Seth Boyden Principal
There's a Village Green story stating that "according to multiple sources, Seth Boyden Principal Damion Frye allegedly denied a teacher breaks for breast pumping."
Here's the story.
The guy sounds like an ***.
Hey, why can't I use the word a$$ in the context of "He sounds like an ***"?
He was suspended WITH pay. If I did what he did at work, I would have been flat out fired with minimal or no severance.
How often did she have to pump? And who watched her kids while she pumped? I understand everyone can't stay home for too long after baby BUT you can not expect the rules to be bent for you. Maybe she should have sat down and discussed this to ensure it wouldn't cause an inconvenience JMO
Klinker said:
Here's the story.
https://villagegreennj.com/schools-kids/boe-makes-changes-atop-leadership-seth-boyden-marshall-schools/
The guy sounds like an ***.
I can't access the article, it is behind a pay wall.
I am very surprised to hear this. I'm not trying to act like I'm in denial, I'm sure an investigation is underway and will believe it if it turns out to be found accurate. I'm just surprised because as a Seth Boyden parent I found Mr. Frye to be very respectful. I had emailed him about an issue I had, and though he didn't agree with me on the issue, his response was prompt, polite, and its tone also showed that he had listened to my concerns and had given them thought and not just brushed them off. Something like this in today's somewhat enlightened culture is surprising and disappointing.
As far as staying home longer, legally protected time off is limited. And if you have not been an employee for at least a year than time off for FMLA is basically just not there and at the whim of the employer or based on the contract (I don't know if teacher contracts include this or not). Also, many people now choose to continue to breast feed infants for a year or even longer, much longer than anyone can be expected to take off to care for an infant, and much, much longer than is protected by law, even for long term employees. I didn't pump, so I don't know how often it needs to be done, but I believe that it would be at least more than once per a work shift, though mothers who did pump will know more and if they can share their first hand knowledge that might shed more light on the issue.
Duh, I just realized that when you said "who watched her kids" you meant her class, not HER kids. Sorry for misreading that.
most teachers who return to school and are still breastfeeding pump during their lunch hour. Some may occasionally pump during their preps as well, but that is not the norm. Are you aware that there is a law requiring that a suitable space be set aside?
spontaneous said:
I was very surprised too, he seems very nice, upbeat and seems to love his job and the kids. I will go and read the article.
Klinker said:
Here's the story.
https://villagegreennj.com/schools-kids/boe-makes-changes-atop-leadership-seth-boyden-marshall-schools/
The guy sounds like an ***.
I can't access the article, it is behind a pay wall.
I am very surprised to hear this. I'm not trying to act like I'm in denial, I'm sure an investigation is underway and will believe it if it turns out to be found accurate. I'm just surprised because as a Seth Boyden parent I found Mr. Frye to be very respectful. I had emailed him about an issue I had, and though he didn't agree with me on the issue, his response was prompt, polite, and its tone also showed that he had listened to my concerns and had given them thought and not just brushed them off. Something like this in today's somewhat enlightened culture is surprising and disappointing.
As far as staying home longer, legally protected time off is limited. And if you have not been an employee for at least a year than time off for FMLA is basically just not there and at the whim of the employer or based on the contract (I don't know if teacher contracts include this or not). Also, many people now choose to continue to breast feed infants for a year or even longer, much longer than anyone can be expected to take off to care for an infant, and much, much longer than is protected by law, even for long term employees. I didn't pump, so I don't know how often it needs to be done, but I believe that it would be at least more than once per a work shift, though mothers who did pump will know more and if they can share their first hand knowledge that might shed more light on the issue.
To paraphrase: To lose one principal may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.
By law, places of employment must provide facilities and time for women to pump during work. In my school, it's a room with a lock on it to ensure privacy for the teachers. Yes you can pump during lunch but sometimes teachers have a duty at lunch that would prevent them from pumping so pumping during a prep period is a must. According to the article, the teacher developed mastitis from not being allowed to pump which is an extremely painful condition that requires a doctors visit and usually antibiotics. I know when I was breastfeeding, if I didn't either feed my baby or pump every so often, I was in a lot of pain.
Not to get on my soapbox, but the fact that our country does not provide paid parental leave is a travesty. And yet at the same time, there's a strong message coming from the government that breastfeeding is "best." Please note that I put "best" in quotes because I have both breastfed and formula fed my baby and I believe you should feed your baby in whatever way works best for you. If our lawmakers will not create laws that provide for paid parental leave, then the least they can do is require places of employment to provide both the time and a place to privately pump.
Tall_Mocha said:
How often did she have to pump? And who watched her kids while she pumped? I understand everyone can't stay home for too long after baby BUT you can not expect the rules to be bent for you. Maybe she should have sat down and discussed this to ensure it wouldn't cause an inconvenience JMO
Yes. There is a law that a suitable space must be provided. The principal broke the law.
It's that simple.
Jerseyperson said:
most teachers who return to school and are still breastfeeding pump during their lunch hour. Some may occasionally pump during their preps as well, but that is not the norm. Are you aware that there is a law requiring that a suitable space be set aside?
Maybe the Superintendent is finally paying attention to what is going on at each school. It's been 3 1/2 years since Obsorne resigned. Memoli and Ramos were not paying enough attention to what was happening on the school-level.
ska said:
To paraphrase: To lose one principal may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness.
Perseverance said:
By law, places of employment must provide facilities and time for women to pump during work. In my school, it's a room with a lock on it to ensure privacy for the teachers.
Facilities must be supplied? The law I know about is that a mother is entitled to breast feed at any public accommodation.
What statute requires a breast facility in place of employment?
https://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/
Overview
Section 7 of the FLSA requires employers to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child's birth each time such employee has need to express the milk. Employers are also required to provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk. The break time requirement became effective when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010.The Wage and Hour Fact Sheet #73 “Break Time for Nursing Mothers under the FLSA” and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) posted below provide basic information about the law.
BG9 said:
Perseverance said:
By law, places of employment must provide facilities and time for women to pump during work. In my school, it's a room with a lock on it to ensure privacy for the teachers.
Facilities must be supplied? The law I know about is that a mother is entitled to breast feed at any public accommodation.
What statute requires a breast facility in place of employment?
As of January 8, 2018, NJ's Law Against Discrimination requires employers to provide reasonable breaks and a location with privacy to pump. The teachers' contract may have a provision in it on this point as well because it seems like this is something that would come up frequently.
maplegal said:
https://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/
Overview
Section 7 of the FLSA requires employers to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child's birth each time such employee has need to express the milk. Employers are also required to provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk. The break time requirement became effective when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010.The Wage and Hour Fact Sheet #73 “Break Time for Nursing Mothers under the FLSA” and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) posted below provide basic information about the law.
BG9 said:
Perseverance said:
By law, places of employment must provide facilities and time for women to pump during work. In my school, it's a room with a lock on it to ensure privacy for the teachers.
Facilities must be supplied? The law I know about is that a mother is entitled to breast feed at any public accommodation.
What statute requires a breast facility in place of employment?
Thanks.
yahooyahoo said:
He was suspended WITH pay. If I did what he did at work, I would have been flat out fired with minimal or no severance.
Me too. Afterwards, all employees would be required to re-sit for anti discrimination training, read the applicable NJ statute, take a quiz upon completion and sign that they completed it, understood that failure to comply would be grounds for disciplinary action and/or termination.
If the article reflects the facts as they really happened, I’m surprised too at the Principal. It’s pretty egregious.
Tall_Mocha said:
How often did she have to pump? And who watched her kids while she pumped? I understand everyone can't stay home for too long after baby BUT you can not expect the rules to be bent for you. Maybe she should have sat down and discussed this to ensure it wouldn't cause an inconvenience JMO
Actually, "the rules" say that the needs of nursing mothers have to be accommodated. That's why the principal is in trouble.
sac said:
Tall_Mocha said:
How often did she have to pump? And who watched her kids while she pumped? I understand everyone can't stay home for too long after baby BUT you can not expect the rules to be bent for you. Maybe she should have sat down and discussed this to ensure it wouldn't cause an inconvenience JMO
Actually, "the rules" say that the needs of nursing mothers have to be accommodated. That's why the principal is in trouble.
Yes and working mothers shouldn't have to "sit down and discuss" in order to avoid an "inconvenience." The teacher is just trying to teach and feed her baby.
Perseverance said:
Yes and working mothers shouldn't have to "sit down and discuss" in order to avoid an "inconvenience." The teacher is just trying to teach and feed her baby.
Teachers can have their babies into the classroom while teaching? Wouldn't that be a distraction? Disserving to the students?
What about other jobs like bank teller? Can we expect to see babies by the teller's counter?
BG9 said:
Perseverance said:
Yes and working mothers shouldn't have to "sit down and discuss" in order to avoid an "inconvenience." The teacher is just trying to teach and feed her baby.
Teachers can have their babies into the classroom while teaching? Wouldn't that be a distraction? Disserving to the students?
What about other jobs like bank teller? Can we expect to see babies by the teller's counter?
Feeding. Pumping and storing milk during the day so that the baby has enough to eat later on.
Looks like tonight's Board of Ed meeting will determine if he's coming back.
I just turned on the BOE meeting. Is the sound not working in their video, or is it my reception?
ETA: I get sound on the web livestream, but not on the Maplewood TV channel.
Over the last several months, I have tried to watch the BOE meetings several times. On xfinity channel 35 there is never sound. I keep meaning to call the BOE.
That's the channel I had no sound. But the sound was fine on the district's livestream:
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Just received email stating the vice principal will now serve as "acting principal" Did Mr Frye resign?