November 18, 2004

Teachers' union threatens parent.

Interesting happenings in Florida. A parent, concerned that a teacher was abusing her child, complained. The Teachers' Union replied with a letter (PDF available here) that, well, I'll let the WFTV article tell the story: bq. Union Sent Threatening Letter To Parent Who Complained Channel 9 has obtained a letter from the teachers' union to a parent who complained Kathy Garrett beat her child years ago. Carol Goings was shocked by the threatening letter she received. bq. The teachers' union is standing behind that threatening letter. The mother who received it says it shows just how far the union will go to protect even bad teachers. bq. "I'm literally shocked. Am I really reading this? Am I having a nightmare?" says Goings. The letter: bq. The letter said her "motives were suspect," that Goings comments were "malicious," that Garrett had "students' best interests at heart" and that if Goings didn't back off, she'd face "formal legal action" and could pay "damages." bq. Goings said she backed off immediately. bq. "To hire an attorney against the teacher's union, I wouldn't have money for that," she says. The teacher in question was subsequently arrested on abuse charges. Long history of it in fact. Porn too - from this article: bq. Porn Found On Computer Of Teacher Accused Of Abuse School leaders say a teacher accused of abusing autistic students also had pornography on a computer in her classroom. We've learned at least one of those computers had pictures of Kathy Garrett herself. bq. Channel 9 has learned that the graphic computer content shows bondage, including Garrett partially clothed on her own website. She allegedly showed the pictures to a classroom aide. These stories (and more) can be found in the links at the bottom of the WFTV website. The idea that the Teachers' Union would stand behind such a mediocre teacher is disgusting... Posted by DaveH at November 18, 2004 6:42 PM