Teacher Fired for Giving Bible to Student is Given Job Back
- Updated May 17, 2017
A schoolteacher who was fired for giving a Bible to a student has been given back his job, according to The Christian Institute.
Substitute teacher Walt Tutka, who taught at a Phillipsburg district school in New Jersey, was fired after the school board voted him out.
Tutka reportedly quoted Matthew 20:16 which says, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” A student then repeatedly asked Tutka where the phrase came from, so Tutka gave the student a Bible of his own.
First Liberty Institute took up Tutka’s case and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging that Tutka had faced religious discrimination.
The whole process took over three years, but Tutka will finally be able to return to teaching after a final decision in the case was reached this week. A settlement has been reached with Phillipsburg School District, offering Tutka his job back.
“We always knew Walt complied with all school district policies and federal laws, the EEOC agreed, and now Walt is returning to his service to the community in Philipsburg,” stated First Liberty Institute Deputy Chief Counsel Hiram Sasser.
“We are really pleased we accomplished the mission we set out to achieve,” he added.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: May 17, 2017
