TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
Presto! Teacher Out Of A Job
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Published: May 6, 2008
LAND O' LAKES - The telephone call that spelled the end of Jim Piculas' career as a substitute teacher in Pasco County came on a January day about a week after he performed the disappearing-toothpick trick for a group of rapt middle school students.
Pat Sinclair, who oversees substitute teachers in the Pasco County School District, was on the phone. She told Piculas there had been a complaint about his performance at Rushe Middle School in Land O' Lakes.
He asked what she meant.
"She said, 'You've been accused of wizardry,'
" Piculas said.
He said the statement seemed bizarre to him, like something out of Harry Potter.
Piculas said he replied, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
He said he also told Sinclair, "It's not black magic. It's a toothpick."
The school district puts a somewhat different spin on the disappearing-toothpick incident.
Assistant Superintendent Renalia DuBose said the word "wizardry" never came up on the school district's end.
"That was his rendition of what happened," she said.
DuBose also said "there was a lot more involved" than a simple magic-trick demonstration.
She said the principal interviewed students after the regular teacher complained about Piculas' performance in the classroom. The principal then requested that Piculas not return to the school and said he "absolutely should not be subbing," DuBose said.
"The toothpick demonstration was minor compared to the other problems," she said.
In a letter the district sent to Piculas, performing a magic trick at Rushe Middle is just one of the reasons the district gives for dumping him from the substitute-teacher list. The others are that Piculas did not follow the lesson plans, he allowed students on computers even though another teacher said not to and he told the fifth-period student peer that she was in charge.
Piculas said those other reasons are just window dressing. He said he finished the lesson plan, another teacher knew the students were on the computers and he never put the student peer in charge.
Piculas said he thinks his troubles all come down to the disappearing-toothpick trick and a student who may have interpreted the trick as wizardry.
The trick requires a toothpick and transparent tape. A sleight-of-hand maneuver causes the toothpick to disappear then reappear. At least, so it seems. In reality, the toothpick hides behind the performer's thumb, held in place by the tape.
"The whole thing lasted 45 seconds," Piculas said.
He said the students liked the trick. He showed them how to do it so they could perform it at home.
One student in the Rushe Middle class apparently took the trick the wrong way, Piculas said. He said he was told the student became so traumatized that the student's father complained.
Sinclair wrote Piculas a letter, dated Jan. 28, to say the district would "no longer be using your services." The letter mentioned magic tricks at the end of the list of other classroom offenses he is accused of committing.
The word "wizardry" does not appear in the letter.
"I think she was trying to downplay it because it sounded so goofy," Piculas said.
Piculas had worked as a substitute teacher for eight or nine months, spending time at 15 schools. He said he also was working toward teacher certification with the dream of being hired full time.
That appears unlikely now. Piculas said he applied for a job as a GED instructor but wasn't allowed to interview.
"My whole career is in limbo," he said.
Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( sweetchuckd ) on May 6, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This story made http://detentionslip.org! It's a leader for crazy headlines in our public schools.
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Posted by ( Ash ) on May 6, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Basically, he got canned for making the students enjoy a bit of their school day? Oh, I forgot, life enjoying isn't on the FCAT.
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Posted by ( aholbroo ) on May 6, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Those who do not know all of the facts about a situation should not make comments.
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Posted by ( patcon ) on May 6, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Great headline, unfortunately misleading as well. It seems that there's more going on here than what Mr. Piculas claims. Mr. Piculas can make all sorts of claims as to why he is no longer being used as a substitute, but the District is limited in what it can release about such matters. So let's take his claims with a large dose of salt. At least we didn't burn him at the stake!
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Posted by ( manolo ) on May 6, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow! This guy didnt follow a set lesson plan? Let kids use computers and had the nerve to interact with the children?Good thing they did fire him or those poor kids may have actually learned something!!!
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Posted by ( stopTHEinsanity77 ) on May 7, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This man is obviously looking for his 15 minutes of fame. It sounds like he was insubordinate. When a teacher entrusts her students and classroom to another adult they should follow the lesson plans and class rules. This man seemed to have his own agenda. I see substitutes come in all the time and make up their own class rules and do what they want. These kids need stability. You can't come in for a short period of time or one day no less and make up your own rules and routine. I appreciate the hard work of substitutes, but it is ridiculous when they come in and try to make the classroom theirs. I'm sure their is more to this story than a toothpick trick. The school board can only release so much information and we can be sure he either won't tell us or he doesn't realize the stupidity of his actions. This guy needs to move on and get over it. He talks about his career being in limbo. How many other counties are their in Florida? Heck, we have a whole country he can go work for. Mr. P, give it up and move on. Leave the sob story for someone who cares.
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Posted by ( Nilam02 ) on May 7, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
People like him were the best subs when I was in school, a little break from the monotony. Was the kid who was 'traumatized' Rod or Tod Flanders?
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Posted by ( Nilam02 ) on May 7, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Is he the same wizard from the alltel commercials? "Wiiizzzaarrddddd!!!!! oh hey guys...whats up..."
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Posted by ( solitude55 ) on May 7, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a joke. I have seen the School Board Superintendents waste more time than the few seconds this man took to entertain his students. Its nonsense.
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Posted by ( Claylisa ) on May 7, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Nice title to the article, TBO.
You guys have a great sense of humor.
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Posted by ( phil ) on May 7, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think the school board should be charged instead...like...for all the tax money they get...POOF! it's gone and they have nothing to show for it other than a 40 % plus DROP OUT RATE!!
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Posted by ( ron ) on May 7, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Presto! Toothpick disappears and so does job. Now that is a magic trick that will not get repeated!!!
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Posted by ( secksfenders ) on May 7, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Unbelievably ridiculous
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Posted by ( ceibert ) on May 7, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Everyday I am traumatized, but no one cares.
He should start entertaining at kids birthday parties.
I guess a teacher can sit on her a@@ and paint her nails and that's all good. Do a toothpick magic show and you are fired.
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Posted by ( flea ) on May 8, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The regular teacher probably returned to school the next day and got mad because the students actually enjoyed the day with this sub, usually the subs are just boring or show movies, that way the students don't expect the regular teacher have interesting lesson plans.
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Posted by ( ZippySpincycle ) on May 12, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I really would like to know more facts about this situation; there's certainly a significant chance of bone-headedness on either or both sides. That said, as a substitute teacher, I'm a teensy bit skeptical of the accusation that Piculas "did not follow the lesson plans." I've lost count of the times when regular teachers' lesson plans were either nonexistent or so sketchy that they would cover perhaps 20 minutes of a 50-minute period. Not claiming that was the case in Land O' Lakes (LOL?); for all I know, the regular teacher was one of those rare and wonderful folks who left a detailed lesson plan that the sub then disregarded, and the "magic trick" story really is just...well, smoke and mirrors. In any story like this, it's fascinating how people on either side rush in with what they "know" must be the case--either Piculas is "obviously" the victim of a literal witch-hunt, or he's "obviously" just an insubordinate malcontent who's seeking his 15 minutes of fame.
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Posted by ( disgustedwithsociety ) on May 12, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
how pathetic. A school board has time to waste with a sub teacher getting the students attention for 45 seconds but yet we read almost everyday that another pervert disguised as a teacher has molested yet another innocent child, I say getrid of the school board and start over
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Posted by ( timer714 ) on May 12, 2008 at 11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I believe it was mark twain who said ' god created the idiot for practice, he then created the board of education"...
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Posted by ( Gladiator ) on May 13, 2008 at 6:27 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Now the school board may have to summon the wizard to pay off a lawsuit. I have never heard of a simple magic trick with a toothpic being traumatic. Kids see magic all the time on tv and kids shows. Something is missing.
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Posted by ( scbrownsr ) on May 13, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mr Piculas can now get on that magic train where he can work on his black magic and be a master in the dark arts!
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Posted by ( Unimpressed ) on May 13, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The school board needs to stand up to whiney legal-lottery parents and support their teaching staff. I would expect my managers to defend me against unreasonable inappropriate people and trust my credentials and experience (especially when I've done nothing wrong). Sounds like the regular teachers were a bit jealous that the kids liked the sub and went on a wizard hunt.
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Posted by ( MrsMRC ) on May 13, 2008 at noon ( Suggest removal )
This is so absurd! It's a wonder the Florida School System does so well.
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Posted by ( mexybug ) on May 13, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
My first reaction is to go off because a teacher was fired for this when we have other teachers getting HIRED with criminal backgrounds and they end up having sex with kids.
However, I do agree with other posts that there isn't enough info to back up my rantings so I will hold off for now....more info please TBO!
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Posted by ( reptaddict ) on May 13, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yee Hah, Jethro! Fluridah schoolz is safe agin. Granny Clampett
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Posted by ( cherrylynn18 ) on May 13, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey School Board. If you fire this man for his subbing abilities then you have a lot more firing to do because EVERY SINGLE sub I EVER had was the same way. Let the students do their own thing as long as we were undisruptive. And yes, some subs told jokes and stories to keep us entertained. This guy just went above and beyond, he should get a sub of the year award.
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Posted by ( ZEP ) on May 13, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is the most absurd reason for firing someone I have heard in a long time. What ever happened to just TELLING him not to do any more tricks??
I had a substitute teacher in school that did similiar stuff like that and as kids we just enjoyed that he was different. Older kids are harder to "control" for some substitutes (as we all know)and I felt the sub that we had was just trying to be nice and keep things in order.
Of all the sad things that we deal with in life and on the news daily - why does this have to be something that brings any turmoil at all??
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