Teacher Fired for Toothpick Trick

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jerry lazar
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Teacher Fired for Toothpick Trick

Postby jerry lazar » May 5th, 2008, 8:33 pm

Even when you think you're using your powers for good, it can backfire!

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/a ... ryid=79533

Jonathan Townsend
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Re: Teacher Fired for Toothpick Trick

Postby Jonathan Townsend » May 5th, 2008, 8:49 pm

I suspect there were "other" issues like his leaving youngsters on the internet and diverging from approved lesson plans.
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JustinRYoung
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Florida Substitute Teacher Dismissed For "Wizardry"

Postby JustinRYoung » May 6th, 2008, 2:08 pm

As odd as it might sound, a substitute teach was recently dismissed from his assignment, possibly putting his career in jeopardy, for showing his class a 30-second magic trick.

Or according to reports, as his superiors put it: wizardry.

Substitute teacher Jim Piculas does a 30-second magic trick where a toothpick disappears then reappears.

But after performing it in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land O Lakes, Piculas said his job did a disappearing act of its own.

I get a call the middle of the day from the supervisor of substitute teachers. He says, Jim, we have a huge issue. You cant take any more assignments. You need to come in right away, he said.

When Piculas went in, he learned his little magic trick cast a spell that went much farther than hed hoped.

I said, Well Pat, can you explain this to me? Youve been accused of wizardry, [he said]. Wizardry? he asked.

For the record, as confirmed by the video that accompanies this story on the website, this looks to be the same trick explained by Criss Angel on a few television appearances including his spot on then-nationally syndicated Megan Mullally show.

In other words, its not exactly a top secret.

http://itricks.com/news/?p=3682
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Jim Maloney
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Re: Florida Substitute Teacher Dismissed For "Wizardry"

Postby Jim Maloney » May 6th, 2008, 2:14 pm

Miguel Ferrer did the same trick on Medium last night. And he was the bad guy, so that trick must be eeeevil.

-Jim
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Jonathan Townsend
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Re: Florida Substitute Teacher Dismissed For "Wizardry"

Postby Jonathan Townsend » May 6th, 2008, 2:35 pm

Pretty much small town and school board politics IMHO.

Now if you want to boycott the state - say have all IBM and SAM members in FL voice a directed protest... maybe interesting.

Or perhaps better for some to snicker to themselves about how he must have really done a bad job sticking a toothpick to his thumbnail to get fired rather than just booed by the kids.

This happened in January?
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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Florida Substitute Teacher Dismissed For "Wizardry"

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 6th, 2008, 3:26 pm

There are a lot of incredibly small-minded and stupid people in the world. Bummer!
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Joe M. Turner
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Re: Florida Substitute Teacher Dismissed For "Wizardry"

Postby Joe M. Turner » May 7th, 2008, 6:57 am

I think the magic angle was a good story for the news and made him look like a more sympathetic and "unfairly wronged" character, but I suspect his other job performance issues (leaving students unsupervised on the internet, not accomplishing the prepared lesson plans) were of far more concern than "wizardry."

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MaxNY
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Re: Teacher sacked for being a magician

Postby MaxNY » May 7th, 2008, 8:55 am

UUUmmmmmmm....Butter....

Jim Maloney
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Re: Teacher sacked for being a magician

Postby Jim Maloney » May 7th, 2008, 10:38 am

Just wanted to make a note that anyone wishing to discuss the Florida substitute teacher who was fired after performing a magic trick in class should do so in this thread. I've already merged two other threads into this one -- just want to make sure everyone knows that this is already being discussed and that there is no need for multiple threads on it.

Thanks,
Jim
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mrgoat
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Re: Teacher sacked for being a magician

Postby mrgoat » May 7th, 2008, 10:39 am

I realised it was already being discussed after I posted and it was then too late to delete my post. Sorry. :)

LaMont
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Re: Teacher sacked for being a magician

Postby LaMont » May 7th, 2008, 12:02 pm

I was a teacher and School Psychologist for over 35 years and performed magic on a regular basis with my students and never once realized that I was casting a "spell." The district's reaction to the substitute's magic trick was absurd.

LaMont

Jonathan Townsend
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Re: Teacher sacked for being a magician

Postby Jonathan Townsend » May 7th, 2008, 12:21 pm

Exactly LaMont, therefore the "magic trick" aspect of the story is a rationalization and the actual issues are being ignored for the time being as far as what's being offered in public.
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

Gordolini
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Re: Teacher sacked for being a magician

Postby Gordolini » May 7th, 2008, 12:25 pm

I heard the encore was a disappering cigarette.... :-)

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Re: Teacher sacked for being a magician

Postby amp » June 20th, 2008, 8:22 am


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Mark Pettey
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Re: Teacher sacked for being a magician

Postby Mark Pettey » June 20th, 2008, 1:19 pm

How great that they put Marty's magic shop on this ! Marty has a small shop in Tampa that has great stock, friendly counter service, and even hosts an SYM group for meetings in the back. A rare bird in this day and age. If you are in Tampa, you must stop and see this place and say hi to Marty. He is even open on Sunday, surely a sign that he is an evil wizrd, eh ?
(just kidding, Marty!)
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mai-ling
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Re: Teacher sacked for being a magician

Postby mai-ling » June 20th, 2008, 5:24 pm

i don't know why the school admin
has such an issue with the teacher.

aren't magicians still working the
school circuit?

or was that just the era of my dad's
generation?
you will remember my name
http://www.mai-ling.net
world's youngest illusionista



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