By: Guy Santostefano, 231 Windward Ct. Port Jefferson NY 631 331 9824
The teacher discipline series tells only a small part of the story ["10 LI teachers accused of misconduct," News, April 3]. It fails to mention teachers who were innocent and offered a resignation package. Schools lost highly qualified teachers who, in some instances, were railroaded by administrators and thrown under the bus by disinterested union representatives. A superintendent will instruct the accused teacher's colleagues and supervisors to not discuss with, have contact with or advise or help the teacher in question.
I know all this is true because it happened to me eight years ago when I was railroaded into resigning from the Middle Country Central School District after teaching Newfield High School science for 16 years. I had a highly praised and unblemished career until one student made innocuous allegations a year after being out of my class.
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So, the life of a good teacher is easily destroyed. Clever resignation agreements are put before the accused when emotions and fears are elevated. Unskilled lawyers, either union lawyers or private, often fail to properly represent a teacher due to disinterest, ineptitude or lack of experience in school matters.
The series also fails to mention the most important part of the discipline process that ultimately dooms the teacher: the psychiatric fitness for duty exam. It's called a "913 exam" and is paid for by districts, costing anywhere from $2,000 to $17,000 per situation, with outcomes dictated by the district, not by a doctor's unbiased exam or medical tests. None are given. Once found unfit, firing the teacher or pushing that person to resign is easy. And unethical.
