Kindergarten Teacher Fired for Being Drunk In Class

A Tacoma, Washington kindergarten teacher was terminated for being intoxicated while on the job, and was discovered to have a beverage container with alcohol in the class she was teaching. Klara Bowman, a teacher at Larchmont Elementary School, was so intoxicated that she was witnessed to have walked into a wall:

A district spokesman said Bowman was intoxicated and that she walked into a wall. A student in Bowman’s class went to the main office to report the incident, and an assistant principal went to the class to check it out. The teacher was taken out of class, then escorted off campus. After she was fired last Wednesday, a letter was sent out to parents informing them that she would not be returning.

Unbelievably, this was her second offense. Bowman's previous transgression occurred in February, 2011, and resulted in a "last chance" agreement.

According to the Associated Press, Bowman plans to appeal her firing. Here is part of the letter sent to parents by Larchmont Elementary Principal Cynthia Horner: “As most of you know, Ms. Bowman has been away from the classroom for the past week. This letter is to let you know that Ms. Bowman will be out for the remainder of the school year. As this is unexpected, I am asking you to partner with us, in our efforts, to ensure the most successful year possible for your child when we welcome a new teacher. We are currently in the process of hiring the most qualified teacher to lead the class through the end of the school year…”

Alcoholism is a disease, and should rightfully treated as such. Poor choices, and the damages that can occur to others charged to your care, is a different animal. I can't find a source that details the fallout of the first offense, or if rehab was completed by Bowman. I doubt this teacher will be considered re-hire able by this or any other Tacoma School in the future.
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a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

Unbelievable this teacher was still teaching after the first offense! District administrator's should be held accountable for not firing this teacher the first time she was drunk in the classroom. This teacher was a liability for the district and they gave her another chance? Alcoholism isn't something that's cured over night.

When I was attending high school, my homeroom teacher was arrested for strangling and killing a female student on his property. He was being watched by the police for 2 years after her body was discovered. During that time, he was still in the classroom! Here's the amazing part, the school district hired this teacher from another district who let him go because of problems they were having with him! The school district was never held liable for never checking into this guy's background and for hiring this piece of garbage!

originally posted by: WeRpeons
a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

Unbelievable this teacher was still teaching after the first offense! District administrator's should be held accountable for not firing this teacher the first time she was drunk in the classroom. This teacher was a liability for the district and they gave her another chance? Alcoholism isn't something that's cured over night.

When I was attending high school, my homeroom teacher was arrested for strangling and killing a female student on his property. He was being watched by the police for 2 years after her body was discovered. During that time, he was still in the classroom! Here's the amazing part, the school district hired this teacher from another district who let him go because of problems they were having with him! The school district was never held liable for never checking into this guy's background and for hiring this piece of garbage!

Damn! Discovering a teacher you interacted with on a daily basis was a killer must have made your skin crawl after the fact. Liability is a major factor in incidents like this kindergarten teacher, and if anything happen to a student while she was blitzed the legal floodgates would be stuck open.

I wonder if she oversaw any field trips? I also am curious as to parents lodging complaints based on students interactions, or those lodged by other teachers.

Our high school had a business teacher who would show up after lunch, sit down at his desk and say Open your books, and pass out. He did this for months. Everyone got an a or a b so nobody cared. He only got caught when he tried to commit suicide in his car by slicing his wrists with a plastic knife from a fast food restaurant.

a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

I had some teachers in secondary school that were inebriated more often than not back in the 90s. But a Kindergarten teacher, in charge of small children, that just unexceptable.

a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

DRUNK ON THE JOB?? HOW DARE SHE!!

Those kids are the future of our country!!

Oh wait... these kids are 6 years old,

ok, now I dont blame her

I'd drink too if I had to be around other peoples kids all damn day.