LONDON — In what some are calling the first of its kind, a Lewisham, England science teacher was summarily fired for telling a class of 15- and 16- year-olds that the homosexual lifestyle was “disgusting.” Robert Haye, 43 and a Seventh-day Adventist, appealed the decision but the High Court struck it down calling their decision “undoubtedly proportionate,” reports the East London Lines.
Haye, who also taught personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) was also reported to have told a class of 14- and 15-year-olds that those who worship on Sundays are “basically worshipping the devil.” (Seventh-day Adventists worship on Saturdays.)
But after a teaching assistant overheard the “disgusting” comment and complained, Haye, who was reputedly a good educator, was sacked. Robert Ogilvy, representing Haye in court, said that no students had been distressed or offended by his comments and he had been responding to their questions, rather than propagating his Bible beliefs.
Haye was stunned by the High Court’s decision. “Christians are now being persecuted in this country for believing in the Bible. That cannot be. We have a right to believe and express what we believe, but people are now afraid of being punished for not being politically correct. This country is a free and democratic society, but is it? Is it really?”
Ogilvy said the prohibition order would in reality amount to a life ban from teaching because Haye was not prepared to “denounce or renounce” Bible teachings.
Mr. Justice King, who ruled against the appeal, noted rightly that the Deptford Green school where Haye taught had a strict policy barring any language that in any way violates the dignity of its students. ““This case is not about the right of a teacher to hold sincerely-held beliefs based on the Bible in relation to homosexuality or attendance at church on Sundays. It has been about how those beliefs and views are manifested in the context of teaching in schools with young people with diverse sexuality, backgrounds and beliefs. Deptford Green had a policy which made it clear that teachers were expected to present positive information on lesbians, gays and bisexuals to enable students to challenge derogatory stereotypes and prejudice.”
Robert Haye, who is now unemployed and facing almost $6,500 in legal fees, can contest the ban in two years.
