Richard Mullens: Teacher Fired for Being an Atheist?

In Brookeland, Texas, Richard Mullens was a school teacher — but why isn't he teaching anymore? Why is he on indefinite suspension? According to Mullens, it's because he's "too liberal" and an atheist, though he has never said whether he believes in any gods or not. Instead, Mullens says it's simply the perception of some parents that he's liberal and atheist which outrages them and caused the school board to suspend him.

Is it possible that he was suspend for other, justifiable reasons and he's just using this as an excuse to gain sympathy? Yes, because there isn't a lot of information coming out right now and there's just no way that anyone has a full picture of what's happened. On the other hand, there is evidence that that the school board were the ones looking for excuses for their suspension of him and there's plenty of examples of schools in the south behaving in a similar manner towards people perceived as "outsiders." So Mullens' story is more than plausible and credible.

[O]n January 7th, a student in my classroom in second period left my class, went to the Principal's office, and told him that there was an inappropriate discussion in my classroom. I was informed by the principal, Richard Turner, that I needed to talk to her mother because she was very upset. Her mother came to class on January 7th, came to the school January 7th, very upset. She made some threats to me in the hallway. And then on January 8th, Mr. Turner informed me that I needed to call the parent, Mrs. Lowe. On January 9th, I had Vicki Smith, the school secretary, call "REDACTED" on my behalf to arrange a conference at 10:35 Monday, January 12th. Monday the 12th, I met with REDACTED and School Principal Richard Turner in his office. REDACTED was very angry.

She accused me of being an atheist, saying I was too liberal, and that I allowed the students to talk about inappropriate things in the classroom. I told her that occasionally students would get on topics and say things, but I was unable to censor them before they were able to say them. She said that I called her daughter a name and I denied the accusation. But then she said that I didn't believe in god and shouldn't be teaching. She also said that she had spoken to 3 other board members who agreed with her that I shouldn't be teaching because I was too liberal and I was an atheist. ...

I later had conversations with parents and a person who lives in the community, who informed me that the principal had met with the minister of the local church and had discussed my suspension with him. I also later received information from REDACTED, a "SCHOOL EMPLOYEE-POSITION REDACTED", that the minister was now subbing at the school and that he had heard that he would be taking my position, or if I returned he would be co-teaching with me.

There have been a number of rumors in our community now concerning inappropriate behavior: high school girls coming to my class to supposedly smoke marijuana, all kinds of accusations made by the members of the missionary baptist church at which this minister is the preacher. In the January 24th letter from Mr. Richard Turner, my principal, I was also informed that my suspension had been extended indefinitely.

Source: (via: DFA Pharyngula)

If parents are actually worried about their children being exposed to liberals and atheists, those kids are growing up in a horribly, unforgivably insular environment. It's a great credit to the school and the students themselves that they are apparently turning out pretty good despite the behavior of some parents: the school board reportedly tried to get students to sign a list of charges against Muellens and only a couple agreed. So it sounds like Muellens has the support of almost all the students even if he is being attacked by parents and school officials.

It's my understanding that it's illegal for public school teachers to form unions in Texas and I think that this would be a good example of the harm such a prohibition can cause. It would be easy to also find examples of teachers' unions also behaving badly, but if Richard Muellens had a union, the school board would find it difficult or impossible to take unjustified, unfair action against him. It wouldn’t be possible to suspend or fire him merely because some parents regard him as "too liberal" or atheist. A union couldn't save him from pressure or harassment in the rest of the community, but it could save his job and professional reputation.