Teacher in Crack Over Butt Art
Larry (Scratch)
By KRISTEN GELINEAU
The Associated Press
Tuesday, December 12, 2006; 10:58 PM
RICHMOND, Va. -- To hear the students tell it, Stephen Murmer is a fun,
popular art teacher who is always quick to crack a joke. But there is
another side to Murmer. A side that has agitated school officials and
resulted in his suspension. A side that focuses, almost entirely, on the
crack in his backside.
Outside of class and under an alter ego, the self-proclaimed
"butt-printing artist" creates floral and abstract art by plastering his
posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas. His
cheeky creations sell for hundreds of dollars.
This has not gone over well with Chesterfield County school officials,
who placed Murmer on administrative leave from his job at Monacan High
School.
Murmer contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia after he
was suspended on Friday, ACLU legal director Rebecca Glenberg said. He
told Glenberg that administrators had suspended him with pay for five
days because of his work as a butt-print painter and that he also could
face unpaid suspension pending an investigation.
Murmer has been instructed by the school administration not to speak
with the media, Glenberg said. He did not return messages seeking
comment Tuesday.
Chesterfield County schools spokeswoman Debra Marlow confirmed that a
Monacan art teacher had been placed on administrative leave but declined
to provide additional details because it is a personnel issue.
"In the school system, personnel regulations state that teachers are
expected to set an example for students through their personal conduct,"
Marlow said. "Additionally, the Supreme Court has stated that schools
must teach by example and that teachers, like parents, are role models."
Murmer went to great lengths to keep his work life separate from his
activities as an artist, said ACLU executive director Kent Willis. As a
butt-printing artist, he goes by the name "Stan Murmur," and appears in
disguise in photographs and videos promoting his art.
"As a public employee, he has constitutional rights, and he certainly
has the right to engage in private legal activities protected by the
First Amendment of the Constitution," Willis said.
A nearly naked Murmer expressed concern about remaining incognito during
a 2003 appearance on the now-canceled cable television talk show,
"Unscrewed With Martin Sargent." In a clip from the show, available on
YouTube.com, Murmer dons a fake nose and glasses, a towel on his head, a
black thong _ and nothing else.
"I'm certainly proud of the ass painting," Murmer said in response to
questions about his disguise. "I do have a real job where I do have real
clients and I don't think they'd be too understanding if I was also the
guy who painted with my ass."
That video has made the rounds at Monacan High, where the mere mention
of Murmer's name was enough to elicit grins from students Tuesday. Most
appeared to be firmly behind their teacher, describing his suspension as
"stupid," "ignorant" and "kinda retarded."
"Everyone has been talking about it," senior Heather Thompson said with
a laugh as she and other students streamed out of school.
Thompson, who worked with Murmer in the school's art club, said many
students have known about his paintings for a few years, but the YouTube
clip recently got everyone buzzing. She and other students described
Murmer as a funny, likable and popular teacher. There is little support
among the student body for his suspension, she said.
"It was simply him expressing himself and his art, and it had nothing to
do with school _ he wasn't advertising," she said.
This is not the first time Murmer has faced potential problems because
of his extracurricular activities. Three years ago, he contacted the
ACLU after he was told school administrators were unhappy about his
paintings, Willis said. The issue eventually blew over with no
suspension issued, Willis said. It was unclear why administrators
decided to take action now.
Owning a piece of Murmer's art doesn't come cheap. On his Web site, his
creations run upward of $900. His most popular piece, "Tulip Butts,"
goes for $600.
So how does one become a butt-printing artist? On his Web site, Murmur
said his journey began a few years ago when he was told to find an
organic item to use as a stamp for a class painting assignment. He
decided to use his posterior. His final product was a hit with the class
and a butt painter was born.
He was, however, the only student not asked to hold up his organic stamp.
--
http://www.highvolumemedia.com/thebullhorn/WarOnTerror/ClintonsFailures/
Don Homuth
<Scr...@Tigard.OR.com> wrote:
>Teacher in Crack Over Butt Art
>
>By KRISTEN GELINEAU
>The Associated Press
>Tuesday, December 12, 2006; 10:58 PM
>
>RICHMOND, Va. -- To hear the students tell it, Stephen Murmer is a fun,
>popular art teacher who is always quick to crack a joke. But there is
>another side to Murmer. A side that has agitated school officials and
>resulted in his suspension. A side that focuses, almost entirely, on the
>crack in his backside.
>
>Outside of class and under an alter ego, the self-proclaimed
>"butt-printing artist" creates floral and abstract art by plastering his
>posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas. His
>cheeky creations sell for hundreds of dollars.
In his role as a private citizen, he may do whatever he pleases.
>This has not gone over well with Chesterfield County school officials,
>who placed Murmer on administrative leave from his job at Monacan High
>School.
Their only reasonable interest is in how he does his job as an art
teacher in the school, during those times when he is responsible to
the school.
Otherwise, if there is no specific restriction in his contract, he's
on his own to do as he wishes.
>Murmer contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia after he
>was suspended on Friday, ACLU legal director Rebecca Glenberg said. He
>told Glenberg that administrators had suspended him with pay for five
>days because of his work as a butt-print painter and that he also could
>face unpaid suspension pending an investigation.
Perfect sort of case for the ACLU. Good that there's someone prepared
to do that, else the bluenoses would intrude into all sorts of
otherwise private matters.
Doesn't seem to be a problem here.
lein
Don Homuth wrote:
> On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 07:41:40 -0800, "Larry (Scratch)"
> <Scr...@Tigard.OR.com> wrote:
>
> >Teacher in Crack Over Butt Art
> >
> >By KRISTEN GELINEAU
> >The Associated Press
> >Tuesday, December 12, 2006; 10:58 PM
> >
> >RICHMOND, Va. -- To hear the students tell it, Stephen Murmer is a fun,
> >popular art teacher who is always quick to crack a joke. But there is
> >another side to Murmer. A side that has agitated school officials and
> >resulted in his suspension. A side that focuses, almost entirely, on the
> >crack in his backside.
> >
> >Outside of class and under an alter ego, the self-proclaimed
> >"butt-printing artist" creates floral and abstract art by plastering his
> >posterior and genitals with paint and pressing them against canvas. His
> >cheeky creations sell for hundreds of dollars.
>
> In his role as a private citizen, he may do whatever he pleases.
Like join the KKK, Nazi party, and those sort of things while working
at your public school teaching diversity?
Don Homuth
wrote:
Exactly.
>...while working
>at your public school teaching diversity?
Unless it is specifically and explicitly prohibited by the contract,
s/he is free to do whatever else s/he wishes on his/her own time.
What's prohibited is having an employer attempt to change the Terms
and Conditions of employment outside the contract.
So if this Art Teacher wishes to sell replicas of Thomas Kincade
paintings (by way of coming up with an equally reprehensible
activity), s/he may well do so. And if there are folks willing to buy
them, they might quite legally be sold. OTOH, if s/he wishes to
produce a different form of "art" entirely, that too is permissible.
Unless it is prohibited by the employment contract.
Now, otoh, the contract will and likely Does prohibit the teacher from
expounding, during school hours and to students, the teachings of the
KKK, American Nazi Party, any religious sect or anything else that the
drafters of the contract wished to prohibit. That's acceptable. It's
not likely this activity rises to such a level, however.
Once the teacher or the bargaining unit accepts the Term and
Conditions of the contract, they are bound by those conditions for the
duration of the contract.
So the action of the local school board appears, on its face, to be
both arbitrary and capricious, and amounts to nothing more than its
disapproval of the "art" form the teacher produces for sale. One sort
of "art" is permissible while another is not?
Unless that's in the contract, the school screwed up.
For myself, I wouldn't buy such "art" but there are those who would.
And if the teacher has the right to produce it, then s/he also has the
right to sell it as well. (If there's One thing this nation supports,
it's that Right above virtually all others.)
Next time around, the school board may not wish to offer a contract to
the teacher. That's OK and entirely permissible. Or it may wish to
write some language into the contract prohibiting the production of
certain forms of "art" if it can get its lawyers to figure out how to
write it so it's constitutionally permissible.
But lacking any specific discussion within the T&C of the contract,
it's overreached its authority by attempting to prohibit the conduct
under discussion. At this point, I'd guess it's only remaining action
would be to offer a money settlement and buy the teacher off.
Otherwise, it's just meddling in activities it has no legal right to
meddle in.
gatt
"lein" <boomer_...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:1166027360.9...@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com...
>> In his role as a private citizen, he may do whatever he pleases.
>
> Like join the KKK, Nazi party, and those sort of things while working at
> your public school teaching diversity?
IF (it's hard to imagine, but...) he's actually teaching diversity and
leaving all that nonsense at home, what's the problem?
Careful... *looks around to make sure the talk.guns freaks aren't here*
...because, where does it stop? "The shop teacher has a collection of
assault rifles at home. Is this who we want teaching our kids?"
The difference between painting your butt and sticking it on stuff and the
KKK or Nazi part is that one is an expression of creativity (?!?) and the
other are hate groups. One should not have to give up American freedoms to
be a teacher; one should only have to secure behavior inappropriate for
children while they are present.
-c
lein
Larry (Scratch)
See homu this kind of thinking is what makes the left morally bankrupt.
You just don't get it.
--
http://www.highvolumemedia.com/thebullhorn/WarOnTerror/ClintonsFailures/
Don Homuth
<Scr...@Tigard.OR.com> wrote:
>Don Homuth wrote:
>> But lacking any specific discussion within the T&C of the contract,
>> it's overreached its authority by attempting to prohibit the conduct
>> under discussion. At this point, I'd guess it's only remaining action
>> would be to offer a money settlement and buy the teacher off.
>>
>> Otherwise, it's just meddling in activities it has no legal right to
>> meddle in.
>
>See homu this kind of thinking is what makes the left morally bankrupt.
>You just don't get it.
This is simple Contract Law, and it does not derive exclusively from
The Left. Nor is this discussion ideological in any way.
That's what there is to "get" here. Just that, and nothing more.
A school board has every legal right to require whatever it wishes
within the contract. If it's acceptable, then it's also binding. It
may not come along later and declare something Immoral and thereby
breach the Terms and Conditions of Employment that the contract
includes.
It's that Rule of Law thing, doncha know?
Morality has nothing to do with it.
Corky K
That's one side of looking at this story. I'd be a bit curious what kind of fool
would spend big bucks on a butt and package print from some fat slob on canvas.
A fool and their money is soon parted.
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
Don Homuth
> I'd be a bit curious what kind of fool
>would spend big bucks on a butt and package print from some fat slob on canvas.
It's not clear from the story whether your description is correct or
not.
What is clear is that interest in this "art" will predictably be
increased by the fuss the school board is making about it, and the
artistic reputation of the "artist" will improve as well.
Sorta like the marketing advantage years back of having a book "banned
in Boston." That was a much sought-after occasion, because it would
instantly increase the sales of the book elsewhere too.
>A fool and their money is soon parted.
The economy depends on that.
Is this a great country or what?
Curt
"Larry (Scratch)" <Scr...@Tigard.OR.com> wrote in message news:a5qdncRfg-o-
> >
> > But lacking any specific discussion within the T&C of the contract,
> > it's overreached its authority by attempting to prohibit the conduct
> > under discussion. At this point, I'd guess it's only remaining action
> > would be to offer a money settlement and buy the teacher off.
> >
> > Otherwise, it's just meddling in activities it has no legal right to
> > meddle in.
>
>
> See homu this kind of thinking is what makes the left morally bankrupt.
> You just don't get it.
I don't. Maybe you could explain, Larry?
Curt
gatt
"Curt" <c...@hevanet.com> wrote in message
news:12o0jes...@corp.supernews.com...
>> See homu this kind of thinking is what makes the left morally bankrupt.
>> You just don't get it.
>
> I don't. Maybe you could explain, Larry?
Basically, Larry appears to think that everybody who doesn't share his
specific outrage is a morally bankrupt leftist. Perhaps the suggestion is
that there needs to be broader control of public systems, more thought
policing, more government crushing of moral dissedents.
Sounds altogether Stalinesque if you ask me.
Why does Larry hate freedom?
-c
Ockham's Razor
"gatt" <LiveFromTh...@gfy.com> wrote:
He's a fundy. He hates your freedom to be free of his prejudices.
--
There are two ways to spell Ockham/Occam. Britannica prefers the former.
lein
Larry (Scratch) wrote:
> Teacher in Crack Over Butt Art
Speaking of teaching, we should also eliminate homework or put strict
limits on how much homework a school can assign. Consider:
We value a well balanced life, homework keeps the kid "at work" well
into the evening, taking away from family time, taking away from other
activies that could include exercise (they sit all day at school, now
they sit for 3 hours at home as well doing homework).
Do you want a person who doesn't know the subject, teaching the
student? Some parents have trouble remembering fractions, let alone
integrals and derivative but they end up staying up late trying to help
the kid understand the subject matter.
If a kid doesn't do homework, and has command of the subject matter,
why should their grade be docked? That seems counter intuitive.
There is also risks of subject burnout, an hour at school discussing
Shakespeare might be enough, making the student spend 2 hours that
night studying more Shakespeare may not cause a greater appreciation of
Shakespeare.
gatt
> If a kid doesn't do homework, and has command of the subject matter,
> why should their grade be docked? That seems counter intuitive.
>
> There is also risks of subject burnout, an hour at school discussing
> Shakespeare might be enough, making the student spend 2 hours that
> night studying more Shakespeare may not cause a greater appreciation of
> Shakespeare.
Such suggestions would lead to an academic ass-pounding at just about any
accredited college in the world.
Bill Shatzer
> Don Homuth wrote:
Yes indeed, he may do that.
He may also join the communist party, the John Birch Society or a
witches' coven; subscribe to the American Eagle Forum or the Workers'
Daily; or become a mormon, jew, wican, druid, or practicing thesbian.
Peace and justice,
Curt
"gatt" <LiveFromTh...@gfy.com> wrote in message
news:12o0khv...@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Curt" <c...@hevanet.com> wrote in message
> news:12o0jes...@corp.supernews.com...
>
> >> See homu this kind of thinking is what makes the left morally bankrupt.
> >> You just don't get it.
> >
> > I don't. Maybe you could explain, Larry?
>
> Basically, Larry appears to think that everybody who doesn't share his
> specific outrage is a morally bankrupt leftist. Perhaps the suggestion is
> that there needs to be broader control of public systems, more thought
> policing, more government crushing of moral dissedents.
Oh, I just think he heard Rush use the words "morally bankrupt" and thought
they sounded Weighty. So he uses them now.
>
> Sounds altogether Stalinesque if you ask me.
>
> Why does Larry hate freedom?
It makes him nervous.
Curt
Don Homuth
<LiveFromTh...@gfy.com> wrote:
>Why does Larry hate freedom?
He doesn't Hate the sort of Freedom that requires everyone else to be
in moral and intellectual lockstep with His Own Personal And Glorious
Self.
You are indeed Free to be like that, if you wish.
But it's sure be Awful if everyone was.