FORT PIERCE -A high school English teacher
was suspended for three days after showing a class portions of the
R-rated movie Dracula without permission from administrators
or parents.
Teacher Stephen McKee did not show any nudity or parts of the
movie that garnered the R rating, but he should have sought approval
before showing any movie rated anything other than G, Assistant
Principal Terry Davis said.
McKee's English honors class viewed the film in connection with
reading the novel. The students saw only the first 20 minutes of the
movie.
Schools Superintendent Bill Vogel said in a letter that teachers
are required to protect students' physical and mental health and
that ``the content of this video is inappropriate and unacceptable
for the classroom.''
TEEN REJECTS PLEA DEAL IN
STABBING
PENSACOLA -- A 15-year-old boy, who says he was defending himself
when he fatally stabbed his uncle, has rejected a plea offer of nine
years in prison and will go to trial. He is risking a mandatory
sentence of life without parole if convicted.
Daniel Carter's lawyer, James Stokes, announced his client's
decision at a brief hearing Tuesday before Circuit Judge Terry
Terrell, who set trial for July 14.
Daniel is accused of killing Jack Lloyd Carter July 16 at the
home of his sister, Cindy, the boy's mother. The uncle was stabbed
and cut at least 10 times in the head, chest and abdomen, an autopsy
indicated.
The teen is being prosecuted as an adult for first-degree
premeditated murder.
WORKERS PUNISHED FOR
HARASSMENT
TAMPA -- Hillsborough County officials fired one employee,
suspended three others and punished six more for racially harassing
a black employee who eventually won a $130,000 settlement.
One employee in the county's solid waste department was fired,
and two department directors were suspended Tuesday after an
investigation into complaints by former trash truck driver Donald
Harris, a black employee who recently died.
In addition, another employee was suspended for two weeks without
pay, one received a written reprimand and five were sent for
counseling.
In March, county commissioners agreed to pay Harris $130,000 and
offer a formal apology after he complained that he faced a regular
stream of racist comments and jokes at the transfer station where he
was based.
Compiled from Herald staff and wire
reports
