An intermediate school teacher in Oxnard, California has been deemed unfit to teach due to a short stint in the pornography business prior to her becoming a teacher.  The three member panel of California administrative judges ruled that Stacie Halas’ ” inclination to simultaneously engage in employment in  pornography and teaching demonstrates her unfitness for service as a teacher.”  Administrative law judge Julie Cabos-Owen continued, “Respondent, Stacie Halas, shall be dismissed.”  The porn videos of Ms Halas surfaced when students found them on line.  When other teachers became aware of them, they forwarded the information on to school officials who subsequently fired her.  School district officials told her that they believed her involvement in pornography would be “a distraction”.  Halas appealed the decision based on the fact the was in the films prior to her teaching career and the she assumed the movies she starred in, were no longer on the internet.  Halas’ attorney, Robert Schwab told the Ventura County Star that he was considering  appealing the decision.  “With all due respect to the commission’s decision, we do  believe Ms. Halas was being honest and forthright but was extremely embarrassed  and humiliated by her previous experience in the adult industry,” Schwab told the Star.  This case raises an interesting question, should a person be fired for something they’ve done in the past despite the fact he or she is no longer involved in that activity?.  Given that pornography isn’t illegal, she’s actually done nothing wrong.  While it’s easy to see both sides of this issue, a human beings’ life and livelihood shouldn’t be taken away simply because she made a poor choice in her life.  If a teacher is discovered to be a recovering alcoholic, should that person be judged unfit to be around children and terminated?  Do people deserve a second or even a third chance?  Is what she did so terrible?  Do we know or understand her desperation?  She obviously chose a different path and should therefore be commended, not penalized.  A world without forgiveness is a cold and lonely place.  It’s one of the traits that separates us from animals.