A Chicago elementary school teacher is suing his school district after he was suspended to showing kids a pocket during a class demonstration about gardening. Douglas Bartlett, a 17-year veteran of the Washington Irving Elementary School, was suspended without pay for a portion of last year, reports United Press International.
According to Bartlett, he was showing kids the tool "as part of a curriculum-mandated 'tool discussion.'" His suit goes on to call his suspension an "overzealous application of political correctness."
"Plaintiff, a school teacher, showed to his students a pocket knife, as part of a curriculum-mandated 'tool discussion,'" the lawsuit states. "Other garden-variety tools plaintiff used in the discussion were a box cutter, various wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers. As a result of showing a pocket knife, plaintiff was charged with bringing a weapon to school, and received a four-day suspension without pay. Plaintiff sues for money damages and to have this suspension expunged from his record."
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