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Unfortunate: School Sacks Woman for Liking Burka Joke Picture on Facebook
Posted by Thandiubani on Mon 07th Dec, 2015 - tori.ngIn this very unusual news, a woman was sacked because she liked and shared a Facebook post. The woman who had put more than 20-years on the job was dismissed even after apologizing.
Nita O'Dell
A woman who has worked in a school for more than 20 years was fired for liking a burka joke picture on Facebook. The woman identified as Nita O’Dell was stunned to be branded a racist after sharing the photo, which showed a dog wearing a makeshift burka (a long, loose garment covering the whole body from head to feet, worn in public by women in many Muslim countries) with the caption underneath: “Guide dog for a Muslim woman. It’s called a Barka.”
She was immediately brought before the head teacher at Billesley Primary School in Birmingham in June after a screen grab of her Facebook page was sent by someone anonymously to the school.
The 54-year-old was suspended on full pay, sacked in September for gross misconduct and last Thursday lost an appeal against the decision. Now, with diabetic husband Tim too ill to work, Nita faces a bleak Christmas at the family’s Kings Heath home.
Fighting back tears, she told the Birmingham Mail : “I am not a racist. The school is very multicultural – if I was a racist don’t you think it would’ve come out before now?
“I was sacked the day before I was due to celebrate 21 years’ service.
“My sister-in-law is a Muslim; my very best friend, who I’ve known since we were two, is of mixed race; our family consists of different cultures.
“I just thought the picture was funny and ‘liked’ it. A lot of other people ‘liked’ it, too.
“I just feel so down and intimidated. There is not a racist bone in my body. It’s not in my blood.”
Both of Nita’s children went to Billesley Primary, and she says she loved her job.
Nita described the shock when head teacher Johanne Clifton pulled the “evidence” from an envelope.
“I was going to work as normal, I was happy. All of a sudden, the head said, ‘We have a problem’.
“She opened the envelope and produced the picture that had been taken on a mobile phone and told me some people would take it as racist.
“That never crossed my mind. I just shared a picture that I thought was funny.
“I didn’t even see the caption,” Nita insisted, “but they had blown up the words at the meeting.”
Devastated Nita who is sorry for the sad incident which was over blown out of proportion has faced difficulties since losing her job as it has affected her health too.
“I broke down when they sacked me and broke down again at the appeal,” Nita told the Sunday Mercury.
“I have been pulling my hair out for two months and just don’t know where to turn. I’ve been left to feel like a criminal.
“The worst thing is I haven’t talked to my friends at the school since June. I think they’ve been told not to talk to me.
“I think it’s terrible, what’s happened, and unfair.
“My husband and children, Crystal and Karl, have really stood by me and they’re disgusted, but what can I do? We haven’t got the money to fight this.
“Losing your job is bad enough, but being called a racist is just your worst nightmare.”
Nita prays help comes her way to lift the burden and sadness that have followed her since the ugly incident. Her more than 20-years of worthy service has been dented by a most unlikely mistake.
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