Parents backing fired teacher

A popular third-grade teacher in Norfolk is getting support from dozens of parents after being fired by school officials who said he refused to teach the proper material.

Eric Matez was fired from the Freeman-Centennial School on Jan. 31.

''If a teacher comes and tells us they are not going to teach the curriculum, that's a real problem for us," Chris Augusta-Scott, the superintendent of schools in Norfolk, said Monday, adding she and the school's principal, Lucia Godfrey, had no option. ''I have an obligation not to send that person back to the classroom."

A 47-year-old Holliston resident who taught at the elementary school for 16 years, Matez said he plans to file a grievance against the administration. He said he has a unique teaching style but still covered the subjects in the curriculum.

He admitted to being insubordinate, but said he had to stand up for his beliefs.

''I have no problem with the 'what to teach,' but with the 'how to teach' I have a problem," Matez said Saturday at a rally attended by about 80 supporters in front of Town Hall.

During the rally, Catherine MacDonagh, the mother of one of Matez's students this year, read aloud a letter that she sent to Kim Williams, chairwoman of the School Committee.

The letter, which described Matez as a ''talented teacher," demanded an investigation into several questions, including whether school administrators did everything they could to retain Matez.

''These questions must be answered with an unequivocal yes," the letter said. ''If not, my stance is that the committee cannot permit Dr. Augusta-Scott and Mrs. Godfrey to retain their positions."

Williams said her committee is confident the correct process was followed to ensure Matez's rights were protected. She said she couldn't comment further because of ''legal matters."

Before being fired, Matez said, he met with Augusta-Scott and Godfrey to tell them that despite their demands, he was going to continue operating his way.

Matez said he told the administrators he would continue to avoid direct teaching, the traditional method based on addressing students from the blackboard, which he said hinders his ability to ''perform magic in the classroom."

Instead of direct teaching, Matez said, he divides his students into groups, each dedicated to a different academic subject. He said this ''learning center" method allows students to help each other, learn by themselves, and progress at their own pace, all under his guidance or assisted by parent volunteers.

About 60 people attended a meeting last week in the school's auditorium to hear administrators explain why Matez was fired.

Augusta-Scott said the school must teach the curriculum required by state guidelines. She also said she is not opposed to some learning-center-style teaching, and that she encourages creativity in the classroom, but that Matez should have employed more direct instruction.

Augusta-Scott said she is unable to provide more detailed comment about Matez's firing because it was a personnel matter.

''Whenever you are dealing with human resource issues, there are points the public aren't privy to," she said.

Kelly Meredith, who has a child in the third grade, said that she left the meeting feeling ''extremely frustrated" with school officials' answers.

Augusta-Scott said the administration encourages teachers to contact parents about how their children are progressing, but Matez had tried to turn parents against Godfrey for asking him to follow the curriculum.

Matez said he lobbied parents to persuade school officials that his teaching methods are effective. Matez also said he knew that contacting parents in this manner violated a letter of reprimand he had received earlier this school year, but that he could no longer stand the pressure to change his teaching style.

''I was tired of waking up with cold sweats in the middle of the night from them trying to get me to do what they wanted," Matez said.

Linda Denzer, whose child was in Matez's class last year, said the teacher is committed to recognizing his students as individuals.

''He instills in these children a sense of independence and curiosity, and he has given them a lifelong desire to learn," Denzer said.