Drug taking Teacher

Why wasn't he charged with cocaine posession?

I'm inclined to lean towards the he's done his penance side of things, everyone can make mistakes, but I know what you mean about feeling uneasy about it. I'd be much more concerned if he were teaching secondary school kids who were aware of his conviction and what happened, in fact I'd be complaining if he was teaching them.

Originally Posted by Quedos

the trust issue that has be broken could apply to so many and it couldn't be enforced fairly.
it was in his private life and not during the work day - he has been tried and punished why punish him again.
could we sack all those in the public eye who speed excessively in case they set a bad example or in the case of here sack the youthworkers who work with intensive supported youths becuase they are on methadone - despite the good work they do?

That works both ways though - if a teacher was into child porn, in his private life, I'd want him sacked and charged.

I don't think there's an absolute in these sorts of cases, but I do know as a parent ones' feelings don't always fall into the right/wrong category.

[Bluepete]

Originally Posted by shonadoll

Why wasn't he charged with cocaine posession?

'Cos the way the system works. The two counts of damage and one of assault "score" together and as three seperate offences, took him past the threshold for charging.

The possession of cocaine is a seperate issue and he was eligable for a caution as he had no prior, similar convictions.

Pete

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned this. Both papers are local papers, do you believe everything that's written in them? I certainly don't and then the tone. The first article informs us that mr macdonald appeared in the MEN (that's manchester evening news to you and me) after meeting his fiancee on the internet (so why are you telling us this??) 'slammed' the teacher's behaviour. The staffordshire article is better. I still have to meet the first person who believes everything they read in their local rag. They get things wrong all the time!

[Bluepete]

Wow, It's all true. Mrs BP is a teacher in the same school and it's true.

Originally Posted by neio79

Agreed, Is he not alowed to live a life and do what is in his prsonal life what he feels free.

He may have been charged with assault but seing as you can get charged with assault for pushing someone these days read what you will into that.

Persoanlly unless his teaching standards were below par or he started slapping and gicing the kids smack i cant see any reason for him not to carry on.

+ 1

Originally Posted by Messie

There is. It's called the General Teaching Council.

Then they should decide whether they see this person as fit to carry out this profession after a thorough investigation. Obviously, parents will, and should, have an opinion on this too.

I am not saying those who choose to carry out a profession that puts them in the public eye should act as angels all of the time, god knows I don't, but these people need to demonstrate a certain amount of mental maturity that comes with accepting such a position of responsibility. Having coke in your back pocket whilst hanging out of a window drunk off your face is not.

[Messie]

Originally Posted by dissuade

Then they should decide whether they see this person as fit to carry out this profession after a thorough investigation. Obviously, parents will, and should, have an opinion on this too.

I am not saying those who choose to carry out a profession that puts them in the public eye should act as angels all of the time, god knows I don't, but these people need to demonstrate a certain amount of mental maturity that comes with accepting such a position of responsibility. Having coke in your back pocket whilst hanging out of a window drunk off your face is not.

It is up to them to consider someone's fitness to teach in the light of given circumstances. They are not a court of any description and do not try someone for a criminal offence. If a teacher if convicted by a court the GTC may then consider whether they should remain licenced to teach.

In my experience if all teachers had to be squeeky clean in terms of sobriety even at the week ends or in holiday time, we would have very few teachers left. That is not the same as saying they shouldn't be absolutely sober whilst in charge of children - of course they should!

I am not a parent, as such my opinion may be invalid, or if you like it could be more valid as it's not coloured by the natural emotions attached to that role.

Playing devil's advocate, one could argue - who do you want teaching your kids (if not directly but indirectly) the dangers of drink and drugs - someone who's fallen foul of temptation and acted like a tit, been punished publicly for their actions and knows first hand just how dangerous they are; or someone who just spouts "drugs are bad, mmmkay?". Countless education programs nowadays haul teenage mums, reformed junkies and the like in front of school kids to tell them "this is what will happen if you be a tit" - better still surely to have a teacher, one who knows the kids, and one who the kids know and trust (to the extent that you do trust your teacher) who can speak with authority on the subject throughout the term? I remember a geography teacher known universally as "Polo" - because he was constantly seen sucking catering crates worth of polo mints - he knew his nickname, and he mentioned off the cuff whenever he overheard this "insult" that the reason he was always on the polos was because he was addicted to nictotine and needed something to quench the desire during lessons - it wasn't a formal "lesson" as such, just a reminder to kids that smoking has far reaching effects that aren't normally seen by kids, the actual effects of addiction. Ok, so I still ended up a smoker but I certainly don't think my personal nicotine addiction was encouraged by my teacher, quite the opposite - he gave a depiction of smoking beyond the usual "smoking's bad, mmmkay" that those who have never been there never could. I fancy if he kept one kid from smoking then his "dirty little secret" was beneficial to the next generation.

Trust. Do you trust this teacher not to turn up to work smacked out of his tree? Do you trust this teacher not to turn up to work drunk? Do you trust this teacher to educate your kids not just in maths/science/english/history but to impart "on the side" valuable life education?

Assuming teacher concerned (and this is a big assumption) is committed to his role, is good at his job, and that this is more of a one off "I got smashed and I acted a tit", then I'd say your kids will benefit from his expertise and experience. We should be teaching our kids to question what they're told, that's the basis of independent thinking and reasoning - if we simply tell them "drink and drugs are bad, don't do them" then they'll respect that no more than a rational adult will.

[Messie]

Well said MiniMatt