Middle School Teacher Fired For "Wizardry"

Land O'Lakes, FL (AHN) - A local substitute teacher was terminated from his post here after being accused of performing "wizardry."

According to Jim Piculas, a substitute teacher at the Rushe Middle School in Pasco County, he was removed from his post last January, with officials bearing their accusations on a disappearing-toothpick act that he performed for his students a week before.

"She said, 'You've been accused of wizardry,'" the UPI quoted Piculas, recalling the words of the school district's Pat Sinclair, who terminated him over the phone.

Piculas, both amused and frustrated, explained to Sinclair that the trick was merely a magic act, and that no evil nature was at play.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, reported the Tampa Tribune. "It's not black magic. It's a toothpick."

The trick included a hand maneuver that made the toothpick seem to disappear, when it was merely hidden beneath the performer's thumb. The toothpick was attached to the thumb by means of transparent tape.

Renalia DuBose, assistant superintendent, said that the accusation was merely one of many factors that led to Piculas' termination. Other incidents involved him diverting from the lesson plan, allowing students the use of computers despite the disapproval of the regular teacher, and putting a fifth-grader in charge of the classroom.

Piculas refuted the accusations, saying that he followed the lesson plan, the computers were used with permission of the teacher, and that a fifth-grade student was never placed in charge.

He also accused DuBose of skirting around the concept or word "wizardry," "because it sounds so goofy."