This is your public schools at work!

[Reverenddel]

Union seeks severance for teacher convicted of raping student
Published December 12, 2013
FoxNews.com

A teacher’s union in Michigan is fighting to get a $10,000 severance package for a convicted child molester whose case that drew outrage earlier this year when his former school colleagues pleaded with a judge to sentence him lightly.

Neal Erickson, 38, pleaded guilty in May to raping a young boy over the course of three years — from 2006 to 2009 — and was sentenced to 15-30 years in prison. The prison term came over the pleas of seven of Erickson's former fellow teachers at Rose City Middle School, including Sally Campbell, who said in a letter to the judge that “Neal made a mistake. He allowed a mutual friendship to develop into much more," according to The Ogemaw County Herald.

Circuit Court Judge Michael Baumgartner, saying he was "appalled and ashamed that the community could rally around" Erickson, sentenced him to the lengthy prison term, but FoxNews.com reported earlier this year that parents were furious. The decision by the Michigan Education Association to seek severance pay, reported by the Herald and EAGnews.org, is the latest example of teachers rallying around Erickson.

“It’s completely ludicrous.”

- Father of boy molested by former teacher

“It’s completely ludicrous,” the boy’s father, John Janczewski, told EAGNews. “Are they nuts in the head? How can the union file a grievance and back a child molester? We’re very upset about it.”

The union has acknowledged taking Erickson’s case to arbitration on behalf of the disgraced educator, but declined to elaborate.

“We don’t make a practice of discussing any case,” MEA’s Ron Parkinson told the website. “It’s based on contractual compliance and that’s really all I can say. We filed for arbitration [Friday].”

Janczewski said he’s now committed to do whatever he can to stop the delivery of the severance package, money that he claims should instead be destined for his son.

“We as a family in no way is going to let this happen,” he said. “I mean, a child molester paid to molest a student? He doesn’t deserve it. I don’t think the union wants the publicity we’ll bring on this.”

In September, The Herald reported that enrollment in the West Branch-Rose City School District was unofficially down 87students following a tumultuous summer in which angry parents blasted teachers for writing letters in support of Erickson. When the school board declined to take action against the teachers, many parents vowed to pull their kids out of the public schools, which have a total enrollment of roughly 2,000 students.

“I can’t speculate as to why the students have left, but there were certainly parents who vocalized that they were pulling their children out of school because of the teacher’s support,” West Branch-Rose City School Superintendent Daniel Cwayna told FoxNews.com in September. “We addressed the issue as best we could without infringing upon the teacher’s first amendment rights. There’s only so much we can do.”

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That is the most RIDICULOUS thing I have ever heard of in my entire life! I dislike unions as a general thing, but TEACHER'S UNIONS have always struck me as a bit disingeneous. They're lucky they didn't SUE the entire school district! I still think they should as a class action!

[SHMIV]

"Ridiculous" is too kind a word. "Repulsive" may be more accurate.

I really see no upside to a public school system. Every time a school system makes news, I see another reason to dislike them.

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[dorminWS]

>including Sally Campbell, who said in a letter to the judge that “Neal made a mistake. He allowed a mutual friendship to develop into much more,"<
...................................

If two consenting adults get involved in an illicit sexual relationship, you might, if you were inclined to be broadminded and tolerant, be justified in characterizing that as having "let a friendship go a little too far". But when a teacher sodomizes a student, to characterize THAT by similar language and thereby insinuate that it also is an understandable and minor lapse in judgment that deserves some kind of leniency bespeaks a monstrous lack of perspective and sense of what is appropriate. Decent people everywhere should be horrified.

Tell ya what......... If I was calling the shots at that school system, I'd try my best to find a way to fire Sally, too; as well as anybody else that would condone and justify child rape.

Just reading about that made me feel like I'd been wallowing in something filthy.

[VACoastie]

Had an incident happen like that at my school when I was coming up. They dealt with it like this: You got 1 week (5 days) to get the hell out of town or the school will press charges against you (the teacher).

Not really bringing justice to said teacher, but it sure sent him a quick message. Long story short, I never saw the teacher again after that day. I think the shame alone in what he did was enough for him. Mind you, this was High school and he was having relations with a 17 yr. old.

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[Reverenddel]

Shoot Coastie, Two of the gym coaches in my day MARRIED two students RIGHT after graduation, and their 18th birthday... Uh-huh... nothing going on there before hand.

"these are not the pervs you're looking for... move along" (Waving hand all "Jedi-y".)

[Kreutz]

Bah, in NYC you can screw a kid and stay on the payroll-union sez so.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/edu ... -1.1380535

Dozens of sexual predators are still working in New York City schools because of a broken disciplinary system that allows abusive staff members to keep their jobs, says a new advocacy group headed by former CNN anchor Campbell Brown.


Data obtained by Brown and the Daily News show that officials tried to fire 128 school staffers for sexual misconduct or inappropriate relationships with students since 2007 — but only 33 educators were actually fired.
Many of the school workers busted for creepy classroom behavior have been able to hang onto their jobs for years because of a cumbersome disciplinary process, charges Brown’s statewide group, the Parents Transparency Project.


“The details of these cases are hidden,” Brown said. “Many parents have no idea whether one of these teachers has been entrusted with their children.”
State law mandates that an independent hearing officer, selected by the city and the teachers union, determines the punishment of an educator found to have committed misconduct.

[Fiddler1537]

I'm okay with giving him the severance package as long as he accepts the death penalty.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Remek]

I think they're legally bound to represent him, because he paid dues. I also think it's fine. When we start choosing who is to be represented, someone has to adjudge which situations should be represented. Then we ACLU type organizations.

Note I do not condone what he was convicted, but I do not think he deserves no representation.

Similar with respect to the other teachers and their jabberwocky. I would choose to support that right over choosing to silence certain people in certain situations, I'd rather take my chance with weirdos getting to say stupid things than an entity with the right to choose who can say what. With this latter instance we again ACLU and the government silencing dissent.

Want more, listen to Mark Steyn, e.g., http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qrNclaWrnq0

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[Reverenddel]

The problem is you have NO CHOICE in joining the UNION! If you were GIVEN a choice, your argument would hold validity, but since it's a REQUIREMENT, that means every Antiquated-close to retiring, pervy child-stalkin', and slacktastic summer-off twit gets represented.

Whether you're teacher of the year, or schtoopin' lil' boys because "He allowed a mutual friendship to develop into much more."

You may enjoy hearing f'cktards roll off at the mouth because they're "Constitutionally protected", but at one time, society didn't allow stupidity to be amassed in such an abundance. You basically follow Twain's law of "Better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth, and confirm it."

[Remek]

While I agree that you should not be forced to join a union,respectfully, I disagree with you here. The output of the union should not change regardless that everyone, or no one, is forced to join. In fact, in VA, I am pretty sure "right to work" states require that unions do not force participation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-to-work_law

Otherwise, I'd say your vitriol is obscuring logic and thought. You appear to want to adjudge who gets representation, and who gets to speak. The problem is, it's never likely to be you who is so adjudging.

If you read my post, you'd see we are more in agreement than not.

What happened to "I do not agree with what he says, but I will defend to the death his right to say it."?

Totalitarianism should not be tolerated from anyone.

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[WRW]

Severance for conviction of moral turpitude could, even should, be a legal basis for termination of contract (IOW, payments purchase coverage prior to termination...no further). That is illogical? No one is saying that he can't still sue.

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[Remek]

Severance for conviction of moral turpitude could, even should, be a legal basis for termination of contract (IOW, payments purchase coverage prior to termination...no further). That is illogical? No one is saying that he can't still sue.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Payments cover the time frame they are paid for. Termination while a member means they are a member up to, and including, the time of termination. He gets coverage even later, because he was terminated while a member.

The thing is, it's a dead letter. He was fired for doing illegal things directly related to his job. He wasn't screwing a secretary, it was a boy who was sodomized, a boy he held a position of authority with. The authority is inextricably linked to the sodomy.

Judge sees it, and tosses it, most likely. If not, no juror would ever find for him. He'll, he admitted guilt. Sorry, not severence for you!

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[WRW]

Severance for conviction of moral turpitude could, even should, be a legal basis for termination of contract (IOW, payments purchase coverage prior to termination...no further). That is illogical? No one is saying that he can't still sue.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Payments cover the time frame they are paid for. Termination while a member means they are a member up to, and including, the time of termination. He gets coverage even later, because he was terminated while a member.

The thing is, it's a dead letter. He was fired for doing illegal things directly related to his job. He wasn't screwing a secretary, it was a boy who was sodomized, a boy he held a position of authority with. The authority is inextricably linked to the sodomy.

Judge sees it, and tosses it, most likely. If not, no juror would ever find for him. He'll, he admitted guilt. Sorry, not severence for you!

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We've seen where jurors buck logic. I defer to your knowledge, but still am concerned.

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[Remek]

Being concerned is more important to our society than anything else.

I am often concerned with juries getting things wrong, but my real life experience on a jury (where i wondered if the accused would get the right sentence given the jury makeup) turned out well. Then we see cases like the sheriff in Florida who was released on a 2A decision he made. Then theres Zimmerman. Usually, the jury gets it right.

The judges are the ones I really worry about. I hear much about what is great about D.C. v. Heller 2011, but when you read it, you learn they have actually screwed us more than helped. The decision's dicta forms part of the feinstein reasoning. Moreover, the reasoning is so contorted and illogical, its ridiculous. Did you know, in that decision, SCOTUS said that the citizens now trust the government, and therefore NFA is valid? It further implies all military weapons are not covered by 2A? The judges are out of control, and have given liscense to government to go do as they like. About the only I can find thats covered by 2A is the revolver and single shot handguns, according to these judges.

Anyway, rant over.

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[Remek]

^^^ correction: the only thing thats definitely covered.

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[trailrunner]

The problem is you have NO CHOICE in joining the UNION!

This is not universally true. In Virginia, teachers do not have to join the union.

[Swampman]

^^^That's gonna change soon.

[mamabearCali]

Schools are not immune to sexual predators. Just because there is a background check does not make the students safe. Be smart. Even a homeschooling mom knows one cannot be there 24/7. Teach your kids how to keep themselves safe.

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[Reverenddel]

And Swampman is correct. A neighbor who is a teacher is being FORCED to join to get COVERAGE in the ACA!

Yeah, love the way Obamacare is being used. Should be renamed "O-Bully-Care".

And I appreciated a time when people COULD spout off, but they didn't do it with that righteous indignation that made them feel like "rockstars" because of the internet, and online.

You can say whatever you wish, but when you have other f'cktards backing you up, it motivates you to say even STUPIDER stuff such as what SALLY said!

[trailrunner]

And Swampman is correct. A neighbor who is a teacher is being FORCED to join to get COVERAGE in the ACA!

Again, not universally true. My wife is a public-school teacher. She is not being forced to join a union.