Is Punishment too Lenient on Arkansas Teachers?
By: Adam Rodriguez, KARK 4 News
Updated: October 12, 2012
Shocking documents from the Arkansas Department of Education reveal misconduct by teachers.
The misconduct includes telling students to cheat on tests, abusing public funds and making inappropriate sexual comments to students.
A teacher in the Farmington District had students bringing in sex toy magazines, giving her neck massages and even asked a student for a condom.
But when her case went to the professional licensure standards board, all she got was a 6-month suspension on her license and a $100 fine.
"Certainly, that contact was inappropriate, and I think you have to remember a 6 months suspension approved by the state board, is a very serious matter in terms of your professional future," says Pulaski County District Superintendent Dr. Jerry Guess
Guess just finished a 3-year term on the statewide standards board, where he helped investigate ethical complaints.
"In the profession, it is a very serious matter for the state board to acknowledge that I, or others, behaved inappropriately, and had to be punished," he says.
According to Guess, any actions taken against a teacher by the board stays on their record permanently in every state.
The Farmington teacher was fired by her district.
"It's often the case the district will report to the police or prosecuting attorney," says Guess.
A reprimand or $50 fine may not seem like much, but Guess says it's a huge step from previous years when an ethical standard for teachers didn't even exist.
The licensure standards board provides a method of accountability that didn't exist before which is self-policing and reviewed by the board of education.
It may not seem like a lot, but it has a lot of bite.
The misconduct includes telling students to cheat on tests, abusing public funds and making inappropriate sexual comments to students.
A teacher in the Farmington District had students bringing in sex toy magazines, giving her neck massages and even asked a student for a condom.
But when her case went to the professional licensure standards board, all she got was a 6-month suspension on her license and a $100 fine.
"Certainly, that contact was inappropriate, and I think you have to remember a 6 months suspension approved by the state board, is a very serious matter in terms of your professional future," says Pulaski County District Superintendent Dr. Jerry Guess
Guess just finished a 3-year term on the statewide standards board, where he helped investigate ethical complaints.
"In the profession, it is a very serious matter for the state board to acknowledge that I, or others, behaved inappropriately, and had to be punished," he says.
According to Guess, any actions taken against a teacher by the board stays on their record permanently in every state.
The Farmington teacher was fired by her district.
"It's often the case the district will report to the police or prosecuting attorney," says Guess.
A reprimand or $50 fine may not seem like much, but Guess says it's a huge step from previous years when an ethical standard for teachers didn't even exist.
The licensure standards board provides a method of accountability that didn't exist before which is self-policing and reviewed by the board of education.
It may not seem like a lot, but it has a lot of bite.
Comments
The above allegations did NOT happen at Bismarck School District. This is inaccurate information. Susan Harper, Superintendent
Susan H.
October 11, 2012 at 9:12 pm
