Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Parents Get Online Access to Teachers’ Disciplinary Records

We should think about this for Wisconsin.

Just in time for the start of school, the state of Florida has launched an eye-opening Web site that enables parents to see the disciplinary records of their kids’ teachers. The site, called http://www.myfloridateacher.com makes, public a troubling secret in education: that the people who teach our kids and discipline them sometimes have a few demerits on their own permanent records.

The site was designed to be parent-friendly. Users can put a teacher’s last name—or a particular school district—into a search engine and within a few seconds get a list of the teachers who have been found guilty of misconduct—even crimes—and a description of the punishment meted out to them. Some of the infractions seem minor; one teacher in Miami-Dade was convicted of submitting a cribbed essay as part of a licensing exam. (He was handed two years’ probation, a $250 fine, and required to retake the test.) Others suggest more serious problems: one teacher in Hernando County was convicted of disorderly conduct, carrying a concealed weapon and intoxication. The punishment? A letter of reprimand and a $250 fine.

(4) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2153 hrs
Politics + Politics - General + Politics - Wisconsin + Technology

  1. On the face of it, it seems like it may be a good idea.  But why stop there, why not police officers, firefighters, prison guards that deal with children, any government employee or contract employee that comes into with children?  How about librarians, IT people who visit schools and the list can go on.
    I am a teacher, and I have nothing to worry about, but why just stop at teachers.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 2208 hrs


  2. We already have a good version of this in Wisconsin with the public records site wcca.wicourts.gov (i.e. ccap)  And everyone’s records are on there.  All of us. 

    The only problem is that the site has been watered down a bit in recent years with what it discloses.  And some politicians and special interest types (those with legal problems) have been lobbying to shut down the site or limit it even further.

    I think it’s a great site.  And one everyone should know about.  Let’s deal with people in the light of full disclosure.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 2218 hrs


  3. After looking at thier site, it’s even worse.  They also have allegations, which may be true or not.  That is wrong.  If they are convicted a crime, post it.  If they have been reprimanded then fine, post it.  But if it is an allegation- no way.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2007 at 2235 hrs


  4. Dan,

    I’ve used that site several times, and I don’t see anything wrong with the allegations, because they clearly identify that they are allegations, or in some cases when charges have been dropped - that’s very clear as well.

    It’s more than just crime convictions that are on that site… any time a lawsuit is filled, the data ends up on that site.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2007 at 1107 hrs


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