Alice Hill, an eleventh-grade English teacher at Fairview High School, located in a fairly progressive school district, assigned the grade of F to a star basketball player, Tom Benson, who had failed to turn in assigned work. Hill encountered considerable criticism from coaches and other colleagues at school. A request was made by the principal, Jim Martin, for Hill to return to school and change the grade. Due to stress associated with this event, Hill was unable to do so and arranged for a substitute to cover her classes for two days. The principal recommended dismissal based on charges of insubordination for failure to return to change the grade.

1. Was Alice Hill justified in not returning to change the grade? Why or why not?
2. Does the principal have sufficient grounds to recommend insubordination? Why or why not?
3. Did Alice Hill's failure to return constitute insubordination? Why or why not?
4. As principal, would you have taken the position the principal took in this situation? Why or why not?
5. How would the court likely rule in this case? Provide a rationale for your response.