Fired Teacher Claims Religious Discrimination

The Deseret News yesterday reported on the ongoing Utah jury trial in which South Sevier High School teacher Erin Jensen claims that her termination as a "provisional" teacher and the school's refusal to re-hire her resulted from discrimination against her on the basis of gender and religion. Rumors were circulating labeling Jensen, who is not a practicing member of the dominant LDS Church, a "witch" and a "coffee drinker". Parents of some of her students complained to the school's principal about Jensen "giving ideas" to students. They said she discussed "different belief systems" and that at one point she swore in class. Jensen's attorneys have pointed to school board meeting minutes that contain comments from parents that Jensen practices witchcraft, chooses Halloween as her favorite holiday and "prefers the dark side." Later, those minutes were changed to delete those comments.