Story Archive

Dope on Duty

Erik Schock was a P.E. teacher at Chinook Middle School in Bellevue, Wash. An administrator encountered Schock in the school at noon with bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and alcohol on his breath. He was removed from the school and ultimately fired; his blood-alcohol level was estimated at .15 percent. The firing was upheld during an administrative review. “It is highly likely that students observed his high level of intoxication, slurred speech and watery eyes,” hearing officer Terry Lukens said in his ruling. “The students in the district should not have to run the risk that he will have one or more repetitions of the same behavior.” Despite all this, Schock is suing in King County Superior Court, claiming the district had no cause to fire him. While Schock doesn’t dispute that he was drunk at school in front of the students, he argues he should not be fired because he did not commit “flagrant misconduct” as defined by state law. (MS/Seattle Post-Intelligencer) ...Maybe he should have checked with one of the English teachers on the definition of “flagrant.”
Original Publication Date: 27 October 2013
This story is in True’s book collections, in Volume 20.

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I believe humanity is held back by the lack of thinking. I provoke thought with examples of what happens when we don’t think, and when we do. This is True is my primary method: stories like this come out every week by email, and basic subscriptions are free. Click here for a subscribe form.


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