an elementary teacher, right? I thought those were 2 completely different professions.

[BeaverFever]

As did I....even for Jr. High

[Dragon-Dancer]

Unfortunately, not always true. I know someone who was originally a high school science teacher but was reassigned to teach elementary a few years back. He's not thrilled with the change but told me it was not unheard of.

[Psudo]

Brenda Brenda:

A high school teacher usually is not assigned to become an elementary teacher, right? I thought those were 2 completely different professions.

My understanding is that high school teachers are to elementary teachers as specialists are to family doctors -- the former is the latter plus some extra credentials.