Son Of Well-Known Atheist Says Name Got Him Un-Hired

[truthpusher]

http://www.nbc5.com/news/4538008/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news

Son Of Well-Known Atheist Says Name Got Him Un-Hired
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School District Says Sherman Never Formally Hired
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UPDATED: 7:19 pm CDT May 26, 2005
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CHICAGO -- The son of a well-known atheist said the school district that hired him rescinded their job offer because of who his father is, and their perception of his beliefs.

Richard Sherman, who is just out of college, thought he had a job lined up as a teacher in April at Schaumburg High School, and said he even signed a contract last Wednesday.

But on Monday morning, Sherman, who is the son of well-known atheist Rob Sherman, said school district officials told him he would not get the job after all, NBC5's Phil Rogers reported on Thursday.

(snip)

"I believe it is either based on who my father is, or based on what they perceive as my religious belief," Richard Sherman said. "I could believe that trees talk, and that's my personal belief -- it doesn't matter. They can't release me based on my religious beliefs. That's against the law."

Rob Sherman noted that the Schaumburg superintendent graduated from a Bible college.

[BattyDem]

1. Public school job ... the religion of the teacher is irrelevant

I smell a major lawsuit coming! :bounce:

[aquart]

2. I see a lawsuit that goes very very far.

[PartyPooper]

3. Since when is "religious affiliation" a requisite on a resume?

or on a job application?

Please tell me!

[Tesha]

21. Since December 12th, 2000. (NT)

[dec1549]

4. Atheists

My name is the same as the HEAD of the America Athesists Association (or whatever it is). You wanna talk about grief?

[0007]

18. Welcome home! Glad that you found DU

Like to hear some of your stories.

[drhilarius]

5. I don't believe this nonsense...

everyone knows that the Christians are the most persecuted and downtrodden group in this country! :sarcasm:

[Sydnie]

6. That goes hand in hand with the story from Indiana today

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Two lawsuits to keep our eyes on.

[phaseolus]

7. link broken - try this link instead

Judge: Parents can't teach pagan beliefs!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1811783

[Sydnie]

8. Thanks

I had a glitch while posting that. Glad you corrected the link! :)

[lenidog]

9. Devils Advocate Challenge Name me five well known

atheist activists. I will give you Ellen Johnson and Michael Newdow

[daleo]

10. It is possible a serious Christian might know better than most people.

The only name that I can think of is O'Hare and she died years ago. But fundamentalists may well make a practice of knowing their supposed enemy.

On edit - for the heck of it, I will throw in Richard Dawkins and Anthony Flew (yes I know).

[lenidog]

11. You have a possible point

I think on average except for those who may be in the news at that moment no one would know his father was a atheist or a well known one. I mean I bet the HR dept of this school district probably got hundreds of applications and someone just made the connection that his father was a well known atheist. I doubt it.

[LiberallyInclined]

16. Robert Sherman is fairly notorious in the chicagoland area-

he had a 'newsletter' waaay before there ever was an internet, and as such had a press pass that got him into a lot of things. He's also filed his fair share of lawsuits against municipalities in the area, with Zion being just about his favorite target.

[Klapaucius]

15. actually...

Read:

Murdered years ago.

Identified by serial number on the hip replacement that she had.

K.

[PassingFair]

12. Richard Dawkins

Ron Reagan
The Gaylors and
Dan Barker
oh, and Julia Sweeney
I believe that Eleanor Clift is one of us, too.

[lenidog]

13. I would say you are above average

I mean I could only name two current atheists off the top of my head. I think that most people would be hard pressed to name any besides Newdon and for those who are older Madalyn O'Hare. Actually I could name another one but that is only because he writes to the local newspaper every single week.

[PassingFair]

14. Thank you for the above average nod!

I could name many more atheists, but these are the ones that immediately come to mind when the word "activist" is mentioned.

[RebelOne]

20. Check out this list of celebrity atheists

http://www.celebatheists.com/

[fob]

24. That's what I was wondering. How do you become a "well-known"

atheist? The only name that came to mind to me was Michael Newdow.

Does it take a famous quote or SC case or something?

Yay, though we walk through the shadow of the Valley Mall, I shall fear no shoestore...

[Miss Chybil]

17. Well, I don't know if believing trees talk is a great analogy in this case

I mean, if my kid came home and said his teacher said trees talk to him, I might be a little concerned! Not believing in a supreme being is a little easier to swallow.

[sendero]

22. How is that any different..

... than believing what Christians believe. Really, myths and superstitions are all the same. They rely on believing things that cannot be proven.

The difference between someone who believes trees can talk and in religion is that the tree talker is probably not basically in it for the money and power, as most religious leaders are.

[Miss Chybil]

23. Hence my statement, "Not believing in a supreme being would be easier

to swallow." Albeit, I have a pretty close relationship with my tomato plants, and while I may think they can communicate with me in certain ways, I don't think they can speak, per se. People believe whatever they want, believing doesn't make it so, or it could. I suppose we could delve into a deep discussion involving "reality," but I can tell you this, the people I've seen standing on the street talking to the trees, are not people I would prefer be teaching my kids in school. So, I believe, the would-be teacher used a silly analogy and I made a flippant remark about it. Not that big a deal.

[MADem]

19. How would they know who his father is, unless he told them?

The name Sherman isn't exactly as distinctive as say, Hitler, or Stalin.

I mean, you've got William Tecumseh Sherman, of Civil War fame, Alan Sherman, of Hello Muddah, Hello Fadda, fame, Mike Sherman, Packers coach...

Having said that, if they DID fire him for that reason, it is just plain wrong of them. It may have come up in a background check...