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Naked art gets teacher in trouble

10:17 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 29, 2006

By BOB GREENE / WFAA-TV

WFAA-TV
Sydney McGee thought the trip to the Dallas Museum of Art would be a treat for the children she had taught since Kindergarten.

Sydney McGee always says, "In art, anything goes." So that's what she teaches her students at Fisher Elementary. McGee says, to her, art is life. In fact, teaching it has been her profession for the last 28 years. But, now she may be asked to leave it all behind. Four months ago, she wanted to take her fifth grade class on a field trip. She chose the Dallas Museum of Art.

"I thought it would be a treat for the children that I've had since Kindergarten," she says.

The trip became her worst nightmare. After the trip, some parents complained to Fisher Elementary's principal because their children saw nude sculptures and paintings during the field trip.

"It's been hard," she says. " I have been in fear for my job."

McGee says the school put her on probation because of the trip. A trip which was school approved and had parental signoff. She talked with the schools principal.

"I said, how can you do this? She said he was hired to make these judgment calls and I was no longer Frisco material."

Today, the Frisco ISD says McGee's problems started before the field trip and there are performance issues needing attention. McGee's contract with the district comes up in March. Meanwhile, she says she's just trying to focus on art and teaching her students.

"I really get a joy. The children teach me almost as much as I teach them."

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