Everett, Wash.
Published: Sunday, November 18, 2007

FIRED TEACHER

Instructor deserves to lose her job

 I would like to respond to the Nov. 15 front page article "Teacher loses job for helping student newspaper." The teacher taught school for 22 years and was quoted as saying, "I hope I get my job back." The teacher also says, "The union has stood by me, I feel good. The kids I have worked with and the teachers who are my friends have been so good to me."

However, the teacher was told not to use school resources for independent publications. Also, the teacher was told the newspaper must be published outside school hours, away from school property and without the use of school equipment, materials or software. The teacher chose to violate the district policies and the superintendent's directives, because I guess she felt "good" and had her fellow teachers and union backing her up.

Even if the above did not play into the teacher being fired, what about when she drove students in her own car without parental permission and left students in her classroom unsupervised after school and on evenings and weekends? No doubt, if a student got hurt in a car accident or was hurt in school while being alone, the parent would sue and collect from the school district.

When the district conducted an investigation and she did not cooperate with the investigation, she should have been fired just for that. What will happen? No doubt other teachers will come to her aid and her union will say the punishment is too harsh and probably would suggest that a letter of reprimand be placed in her file.

I am giving an "A" to Superintendent Carol Whitehead. Keep up the good job.

BOB MONIZE
Camano Island
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA