Florida teacher accused of wizardry
By wooitsmolly
@wooitsmolly (3613)
United States
May 13, 2008 7:22am CST
http://www.local6.com/news/16169506/detail.html
Teacher Jim Piculas does a magic trick where a toothpick disappears and then reappears. Piculas recently did the 30-second trick in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land 'O Lakes. Piculas said he then got a call from the supervisor of teachers, saying he'd been accused of wizardry.
...what?
2 people like this
8 responses
@wayz12 (2059)
• United States
13 May 08
This is funny, except that this can affect a person's livelihood.
The man performed a magic trick. With today's kids whose attention span are so short, a substitute sometimes has to do things that can keep them in line. Furthermore, how sure are they that he really use magic. It sounded just like some cheap parlor trick.
It's amazing what kind of things scare our education administrators. Any kind of threat of something different have them shaking in their boots. The poor teacher might not be able to get anymore assignment just because he was creative enough in class.
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
14 May 08
yeah really good point about his livelihood.
Do people realise that there are many parts of the world where belief in the supernatural (voodoo, juju etc) is quite common? I read that in Nigeria a man was lynched (killed) by a mob because they believed he made someone's P£NIS disappear through wizardy. I will pull up the link and do a story :)
K
3 people like this
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
14 May 08
True, supersitions and belief in magic are very strong in some parts of the world still, but we're talking about the public school system in Florida for gosh sakes!
2 people like this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
13 May 08
I saw this a few days ago and I find it funny that the kid that turned him in, obviously cannot tell the difference between a 'trick' and slight of hand, especially since he showed all the kids how to do it, and magic, which really does not exist, as in magic that moves thing, etc. I don't get how everyone enjoyed it and then one kid suddenly freaks out and decides to turn the guy in. It doesn't make any sense and it's ridicilous this guy lost his job over something that obviously did not happen how they think it did.
3 people like this
@dodoguy (1292)
• Australia
14 May 08
Hi wooitsmolly,
Clearly, the whistle blower saw something that the Wizard didn't want him to see.
It might be time to get in touch with Sunnydale High and see if Buffy is available for some contract work - all is not as it seems in Rushe Middle School.
If we don't act, the place may soon be overrun with Vampires - and then Florida's tourism will be in a fine pickle!
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
14 May 08
Are you freakin' kidding me? I don't know what's worse, that some child (at least 10 years old, if it was a middle school) has led such a sheltered life that he's never seen a magic trick before; that a parent not only took this seriously, but felt this magic trick was some sort of threat worth reporting; or that the school system took it the least bit seriously.
They just pubically accused him of "wizardry!" do they realize how ridulious that sounds? That is the same as accusing a woman of "witchcraft." Is the school system going to use the dunking method next to determine if he can have his job back?
2 people like this
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
15 May 08
This is to stupid to believe. Someone has something else against this teacher and is using foolishness to get him into trouble if they can. What was this kids grades? Was he failing? To make an accuation that can so eaisly be shown for what it is (a slight of hand trick) is just a waste of time, money and making these people look increadibley STUPID! Not to mention what it could do to this mans career.
