Assistant principal fired after reading children’s book to class

Authored by wbrc.com and submitted by ee9
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JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT/Gray News) – An assistant principal in Mississippi was fired last week after reading the children’s book “I Need a New Butt!” to a class of second-grade students.

“My boss had asked me to set up a Zoom with the second-grade classes and the principal at the school they’re going to be at next year, and she was going to read to them. And she didn’t show,” Assistant Principal Toby Price told WLBT.

To improvise, Price said his boss told him to read to the students instead.

“I grabbed one of my favorite books that I had nearby, I read it to them. It’s a funny, silly book,” Price explained.

Price said he had read this book at previous school districts before and never heard any pushback or complaints.

“I didn’t think twice about reading it, because I’ve never had an issue with it before. There are other books that have much more suggestive material that are much more widely accepted,” Price said.

According to Price’s termination letter from the superintendent of the Hinds County School District, Price showed “a lack of professionalism and impaired judgment” by picking the book.

“I just think that, you know, this was a pretty harsh reaction. I’ve been in education for 20 years. I’ve never had a disciplinary anything put in my file, not even for being late. So, I was blown away,” Price said.

In response to Price’s situation, children’s book authors, teachers and librarians have messaged and posted on social media stating the book is “hilarious and sweet,” “joyful and fun” and “lighthearted” and that the superintendent’s decision was wrong.

Now, Price is hoping to overturn their decision, get his job back and teach others that funny books are needed in education.

The superintendent in the school district declined to comment about Price’s firing.

Copyright 2022 WLBT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

TheLastLibrarian1 on March 9th, 2022 at 21:35 UTC »

As an elementary school librarian I agree, this was a perfect read aloud choice for second graders. You know what they think is hysterical? Butts. Butts are the funniest thing ever, next to farts, and they probably talked about that book for days. Some probably enjoyed it so much they asked for the same book so they could read it at home, or asked for books that were similarly funny. Good lord, this man got kids excited about READING! How dare he! /s

Edit: oh my goodness, thank you for the award

DeificClusterfuck on March 9th, 2022 at 20:58 UTC »

So as far as I can tell the book is about a kid who finds out his butt has a crack in it (LOL) and he goes in search of a new one

I don't see the problem here

Edit: I've seen it. It's not offensive, it's funny. Butts and farts are funny, especially to little kids. And big kids. And adults.

justlookingaround254 on March 9th, 2022 at 20:50 UTC »

Our district is desperate for teachers. Parents without criminal records are being asked to supervise kids. Meanwhile this poor guy just lost his 20yr career for reading a book about butts to kids. Fucks sake.