DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Update: The case was for a guy accused of fondling a girls breasts. Was there for a few hours... extensively questioned by both sides. (oddly, there were a lot of teachers who were potential jurors) I was the 3rd person called up and the first person questioned. They kept coming back to me to ask me more questions. Eventually, they brought up a question of motive - and I related it to teachers. "One of the biggest fears a teacher has is to be wrongly accused of sexual contact with a student. It's unfortunate that there are teachers who have done so, but there have also been many teachers whose lives have been turned upside down because of accusations by students with some sort of vendetta against them - they're too hard, failed a student, whatever. But, it's just common sense that if you're an older male, with a young female, you do not spend time alone with them one on one. If a female student comes to me for help after school, it's always at the desks in front of the room, near the door, with the door wide open. That's among the first things they tell you when you're learning to be a teacher. If a student accused a teacher of something, I would question if they had a motive to lie." I'm guessing that was the reason I was dismissed.
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I have jury duty tomorrow. I took care of all the paperwork, making sure I had a substitute teacher, etc a month or so ago. Fast forward to now - I'm discussing it with people, "yeah, I have to go for jury duty this week." I find out that there's a chance that if selected, I'll have to show up for several days in a row.
I'm screwed if that happens. I have 3 major school events planned for during the next week (major planning, huge number of details to see to, etc)
Not to mention that I teach physics and math, and it's getting too close to the end of the school year. I could have adjusted my plans for teaching if it happened earlier in the year, but there's only so much I can do right now. There are no substitutes capable of actually teaching my classes. And, if anyone thinks I can leave notes for a substitute detailing how to teach the subject matter, they'd be dreaming. I'm happy that they can take attendance, hand out tests (what I usually do if I have a sub), and keep the class under control. Next week is differential equations for calculus class - there, I'm done planning for the class for next week. If I could write notes that would be good enough that every single student could learn from the notes alone, I'd simply write a textbook instead based on the notes, and be rich.
I don't mind at all doing my civic duty and serving as a juror, but I don't want days of my time taken up by it. My students can't afford to not have a teacher for a week.
Anyone know how to avoid extended jury duties? (without resulting in a fine for contempt of court)
Cliffnotes:
Jury duty tomorrow.
Happily will serve for 1 day.
Huge hardship caused if >1 day.
How to avoid >1 day??
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I have jury duty tomorrow. I took care of all the paperwork, making sure I had a substitute teacher, etc a month or so ago. Fast forward to now - I'm discussing it with people, "yeah, I have to go for jury duty this week." I find out that there's a chance that if selected, I'll have to show up for several days in a row.
I'm screwed if that happens. I have 3 major school events planned for during the next week (major planning, huge number of details to see to, etc)
Not to mention that I teach physics and math, and it's getting too close to the end of the school year. I could have adjusted my plans for teaching if it happened earlier in the year, but there's only so much I can do right now. There are no substitutes capable of actually teaching my classes. And, if anyone thinks I can leave notes for a substitute detailing how to teach the subject matter, they'd be dreaming. I'm happy that they can take attendance, hand out tests (what I usually do if I have a sub), and keep the class under control. Next week is differential equations for calculus class - there, I'm done planning for the class for next week. If I could write notes that would be good enough that every single student could learn from the notes alone, I'd simply write a textbook instead based on the notes, and be rich.
I don't mind at all doing my civic duty and serving as a juror, but I don't want days of my time taken up by it. My students can't afford to not have a teacher for a week.
Anyone know how to avoid extended jury duties? (without resulting in a fine for contempt of court)
Cliffnotes:
Jury duty tomorrow.
Happily will serve for 1 day.
Huge hardship caused if >1 day.
How to avoid >1 day??