Teacher Fired For Using Magic

“You have been accused of wizardry,” Pat Sinclair told substitute teacher Jim Piculas.  Piculas, who had been a substitute in the Pasco County (Florida) school district for about 9 months did not understand what Sinclair meant.  About a week earlier, Piculas performed a trick where he made a toothpick disappear and one of the students was so disturbed that the students father complained to the district.

According to news reports, Piculas told Sinclair, “It's not black magic. It's a toothpick.”

Pasco County denies using the word “wizardry” claiming that 'performing a magic trick' was just one of several reasons Piculas was fired. Other reasons included: “not follow[ing] 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.”

There was no word on whether the Ministry of Magic would take action.