Clearing things up

I wanted to clarify something about the whole CK and teaching thing. The state has a morality clause that is included in every teacher’s contract. It basically says that as a teacher, you won’t use illegal narcotics, sleep with students, etc. If you break that clause, it is considered a breach of contract and you will be fired. It will be very hard to get a new job as a teacher, because that will follow you. There is also drug testing for new teachers, so they will know if you are on drugs when they hire you.

What my father thinks will happen is that the administration will start to hear rumors. Now there are always rumors, but eventually the rumors will get bigger and warrant some attention. The administration would first suspend him with pay while they investigate the rumors. They can’t chance having a drug addict as a teacher. If they find nothing, he would be reinstated and that would be the end. But they will find out the truth. And at that point he would be fired.

On one hand, I wouldn’t want my kid in a classroom with a drug addict, while he’s high or while he’s recovering. But what about after he’s been sober a while? Should he be permenantly punished and never be allowed to teach? It would be hard to get a new job since the firing and the rehab would be on his record. But that doesn’t erase the fact that he is a good teacher. My mom advised him to go to his union rep, so that hopefully he’ll be able to get help without losing his job completely.

Unfortunately, he didn’t do that. He did speak with someone, but not his union rep. Then he went to his principal and said he had a health issue, but he was dealing with it and it doesn’t effect his teaching. My father and I had a similiar reaction. We should file criminal charges and get him fired. Part of it is revenge, but more of it is to get him down to rock bottom, so he can hopefully start pulling himself up. He’s still living rather comfortably. He still has his job and his lover. He is actually nowhere near rock bottom, but he’s heading there fast.

And now I have to run, but I hope that clears some things up.