The school dinner lady sacked for sharing aFacebook burka joke has dubbed the flood of support from Mail readers “fantastic”.
And Nita O’Dell, given her marching orders after 21 years at Billesley Primary, has been moved to tears by news an online petition has been launched demanding her reinstatement.
The 54-year-old lost her job for sharing a photo of a dog wearing a towel. The accompanying caption reads: “Guide dog for a Muslim woman. It’s called a Barka.”
The school has stressed Nita, from Kings Heath, had been previously warned about inappropriate posts.
Birmingham Mail readers have rushed to the gran-of-seven’s defence, with close to 500 messages of support posted on our Facebook site.
Alex Hollis said: “Dinner ladies not allowed a life or sense of humour these days, what a joke.”
David Mark Pendry posted: This politically correct world is pathetic. People don’t smile or laugh and take life too seriously.”
Gran-of-seven Nita, who insists she’s not a racist, said: “The response has been fantastic. The comments have really given me a boost.”
She added: “I was told there’s a petition calling for them to give me my job back.
“I would go back. I really miss the people and the friends I made.”
Nita was suspended from her job in June, sacked in September and last week lost an appeal.
After the appeal, she said: “I am not a racist. The school is very multicultural – if I was a racist don’t you think it would’ve come out before now?
“I just thought the picture was funny and ‘liked’ it. A lot of other people ‘liked’ it, too.
“I just feel so down and intimidated. There is not a racist bone in my body. It’s not in my blood.”
A spokesperson for the school said: “All members of staff are expected to comply with certain standards of behaviour.
“This employee was warned on numerous occasions about the content of public Facebook posts and comments and was on a final warning.
“Despite this, she continued to make inappropriate posts and was therefore subject to a hearing at which she was dismissed.
“She appealed the decision but governors upheld the school’s decision.”