Yahoo: Ohio teacher claims discrimination due to her fear of children

[Larry]

Link.

A teacher from Mariemont, Ohio, is suing her school district, claiming discrimination. What makes the case unique is that the teacher, Maria Waltherr-Willard, suffers from pedophobia, a crippling fear of young children. She claims her disability led to the discrimination.

But then, further down the article, "the rest of the story":

The backstory, as described by the Enquirer, goes as follows: Waltherr-Willard taught foreign languages in high school for many years. Several years ago, word got to her that her district was considering putting those classes online, a move that would have had an effect on her position.

Waltherr-Willard apparently spoke to parents about the district's decision to eliminate face-to-face French courses. Parents spoke out, and the district was not amused that one of its teachers was stirring the pot. Waltherr-Willard claims she was sent to teach at junior high as a kind of punishment for speaking out. She eventually resigned her position.

[mboyd784]

Reminds me of the Houston Rockets guy who declares for the draft, cashes the check and then refuses to travel with the team because he's afraid of flying.

[Destino]

I think she made a poor career choice.

[TheDoyler23]

Sounds like there is a lot to the story than the headline. Though if there isn't a high school class to teach, it would probably cause undue hardship for the school system to wrench one into place. That's not an accommodation.

[jnhay]

Reminds me of the Houston Rockets guy who declares for the draft, cashes the check and then refuses to travel with the team because he's afraid of flying.

Not really. If she was afraid of all people then it'd be similar. She could still do her job as long as they put her in a high school. Seems to me like she should start focusing more on why she has an irrational fear of kids.

[Larry]

Not really. If she was afraid of all people then it'd be similar. She could still do her job as long as they put her in a high school. Seems to me like she should start focusing more on why she has an irrational fear of kids.

Well, now, junior high kids are monsters.

[Burgold]

As a former middle school special Ed teacher I think Larry is right

[Predicto]

Well, now, junior high kids are monsters.

As a former junior high student, I agree.

7th grade is the deepest pit of hell as far as I am concerned.

---------- Post added January-14th-2013 at 07:05 PM ----------

As a former middle school special Ed teacher I think Larry is right

Wow. You ARE a masochist.

[Burgold]

As a former junior high student, I agree.

7th grade is the deepest pit of hell as far as I am concerned.

---------- Post added January-14th-2013 at 07:05 PM ----------



Wow. You ARE a masochist.

Well, in my defense I did say former

[dfitzo53]

I've actually found middle school to be the age group I enjoy working with the most. Call me crazy.

At any rate, I think the best part of the article is the picture of a secondary school classroom in Middlesex England in 1947.

[sideshow24]

Who cares if she is afraid of children? If you are afraid of heights you would not make it as a window washer. Find another job other than frivolous lawsuit monkey.[COLOR="Gold"]

[HogNose]

Looks like she chose the wrong line of work.

[Major Harris]

I've actually found middle school to be the age group I enjoy working with the most. Call me crazy.

definitely agree with you, though we are in the minority for sure.

[Corcaigh]

Apparently fear of young children is a real condition. But this looks dubious as she apparently is just fine teaching a 13+ year old children, but 11-12 trigger her phobia?

[Thiebear]

If it were true she would "volunteer' to lead the charge that makes her class an 'online' class.
She was doing the opposite until caught.