ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

Holding: The court held that the trial court erred in its reversal based on the personal
opinions of the presiding judge.
Reasoning: Knox failed to adhere to warnings from his superiors about having the
prayers read. Per Miss. Code Ann. § 37-9-59, teachers and administrators can be suspended inter
alia for “good cause,” which seemed a fair designation of Knox’s behavior. Knox, in choosing to
disregard the stated and written warnings of Nelson, displayed a mild level of insubordination.
While he was never actually told not to allow the prayers, the amount of concern generated by
consideration to do so should have given him caution in proceeding with the practice. However,
that was to no avail. The court could not validate the reversal of the board’s decision because
there was substantial evidence to suggest a level of disciplinary action was appropriate.
The legality of school prayer was not at question here, but rather had the school board
overstepped its power in suspending Knox for allowing it. The court acknowledged that the
Chancellor’s ruling was marred with personal opinion on society and the status of prayer in
school. In short, the matter had not been properly examined. This point meant that the trial
court’s reversal was balanced more on personal opinion than evidentiary findings. However, the
court asserted that the numerous warnings provided to Knox and his continued avoidance of
them constituted ample evidence as “good cause” for suspension.
court.
Disposition: The Supreme Court of Mississippi reversed the findings of the chancery
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