LEGAL DECISION
Why teachers and unions hate standardized testing.
Nov 30, 2007 -
A federal jury today rejected a former Kalama teacher's claim that his civil rights were violated when administrators moved him to a smaller classroom and switched his teaching assignment in 2004.TT - It took them 10 years to document his ineptness in teaching math? Too bad teachers and school administrators can't be sued for malpractice.
Teacher David King claimed Superintendent Jim Sutton made the changes in retaliation for King's involvement in the Kalama teacher's union.
The district argued King, a math teacher for most of his 30-year career, was switched to teaching social studies because a high percentage of his math students scored poorly over a 10-year period.
The verdict was handed down late this morning in U.S. District Court in Tacoma after a two-week trial.
As a union "representative, King accompanied other teachers to disciplinary meetings with administrators. King's lawyer alleged that Sutton is an "anti-union guy" who disapproved of King's union involvement. Sutton said that allegation was nonsense.
