Comments on: Employee has a naughty past: Should you fire her?

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:35:34 +0000

I believe in second chances. We have all done things that we wish we could do over differently. Movies and story lines galore agree. She should not be fired. However, I ask what is “She were a “He”?

By: Lance

Lance — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:40:36 +0000

everyone get real – RIGHT ON TARGET! Unfortunately we are in the minority in our present society and it is not likely many will agree. It has always been this way…one road is broad, the other is narrow. I applaud you for saying it, knowing full well you will be bashed by the liberal mindset that obviously dominates this website. I wouldn’t object to Ms. Tuck being involved in working with my children unless I had more information than what is given here, but I certainly understand why someone would.

I’ll go out on a limb and say that if Curious George hired someone to work in his “Big 5″ firm and subsequently found out that they had something “perfectly legal” in their past that affected their reputation in a very negative way with clients, he would want them terminated. In a school district setting, the parents are clients. If “several parents” whose kids attend this school see it as a problem (as the article states), the school board has an obligation to take appropriate action. I know she would not win this case in my state, but in Jersey…who knows?

By: everyone get real

everyone get real — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:40:36 +0000

CURIOUS GEORGE: sees no difference in the morality of porn actress and choice of diet. Have you ever heard of spurious analogy? Abstinence from pornography is also a personal choice, and one which the vast majority of parents would want their elementary age children to make. PAM doesn’t understand that MANY children in today’s schools do not have the benefit of one stable, drug-free, loving adult let alone an entire extended family to develop their family values, leaving only caring educators who often become influential role models in shaping self esteem and moral values in addition to teaching academics. Everyone deserves another chance at becoming a productive member of society, and no doubt Tuck may have always been a kind, caring, person whose moral values have now evolved into a cleaner choice of vocation A school administrator is responsible for meeting educational statutes while also qualitatively pleasing the range of diverse families and beliefs, has the right to utilize all information from all sources at any time to implement what he believes is best for the school district. Just like any other manager, the goals of the organization rise above the needs and feelings of any single employee. Had Tuck disclosed her prior employment, she could be evaluated solely on this position. The district administrator feels the attachment of negatives from her past outweighs the benefit of her value to the district, and must exercise his best judgement in the matter. The real reason I’m writing this is to try to understand something about where the morals of our country are today. Is it ok to be a pornographer? Does anyone believe that sex with God is the most wonderful thing in creation, but sex with the Devil in it is a powerful evil?
Do people still believe in good and evil? Other than a very few primitive cultures, all of mankind has and does live in monogamy irrespective of their religion.

By: Pam

Pam — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:34:07 +0000

Someone please explain to me how this person is a “threat” to the safety of the children. Also please explain to me how she is corrupting the morals of children. I had some good teachers and some bad ones through the years. The ones I remember as bad were not good at instructing, could not handle a class, did not develop a challenging curriculum. The good ones inspired me to reach higher, perform better, and develop an interest in something previously unknown to me. They helped develop my intellectual nature, my mind. My morals, ethics and values were developed by the actions of my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, the people you are around throughout your life – not the teacher you had for 9 months for 5th grade, or the cafeteria or janitorial worker. Family values are exactly that, family values. If your children would be influenced by knowing the past career of a school worker, then perhaps they need stronger values.

By: Curious George

Curious George — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:29:29 +0000

“Everyone Get Real” – I can certainly appreciate your comments about past decisions affecting your present circumstances; however, I am someone that made some terrible decisions in the past and has gone on to earn 2 advanced degrees and the executive HR seat in a Big 5 organization. The mindset of people, in their youth, is unexplainable but people often move toward a more progressive and responsible place in life where not only their values change, but their perspective. Thomas an employee’s right to terminate someone (even in an “at will” state) does not relinquish their obligation to to do so appropriately. Companies spend thousands of dollars mitigating and often settling wrongful termination cases everyday. The notion of “adult entertainment” is of personal preference and personal preferences are not licenses to discriminate against people. If so, everything becomes fair game – do “vegans” not hire previous “meat eaters”? Pause and think…

By: Mitch

Mitch — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:45:41 +0000

I agree with most of the comments posted in that she should not have been fired or harrassed. Working in the adult entertainment industry as an adult is not an illegal profession the last time I checked albeit it is not a choice that most of us will make nor would we want our children to make that choice. But if I had a child that did make that choice in her life, gave it up to have a job seemly more “moral” then I would do all I can to support her and help out in any way possible. And I feel that is what we in society should do as well. Support and reward those that are doing positive things and it seems she is now.

By: Charles M. Barnard

Charles M. Barnard — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:30:18 +0000

Her past activities have no impact upon her current position–including “role model” if that is a part of the job.

In fact, what a person does before employment or on their own time during employment is their business unless it can be shown in court that it affects their ability to preform their job.

Technically, her previous position was that of “actress” which is a position it seems a vast proportion of the population not only approves of, but wishes they could obtain.

Technically, if she lied about the position to acquire her current position she could be fired for that–but it is a trivial matter to fire someone for since any lies told were told because of the likely-hood that such information, while not relevant to the job, has a high probability of adversely affecting the decision maker.

Given the real and difficult problems facing education, it is a waste of time to even think about it much–graduating people unable to read or write, do simple math, speak proper English etc. etc. is far, far more important to our society than what job a low-level non-teaching person previously held.

If I were her, and was terminated, I’d be certain to sue for discrimination.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:56:00 +0000

She should not be fired or asked to resign! I wish some of my past teachers had been porn stars! I do agree that our children need protection, but to what degree? She was just getting paid to do something that all of us do on a regular basis. While a lot of prudes may think her choice in adult films was wrong, there are a lot that it was and is ok. Thats what makes America great! Let the woman be!

By: Martha

Martha — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 05:36:24 +0000

Pedophilia is an illness. Being an adult film actor is not and doesn’t carry any more risk of inappropriate future behavior than any other job. Then look to the decisions the person made since leaving that career – if they were sound, keep ‘em.

By: Roger Jones

Roger Jones — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:57:36 +0000

What is the issue? That was 5 years ago. This is today. I judge prople on the quality of their work not on what some biddie has to say, and that is the way it should be!