Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has been spinning a yarn about her days as a teacher for special ed students. She said she was 22, visibly pregnant, and the principal did what Senator Warren said all principals did at that time: He refused to renew her contract for another year because she was “visibly pregnant,” and he hired another teacher to take her place. As part of the story, Senator Warren has told crowds, “I loved that work, and I would probably still be doing that work today, but my story has more turns.”
However, since the story became public, Megan Jacobin, a writer for a socialist magazine recalled an interview with then-Professor Warren in 2007 (and the video is available). In that interview, then-Professor Warren told a different tale as to why she left teaching: she did not have the education courses, she did not feel that type of job was for her, and so she went back to graduate school. The “visibly pregnant” story did not make its way into that interview.
In addition, since the story become public, the school district have turned over their side of the story. Mrs. Warren declined an offer of another year. The school board members also sent her a letter that expressed their sadness at her departure.
Between this story and the realization in her 70th decade here on earth that she might not be of the Cherokee tribe (once the DNA came back), Senator Warren emerges as an enigma. Professor Warren certainly enjoyed considerable success as a law school professor. Her work spawned the Consumer Financial Protection Board (whether for good or for bad is a different issue). Why the tales to paint herself as a victim or as a member of a protected class? That question goes beyond the Barometer’s expertise. However, there is a lesson in her actions for all of us: Truth percolates. This uncanny force has a way of emerging in ways that defy probability.
A socialist writer, a school-board member, and an old video emerge t challenge a tale of pregnancy discrimination. What are the chances? When truth is involved, the chances are fairly good. Truth takes its time, but it does get to the surface.
About mmjdiary
Professor Marianne Jennings is an emeritus professor of legal and ethical studies from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, retiring in 2011 after 35 years of teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in ethics and the legal environment of business. During her tenure at ASU, she served as director of the Joan and David Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics from 1995-1999. In 2006, she was appointed faculty director for the W.P. Carey Executive MBA Program. She has done consulting work for businesses and professional groups including AICPA, Boeing, Dial Corporation, Edward Jones, Mattel, Motorola, CFA Institute, Southern California Edison, the Institute of Internal Auditors, AIMR, DuPont, AES, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Motorola, Hy-Vee Foods, IBM, Bell Helicopter, Amgen, Raytheon, and VIAD.
The sixth edition of her textbook, Case Studies in Business Ethics, was published in February 2011. The ninth edition of her textbook, Business: lts Legal, Ethical and Global Environment was published in January 2011. The 23rd edition of her book, Business Law: Principles and Cases, will be published in January 2013. The tenth edition of her book, Real Estate Law, will also be published in January 2013. Her book, A Business Tale: A Story of Ethics, Choices, Success, and a Very Large Rabbit, a fable about business ethics, was chosen by Library Journal in 2004 as its business book of the year. A Business Tale was also a finalist for two other literary awards for 2004. In 2000 her book on corporate governance was published by the New York Times MBA Pocket Series. Her book on long-term success, Building a Business Through Good Times and Bad: Lessons from Fifteen Companies, Each With a Century of Dividends, was published in October 2002 and has been used by Booz, Allen, Hamilton for its work on business longevity. Her latest book, The Seven Signs of Ethical Collapse was published by St. Martin’s Press in July 2006 and has been a finalist for two book awards.
Her weekly columns are syndicated around the country, and her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Reader's Digest. A collection of her essays, Nobody Fixes Real Carrot Sticks Anymore, first published in 1994 is still being published. She has been a commentator on business issues on All Things Considered for National Public Radio.
She has served on four boards of directors, including Arizona Public Service (1987-2000), Zealous Capital Corporation, and the Center for Children with Chronic Illness and Disability at the University of Minnesota. She was appointed to the board of advisors for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators in 2004 and served on the board of trustees for Think Arizona, a public policy think tank. She has appeared on CNBC, CBS This Morning, the Today Show, and CBS Evening News.
In 2010 she was named one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Business Ethics by Trust Across America. Her books have been translated into four different languages. She received the British Emerald award for authoring one of their top 50 articles in management publications, chosen from over 15,000 articles.
Personal: Married since 1976 to Terry H. Jennings, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office Deputy County Attorney; five children: Sarah, Sam, and John, and the late Claire and Hannah Jennings.
