A substitute teacher who was recently dismissed from work after a background check revealed a misdemeanor for marijuana possession in 1974 is suing school officials to get his job back, according to an Associated Press report.
High school substitute Michael Maynard, 42, argues that the school’s policy of firing teachers guilty of crimes including drug misdemeanors — but not murder — is arbitrary and does not give teachers a chance to defend themselves. Maynard pleaded no contest in 1974 when a traffic stop revealed a small amount of marijuana.
“If they’re not going to disqualify Bill Clinton from being president, it’s hard to see how they can disqualify this man from being a teacher,” said employment lawyer Lynne Bernabel to the AP.