Fired art teacher defends allowing girls as young as 15 to model topless, strike 'simulated masturbation' pose



A British high school art teacher was fired after allowing female students to pose topless for an art project. However, the teacher has defended her actions, and said that the class was done in the name of art.

Emma Wright, 41, had been working as an art teacher at Huxlow Science College in Northamptonshire, England, since 2004. In 2017, she permitted a lewd photoshoot to happen in her classroom.

A probe was launched in December 2017, after her school’s head of design discovered one student’s art portfolio containing the topless photos.

The investigation found that Wright had invited a photographer who specialized in “suggestive poses” to speak to her students. During the session, the school girls – some as young as 15 – reportedly disrobed.

"The pictures showed teenage girls posing only in their underwear, while holding cigarettes and booze containers, with their hands, bottles or cans covering otherwise naked breasts," The Sun reported.

The investigation determined that there were photos of the teens "posing with their hand inside their underwear or in a pose which simulated masturbation."

The Teaching Regulation Agency ruled that the "highly inappropriate" class had not been in the best interest of "safeguarding" students.

"Whilst the panel was satisfied that there was a low risk of repetition, it did not find that Mrs. Wright had fully reflected on the safeguarding implications of allowing pupils to take photographs of themselves or others in a state of undress," said Alan Meyrick – the chief executive of the Teaching Regulation Agency.

The Teaching Regulation Agency released a report regarding the controversial art class earlier this month.

Following the investigation, Wright was fired in 2018. The Teaching Regulation Agency also banned Wright from teaching for two years.

Now, Wright is speaking out against her termination.

"The TRA has not taken that into account and they have not got an understanding of art in education, which is the basis of my letter to the TRA and MP," Wright told The Sun last week.

"I have written to my MP, the union, and the Education Minister regarding this," Wright continued. "I am a good person. I am not the person they are making out to be."

"I am hoping the local community are as shocked as I am, and as sad and angry," she added. "They know me. I have taught in that school for a long time."

Wright believes that she is the victim of "deep injustice," but will not appeal the ban because she never wants to teach again.

Middle school teacher reportedly fired after playing high-pitched ringing noise for 40 minutes as class punishment. One student called it 'torture.'



A Texas middle school teacher was fired after playing a high-pitched ringing noise in class as punishment for students — one of whom called it "torture" — the New York Post reported.

The teacher played a “dog whistle” YouTube video during one period of class at Leland Edge Middle School in Nevada, Texas, on March 2, the Post said, citing Community Independent School District. The school is about an hour northeast of Dallas.

Image source: KXAS-TV video screenshot

The paper added that the district on Tuesday confirmed the teacher was fired and added that it was “possible” the former employee would face criminal charges.

What are the details?

The Post said the unnamed first-year teacher had been under investigation since a student told the district police department about the noise the same day it was played in the classroom.

One parent told KXAS-TV the teacher used the noise as student punishment.

“I would understand if the teacher used it for a split second to gain the attention of the class but not for the excess of 40 minutes," parent Janice Lohrs told the station. "Not when kids are begging you to stop."

Lohrs' daughter Zoey added to KXAS that after the teacher "put on the ringing noise, everyone was covering their ears. One of them walked out of the classroom, one of them was yelling that it was torture, and one was trying to unplug the computer."

Zoey is sensitive to high-pitched noise, and it leads to migraines for her, the station said, adding that her mother said Zoey's condition is documented at school — and that the teacher was aware of it.

"I would really like her held accountable for her actions; this is not OK," Lohrs added to KXAS. "You have my kid for eight hours a day. It's supposed to be a safe place."