News2Me: Can-Printing Art Teacher Canned

Below you will find an article that was emailed to me from a friend. The article was found at MSN.com and is about a high school art teacher who was fired because of his personal artwork. At first, I felt a little sorry for the gentleman, thinking that it was terrible that his own private pursuit of art creation was grounds for his termination. That made me a little weary. Thinking the artwork I create and produce could be used against my teaching position. Granted I have not created with my genitals and/or posterior but I am sure I have created some pieces that would not be seen as appropriate. Contemporary art seems to be synonymous with controversy. Then I thought, "What an idiot!" Who films themselves painting with their naked body and then posts it on YouTube and doesn't expect to get in trouble, especially if you work with kids! Then a colleague pointed out the fact that this could be an amazing publicity stunt. This artist with his "avant garde" art, has gotten national recognition for his creations and all it cost him was his teaching position, that he probably would have given up for a successful art career. He has probably sold more paintings than he can sit on, since he has been suspended. Maybe, I should get fired for my art and then I could sell the controversial painting for $900. But what could I now do. This guy cornered the marker on privates painting, so maybe I could somehow involve my students in my art. I know, I take a dump and then add dye. Then I could slam a lucky students face into the colored doo. Next I would smear the child's poo covered face on the canvas, in order to create portraits of famous movie stars. I would be known as a crappy Andy Warhol. Seriously though, I find the fear that it creates self-imposed censorship.
Anyway, read it and see what you think.

Va. school board fires '‘butt-printing' art teacher
Paintings done during off-hours sell for as much as $900

RICHMOND, Va. - An art teacher whose off-hours work as a so-called '“butt-printing artist'” became widely circulated among high school students has been fired.

The Chesterfield County School Board, in a unanimous voice vote, fired Stephen Murmer at a meeting Tuesday night, spokeswoman Debra Marlow said.

In its decision, the board reasoned that students have a right to receive their education in an environment free from distractions and disruptions, Marlow said. The decision also is in keeping with court rulings that hold that teachers are expected to lead by example and be role models, she said.

Jason Anthony, Murmer'’s attorney, called the vote "a bad day for the First Amendment."

"Chesterfield lost a tremendous asset today," he said.

Murmer, a teacher at Monacan High School, was suspended in December after objections were raised about his private abstract artwork, much of which includes smearing his posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas.

His paintings sell for as much as $900 each on his Web site.

The unique approach to art became a topic when a clip showing Murmer, wearing a fake nose and glasses, a towel on his head and black thong, turned up on YouTube.com and became the talk of the high school.