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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Teacher sacked for prayer offer | Teacher sacked for prayer offer |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Christian supply teacher has been dismissed from her job teaching ill children at home after offering to pray for a sick pupil. | A Christian supply teacher has been dismissed from her job teaching ill children at home after offering to pray for a sick pupil. |
| Olive Jones, 54, from Weston-super-Mare, said the girl had been too poorly for a maths lesson, so she decided to speak about her belief in miracles. | Olive Jones, 54, from Weston-super-Mare, said the girl had been too poorly for a maths lesson, so she decided to speak about her belief in miracles. |
| The girl's mother told her they were not believers and made a complaint. | The girl's mother told her they were not believers and made a complaint. |
| Mrs Jones, who did not have a formal contract, was told by Oak Hill Short Stay School she was no longer required. | Mrs Jones, who did not have a formal contract, was told by Oak Hill Short Stay School she was no longer required. |
| Mrs Jones visited the child at her home on 25 November and said she was told of the decision just hours after the incident. | Mrs Jones visited the child at her home on 25 November and said she was told of the decision just hours after the incident. |
| The part-time maths teacher had worked for the Oak Hill Short Stay School and Tuition Service North in Nailsea, near Bristol, for almost five years. | The part-time maths teacher had worked for the Oak Hill Short Stay School and Tuition Service North in Nailsea, near Bristol, for almost five years. |
| I am amazed that a country with such a strong Christian tradition has become a country where it is hard to speak about your faith. Olive Jones | I am amazed that a country with such a strong Christian tradition has become a country where it is hard to speak about your faith. Olive Jones |
| She said: "If I had done something criminal, I believe the reaction would have been the same. | She said: "If I had done something criminal, I believe the reaction would have been the same. |
| "It is like a black mark against my name and character when it comes to getting a reference for another job, just because I shared my testimony, as if I committed a criminal act. | "It is like a black mark against my name and character when it comes to getting a reference for another job, just because I shared my testimony, as if I committed a criminal act. |
| "I simply wanted to encourage them to be open to prayer but if they did not want to then I would never force it down their throat." | "I simply wanted to encourage them to be open to prayer but if they did not want to then I would never force it down their throat." |
| She said she had been called to her manager's office and told that sharing her faith with a child could be deemed to be bullying. | She said she had been called to her manager's office and told that sharing her faith with a child could be deemed to be bullying. |
| Mrs Jones added: "I was in complete shock, I was trembling. | Mrs Jones added: "I was in complete shock, I was trembling. |
| "I am amazed that a country with such a strong Christian tradition has become a country where it is hard to speak about your faith." | "I am amazed that a country with such a strong Christian tradition has become a country where it is hard to speak about your faith." |
| Complaint investigated | Complaint investigated |
| Nick Yates, of North Somerset Council, said: "Olive Jones has worked as a supply teacher, working with the North Somerset Tuition Service. | Nick Yates, of North Somerset Council, said: "Olive Jones has worked as a supply teacher, working with the North Somerset Tuition Service. |
| "A complaint has been made by a parent regarding Olive. This complaint is being investigated. | "A complaint has been made by a parent regarding Olive. This complaint is being investigated. |
| "To complete the investigation we need to speak to Olive and we have offered her a number of dates so this can happen. | "To complete the investigation we need to speak to Olive and we have offered her a number of dates so this can happen. |
| "At the moment we are waiting for her to let us know which date is convenient for her." | "At the moment we are waiting for her to let us know which date is convenient for her." |
| In February a community nurse, Caroline Petrie, also from Weston-super-Mare and a friend of Olive Jones, was suspended from her job for offering to pray for a patient. | In February a community nurse, Caroline Petrie, also from Weston-super-Mare and a friend of Olive Jones, was suspended from her job for offering to pray for a patient. |
| She was later reinstated by the health trust. | She was later reinstated by the health trust. |
| Speaking about her friend's case, Mrs Petrie said: "All Olive wants to do is help, she sometimes cries over those children and calls me to pray with her over the phone for them. | Speaking about her friend's case, Mrs Petrie said: "All Olive wants to do is help, she sometimes cries over those children and calls me to pray with her over the phone for them. |
| "This is a total shock, she is an amazing maths teacher so it really is their loss." | "This is a total shock, she is an amazing maths teacher so it really is their loss." |
| Mrs Jones, who has been a teacher for more than 20 years, trained at Aberystwyth University in Wales. |