Los Angeles teachers union president Alex Caputo-Pear has called for L.A. Schools chief John Deasy — the man who helped orchestrate the ill-fated $1.3 billion tech deal designed to give an iPad to every student — to report to “teacher jail” while the program is under investigation.
“Teacher jail” refers to district offices which house instructors who are facing allegations of misconduct.
In Deasy’s case, the alleged misconduct relates to apparent inappropriate dealings with Apple and education publisher Pearson that may have influenced the bidding process for the massive deal, which has now been abandoned. Deasy claims there was nothing inappropriate about his relationship with either company.
“[Deasy has] got to play by his own rules and when under investigation, he must report to teacher jail,” Alex Caputo-Pearl said on Wednesday. In the past, the L.A. teachers union has protested against “teacher jail” on the basis that teachers are routinely kept in the offices for longer than is necessary, and have sometimes been fired even after allegations have been proven untrue.
While the union says it’s working with the school board to end the practice of teacher jail, they think Deasy should live up to his own views and voluntarily admit himself.
“It is John Deasy’s ethical responsibility to live by his own rules and live by the policy that he champions and report to teacher jail immediately,” Caputo-Pearl said.
We haven’t heard the end of this story just yet.
Source: L.A Times
