School bus driver fired after obscene gesture at President Bush

[almaty 19]

SEATTLE -- A middle-school bus driver fired after she reportedly made an obscene gesture at President Bush has filed a union grievance in an attempt to get her job back.

The 43-year-old driver, whose name has not been released by the Issaquah School District, was shepherding a busload of middle-school children back from the Seattle zoo on June 16 when the president and Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., drove slowly by in a motorcade along Interstate 5. From the bus, stopped on an onramp, the children waved; with the windows down in their car, Bush and Reichert waved back.

That's when the driver extended the old one-finger salute, according to Reichert and Issaquah Superintendent Janet Barry.

"The congressman hadn't seen it, but the president turned to him and said, 'That one's not a fan,'" said Reichert spokeswoman Kimberly Cadena. "There were many comments and gestures made that day that many people would consider to be offensive. This individual did so around children."

Reichert later called Barry to tell her about the incident, but by the time he got her on the phone, the bus driver had already been fired. District officials had already learned about it because the driver bragged to her colleagues about what she had done, Cadena said.

District spokeswoman Sara Niegowski said the firing was not politically motivated.

"The bus driver was not terminated for making an obscene gesture at the president. The bus driver was terminated for making an obscene gesture in view of the students," Niegowski said. "That's not the role modeling we need for our students."

Niegowski said the driver, who had been reprimanded before, has filed a wrongful termination grievance through the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The union did not return calls seeking comment.

Cadena said the gesture was in poor taste.

"You respect the office, even if you can't respect the man," she said.

[Jenn! 918]

I wonder if she considers it worth it.

[Alex+R 0]

If I were the bus driver I probably would have done the same thing.

"You respect the office, even if you can't respect the man," she said.

What exactly is that supposed to mean? We should respect people because of their job, despite how well they perform it? Eh, beg to differ.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Whether deserved or undeserved, it is within the right of Americans to do so. Also (contrary to Issaquah school district's statement), it is highly UNLIKELY that the students would be unfamiliar with the gesture--so their case of "role modelling" really doesn't hold.

Having been THE RECIPIENT (collectively) of an obscene gesture from my country's leader (meaning Trudeau in 1982--same gesture, FYI).

[almaty 19]

If I were the bus driver I probably would have done the same thing.

"You respect the office, even if you can't respect the man," she said.

What exactly is that supposed to mean? We should respect people because of their job, despite how well they perform it? Eh, beg to differ.

i agree...i guess, that was ask many times in history to allot of human suffering

[garya505 2]

"The bus driver was not terminated for making an obscene gesture at the president. The bus driver was terminated for making an obscene gesture in view of the students," Niegowski said. "That's not the role modeling we need for our students."

Having been a school bus driver myself, I would expect to get fired if I did that in view of the students, regardless of who it was directed toward.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's not very disrepectful to the students, but it still seems a little extreme to fire someone just on the strength of one misdemeanor.

If this wasn't the first offence though...I guess it makes good copy.

Edited November 2, 2006 by Purple_Hibiscus

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

in seattle? in washington? ain't that a blue state?

must of been a red district.

had that happen in my school bus, we all would of been clapping the bus driver. imitating her too.

Daniel

:energetic:

[Peikko 1,575]

I have just said that making obscene gestures isn't very disrespectful of the students...which wasn't what I meant...ho hum.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If I got the chance to wave to the President or even shake his, I would gladly do so. I would extend to him the same courtesy as anyone I'd meet. But then I'd probably laugh at him.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If I got the chance to wave to the President or even shake his, I would gladly do so. I would extend to him the same courtesy as anyone I'd meet. But then I'd probably laugh at him.

I'd be more inclined to the "arm/fist" gesture.

[PlatyPius 5]

I consider any such thing, whether it be gestures or "obscene" language to be inappropriate while around children. Would those who disagree feel differently if she had actually SAID "Fukc You!" instead? If so, why?

[garya505 2]

We have 3 separate issues here so they should not be confused:

1. Is it appropriate behavior for a school bus driver to make an obscene gesture with students present?

2. Should a school bus driver be fired for making an obscene gesture with students present?

3. Is making an obscene gesture towards the President protected as free speech?

I would say:

1 - No

2 - Maybe - it depends on the driver's previous record. I would suggest a reprimand if this is the first instance of employee misbehavior.

3 - Yes

[Saddle Bronc 124]

We have 3 separate issues here so they should not be confused:

1. Is it appropriate behavior for a school bus driver to make an obscene gesture with students present?

2. Should a school bus driver be fired for making an obscene gesture with students present?

3. Is making an obscene gesture towards the President protected as free speech?

I would say:

1 - No

2 - Maybe - it depends on the driver's previous record. I would suggest a reprimand if this is the first instance of employee misbehavior.

3 - Yes

I'll amend it to:

1. No
   
2. No (as that would indicate an assumption that the students haven't seen it before--which is, sadly, unlikely)
   
3. yes
   

[Alex+R 0]

But c'mon, it's not like it's his boss who he sees every day that he flicked off or something. I mean, he really only had one chance to flick off the president. It's not like he could drop off the kids, come back, and shoot him the bird.

Once in a lifetime chance. I'd say it's worth losing your job over, although he should have just been reprimanded unless he had a horrible previous record.

But I have oft fantasized about what horrible thing I would say/offensive gesture I'd make to the president if I met him.