READ FIRST

STYLE
Entries are not classic blog posts but updated to follow the cases as they proceed through the criminal court system. This format provides latest information for those who follow a particular case and also serves to illustrate the lengthy process that leads many to believe that most allegations of misconduct amount to false charges. That may be a comforting myth to educators, but it is not supported by public record.

DATES
Dates given are publication dates of the news item. When the link no longer works, you are encouraged to visit the news source archives.

CATEGORIES
In the coach or band category, we only label when it is apparent the teacher or coach was involved with the student through the role as coach or band instructor. Sometimes it is impossible to determine from the online stories. Nevertheless, we track as a study, not because we dislike band teachers or coaches.

We do not usually follow stories about coaches accused of physical assault on players as most stories seem to be overblown and result in little or no lasting damage. Physical contact is a component of sports and emotions run high. For some unfathomable reason.

We do follow stories that involve drugs or alcohol. We do because drunk driving kills. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of 15- to 20-year-old drivers who were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2005 had been drinking. (Source: SADD - Students Against Drunk Driving)
Peer pressure is hard enough to resist without having teachers serve as role models to drink and drive or do drugs.

Other categories change as needed or where need is indicated.

COMMENTS
We welcome comments.

Readers are solely responsible for the content of the comments they post here. Comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of the blog administrator.

Posts that attempt to identify victims by name or indication will be deleted.
Posts that denigrate or demean victims will be deleted.
Posts that attempt to shut down debate by threatening other posters will be deleted.
Posts that are determined to be excessive and non-productive rants will be deleted.
It happens sometimes that someone will post a comment that they later regret that self-identifies and creates discomfort. Contact us. We will delete.

Our comments at stories are usually in this color.

UPDATES
If you have an update or a correction, please e-mail us at mediaskeptic@hotmail.com
Sending links is preferable. We do not open attachments. Ever.

Posts are derived from published items found online. Sometimes news sources do not bother to follow a case beyond the initial arrest story that was based upon the press release from the police. If you find an entry that needs to be updated and no story is found online, we suggest three things:

- Contact the newspaper or news staff that published the original story.
- If you have trouble determining who you should contact, contact us. We'll help.
- Ask them to print a follow up story to set the record straight. If you need, we will help you write a request.

They owe you that much. We do, too, and we guarantee to act immediately.

SUGGESTIONS
Your suggestions are welcome. This blog wouldn't exist without readers who send us updates every day.

ADMITTED BIAS
We are unashamed supporters of the victims and their families. For one, minors lack the maturity to appreciate the consequences of their actions. That's why we have age of consent laws and limit their legal decisions. But it's also because the student who complains is excoriated by fellow students and teachers alike. That makes them double victims. When they appear in court, the defense usually victimizes them all over again in the most public forum possible - again, without the support of fellow students or teachers. It takes great courage to come forward when it would be so much easier to hide the truth.

It would take less courage for fellow teachers to come forward to voice their suspicions about their colleagues before it gets to the point of criminal conduct. That they do not do so in large numbers speaks poorly of their decency.

AND NO, WE DON'T HATE TEACHERS
Every student has a favorite teacher they remember even 60 or 70 years later. The teacher may not have been a favorite at the time, but, usually, for most of us anyway, they were the person who most believed that learning was a joy, education was a wonder and expected more of us than just about anyone else. They also asked more of themselves and did the same for us. That's the true definition of a teacher.

To the Miss Plunkett's of the world, you made a difference in the world.

Thank you.

Talking Points

TALKING POINTS about the Proposed 2-year policies. (I know that is a lot of information so please use what you feel comfortable stating.)

Did you know that double dipping for education legislators was eliminated in 2002 by an opinion of the Alabama Ethics Commission?

Is there any need for these policies? Just make sure that the Ethics Commission ruling is followed.

Is it right to punish every two-year employee if only one or two have done something wrong?

Did you know that these policies essentially eliminate flextime for all two-year college employees?

Do you realize that the policies will eliminate the strongest supporters of education in the Legislature?

Who is left to protect the Education Trust Fund from raids, protect the funding of PEEHIP, or protect the integrity of the Teachers' Retirement System?

These policies are flagrantly discriminatory against educators.

Lawyers can work and serve. State employees can work and serve. Doctors can work and serve. Bankers can work and serve. Car dealers and insurance salesmen can serve, but under these policies, educators will be prohibited from serving if they are employed at a two-year college.

Legislators employed or contracting with universities are not prohibited from legislative service.

Since 1819, no occupational class of Alabama citizens has been denied the right to serve as a legislator in the state's part-time legislature.

These polices will deny any and all employees of a two-year college from serving on county commissions, city councils, or public utilities, or even getting reimbursed for mileage or food for going to a district Boy Scout meeting, helping United way, or taking children to a church youth group retreat, if they go more than 10 times in one year. If a two-year college employee helped during a disaster like Katrina and was given food or reimbursed any expenses, they would be in violation of the policy and subject to dismissal.

These policies override the Alabama Constitution that sets the qualifications for serving in the Legislature. It is up to the people of Alabama to determine who serves, not the governor, or the chancellor, or any other executive.

The majority of legislators who are educators will be immediately affected during the next session, yet almost all legislators were employed as educators when they were elected.

The practical elimination of flextime means that legislators will be forced to choose between providing for their families and serving their citizens.

Policy 609-04:

Prohibits any postsecondary employee, including the presidents and support staff, from using annual or personal leave as they wish, although these employees have earned this leave and the law says they can use it as they please.

No two-year college employee can use personal leave or annual leave to make money no matter how small an amount.

The policy says that legislators who are employees must use unpaid days only, and that they are allowed only 10 unpaid days per year.

This policy will supersede all other polices previously adopted without regard to past practices, traditions, or custom, or the directives of the members of the elected members of the State Board of Education.

This policy disregards the recommendations of a statewide policy committee made up of properly elected postsecondary employees.

All authority regarding employment rests with one man, Bradley Bryne, without oversight or accountability to anyone. Flextime is essentially eliminated unless you curry the favor of the chancellor.

Policy 220-01:

Eliminates employees of two-year colleges from serving in the Legislature.

Prohibits legislators, with as little as a 5% interest in a company, from contracting with any college in the two-year system. Does this mean that a car dealer who won the state bid on cars could not sell the same car to a two-year college and remain in the legislature?

Policy 602-01:

Gives the chancellor unfettered power to reverse any appointment or assignment of personnel that has happened or ever will happen at his whim without oversight or accountability to anyone, although state law gives the authority for personnel decisions to the presidents of two-year colleges. This policy is an attempt to override state law.

Even if a 30-year employee of the two-year college system has done a great job, and some fault is found in the past hiring practice, no matter how minor, this policy would allow the chancellor to initiate termination.

Janice J. Charlesworth
Executive Secretary
Alabama Education Retirees Association, Inc.