L. A school replaces all school staff

[uberdark]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/educat...les-teacher-abuse-miramonte-school/52994558/1

This story hit America last week and since then has also wielded ANOTHER teacher who lost his job due to fondling children. Since then, the superintendent decided to disband ALL TEACHERS at the school and hire new ones. This also includes the prinicpal and secretary staff, EVERYONE. I am at a loss, while being a parent I would be outraged at the school, but at the same time this is making other teacher's guilty by association. I have worked at a public school for 12 years now. In that time we have fired 3 teachers, of which I knew 1 of them personally. I had NEVER thought anything about him, and never would have pegged him for a child molester. That said, would like to know what others think of this. Should the teachers all be fired/put on leave due to two men who were masters at hiding things, or should they all be removed.

Just something to think on.

 

[PegaZus]

I can see bringing in a completely new staff wholesale. Get a fresh start and begin again. And that was probably the best decision until the whole mess gets sorted out. It may even be that there are more allegations, but little evidence. Who knows?

As for firing everybody, that's a bit extreme. But that's not what's happening. They're still getting paid, but I'm not sure that would count as a job. Some laid off teachers are being pulled in to do the job, so I'm not sure that there's a lot to be outraged about on the teacher's side given the circumstances.

 

[airhead]

Uber, I agree. There was no basis in letting the rest of the staff go.

I could see that as being a great big negative on a resume.
"Oh, that job? Yea, they let all of us go because some idiot could not keep his hands off the kids. But it wasn't me."

 

[jabbayoda]

I'm a HS teacher, and I find this appalling. Especially at an elementary school -- these kids are too young to understand this complete overhaul. Kids need stability and familiarity. They're going to show up to school today and not see a single familiar adult face. That is an extremely challenging and stressful situation. The transition is going to cause massive losses to instructional time.

Please understand that I am in no way condoning what the guilty teachers did. They deserve to be not only fired but prosecuted. I also am not naive enough to think there were teachers who knew about the abuse and didn't say anything. Those teachers need to be ferreted out and let go, too. But this reactionary, impulsive solution is plain inexcusable. I understand the board is looking out for the kiddos, and that's their job. But by firing the honest teachers, they're doing far more harm than good.

 

[freakinacage]

Shocking, get rid of those involved but firing those who aren't is just increasing the number of victims in this sorry tale

 

[me_in_japan]

This is an absolutely inexcusable reaction. Yes, of course the guilty teachers need to be dealt with (I include not only those who did what they did, but those who looked the other way in this category), and they should be dealt with harshly, but ffs, firing everyone because of a few bad apples? Is that even legal? I've been teaching in a school for 4 years, and there are teachers here I still don't know very well and don't associate with. Could one of them be up to no good? It's possible (although I certainly don't think that is the case). If he/she is, should I be fired for it? Hell no. I mean, assuming the guilty teachers are taking steps to hide their actions, one must assume it would be hard to spot them. Are the other teachers being fired because theyre not spying on their co-workers sufficiently?

 

[Dragonsreach]

Totally agree that firing ALL the teachers is wrong, the only people going to win out of this are the lawyers who will be raising a writ on defamation of character and wrongfull dismissal against the superintendant on their behalf, 'cos sure as guano flows downhill I know I'd be suing.

Can't stand Peadophiles, make me want to reach for a large knife.

 

[wiccanpony]

some of the teachers are already taking the BoE to court, they removed everybody ... even the lunch ladies !!!

 

[Chern Ann]

Not defending his action, but I suspect the superintendent's belief was that it was either take this action, close the school, or have parents make good their threats and have their children removed (however they managed to do it). I do not envy his position, there is basically no right answer in his case; the one that is the most politically viable, close the school (and re-open it in a few years after people forget), also creates the most harm for the current students.

 

[freakinacage]

As I understand it, the school is simply putting everyone on paid suspension so an enquiry can be made rather than firing everyone