Is "Wizardy" a crime in Florida? A simple stage magicians trick "Wizardy" - I think that someone has been reading too much "Harry Porter"!

Magic trick costs teacher job

By: Janie Porter

Land O' Lakes, Florida -- The stories in the news about inappropriate relationships between teachers and students have been overwhelming. There was even a substitute teacher in New Port Richey who got in trouble after investigators say she had a relationship with an underage student.

Well, another Pasco County substitute teacher's job is on the line, but this time it's because of a magic trick.

The charge from the school district — Wizardry!

Substitute teacher Jim Piculas does a 30-second magic trick where a toothpick disappears then reappears.

But after performing it in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land O' Lakes, Piculas said his job did a disappearing act of its own.

"I get a call the middle of the day from the supervisor of substitute teachers. He says, 'Jim, we have a huge issue. You can't take any more assignments. You need to come in right away,'" he said.

When Piculas went in, he learned his little magic trick cast a spell that went much farther than he'd hoped.

"I said, 'Well Pat, can you explain this to me?' 'You've been accused of wizardry,' [he said]. Wizardry?" he asked.

Tampa Bay's 10 talked to the assistant superintendent with the Pasco County School District who said it wasn't just the wizardry and that Piculas had other performance issues, including "not following lesson plans" and allowing students to play on unapproved computers.

Piculas said he knew nothing about the accusations.

"That... I think was embellished after the fact to try to cover what initially what they were saying to me," he said.

After the magic trick, Rushe's principal requested Piculas be dismissed. Now, Piculas believes the incident may have bewitched his ability to get a job anywhere else.

"I still have no idea what my discipline involves because I've never received anything from the school district actually saying what it entails," said Piculas.

As a substitute teacher, the Pasco County School District considers Piculas to be an "at will employee." That means the district doesn't need to have cause for not bringing him back at all.

Janie Porter, Tampa Bay's 10 News <link>

to be aimed at making good little robots of the students. Heaven forbid they should enjoy learning anything.

The kids are given so much homework now that they skim over and don't develop any real understanding of what it is they are supposed to be learning. If they have a good memory, they make it through just fine, but individual thoughts on any subject are out of the question anymore.

The best teachers are the one's who make learning enjoyable and encourage the students to think about their subjects.

You can see (re article) where that is going.

Incidently, I read, in other article, on the same subject, that the teacher showed the class how he did the trick, no supernatural influences, just slight of hand, yet he still got sacked!

Next we'll hear of a teacher being sacked for making his class laugh out loud!

and sad! I would find a new school for my children, if that happened at my school.

All teachers are required to provide a lesson plan. Substitute teachers are supposed to impliment that lesson plan, not spend 30 minutes entertaining their students and practicing their hobbies/crafts. The school has every right to expect substitute teachers to teach.

Not 30 minutes, Ellen, 30 seconds. Perhaps you misread the article!