Monday, June 01, 2009
In the United States, you're innocent until proven guilty. But NYC's Department of Education labors under no such inconvenient assumptions. That's why guidance counselor Glenn Storman is stuck in court five years after having told a cursing student to "zip it," and possibly menacing a youngster somehow with a rolled-up piece of paper.
This action earned Mr. Storman a U rating. A court determined the rating “shocks the conscience, was arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion.”
The Department of Education has no comment. Now I certainly understand their position. If they were not permitted to make arbitrary, capricious and abusive decisions, how would they justify maintaining anyone on staff?
Still, the ability of vindictive bureaucrats to ruin reputations over nothing is very disturbing. When things like this occur (and doubtless they occur more frequently than the NY Times reports) it's particularly upsetting that our most visible representative, part-time UFT President Randi Weingarten, who supported mayoral control last time round, thinks it's a good idea for his absolute power to continue.
It's discouraging that someone who should be our champion spends her time supporting one of our most effective opponents ever. With friends like her...it's easy to see why teachers don't get no respect.
Thanks to Schoolgal
Related: ICE blog