UK Teacher Claims Unfair Treatment over 'Flatulating' Chair

March 22, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A British teacher is suing her former employer for unfair dismissal, saying, among other things, that her 'flatulating' chair made classroom life miserable.

The Associated Press reports that Sue Storer, former deputy head teacher at Bedminster Down Secondary School in Bristol, told an employment tribunal that she was subjected to sexist and bullying behavior while working at the school.

She said her chair made a ‘flatulating’ noise whenever anyone sat on it and the school refused to replace it, although other staff received new chairs, according to the AP. The chair was a source of embarrassment, especially at parent-teacher evenings, Storer said.

In addition, Storer claims male colleagues were favored over her and she was placed under an unfair amount of pressure. She resigned in September and said she will never teach again.

She is seeking an unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination ruling, as well as compensation for lost earnings. The tribunal ruling is expected within the next two weeks.

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