EDITORIAL and our own two cents.
April 4, 2008 - "Zero tolerance for teachers" is the title of an editorial by the Daily Vidette Editorial Board.
The editorial is in reaction to the testimony at the sentencing of Jon White, the Urbana, Illinois, second-grade teacher convicted of unspeakable, filthy "games" with elementary school children. Unbelievably, the assistant school superintendent at another school testified that White had been suspended "briefly" for pornographic material found on his school computer. White had used a credit card at the school to purchase access to the sites.
Zero tolerance rules are a curious thing. Stories of first and second graders accidentally carrying nail clippers or plastic water pistols being suspended from school are not uncommon.TT - READ the whole thing. It's very thoughtful.
So why is it that an adult, trusted with being around and interacting with first and second graders, is given the benefit of the doubt when he knowingly and purposely visits pornographic sites?
It would seem this situation is the perfect example of where a zero tolerance policy is necessary. If a teacher shows an inability to resist sexual desire when he or she is in the classroom, this is grounds for removal.
It is impossible for White to receive a fair punishment for his blatant and inhuman disregard for both the trust society placed in him, and for the children who looked to him as an educator.And to think it could have been avoided.
TT - entry for White
White pleaded guilty to charges in Urbana, Illinois. He faces charges in Normal, Illinois, the same district where he was suspended for pornography on his computer. There were plenty of warning signs, all ignored and not shared by the schools. White taught first grade at Colene Hoose Elementary in Normal from 2003 to 2005. During his suspension in November 2004, the district investigated two separate incidents of inappropriate behavior. White was allowed to continue teaching the rest of the school year, and then he was forced to resign.
Think about it: a teacher viewing pornography on his school computer, investigated for TWO separate incidents of inappropriate behavior and then allowed to resign and teach in another school district where eight more children were molested. Eight children who could have been spared the "tasting game" where they were blindfolded.
Lawsuits won't punish school officials who are responsible for this travesty. They should be fired outright for their neglect. Both the officials who saw viewing pornography in a classroom full of small children as a minor transgression and then failed to tell school administrators in another town about that problem and their investigation and suspicions, and the school authorities in Urbana who left White in the classroom even after being informed about the "games "-- all of them should be fired and their licenses revoked.
If a mother hadn't persisted and spoken to the wife of a police officer about the "tasting game," White still might be in a classroom somewhere. The mother had complained to school authorities in November. It took that conversation with the police officer's wife in February to end it all. White was arrested less than 48 hours later.
When will they arrest those school "authorities?"
SENTENCED April 4 - White was sentenced to 48 years in prison.
Letter of recommendation (PDF) from the school where White was suspended for a week for viewing pornography (and later admitted to masturbating) at the school. This school also investigated him for TWO separate incidents before forcing him to resign. And that was only because a parent threatened to go to the police with her complaints.
One teacher from the school wrote a letter on White's behalf for the sentencing hearing.
