DC school's Chancellor Rhee tells group that some laid off teachers had sex with students

[Are_grits_groceries]

Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee told a national business magazine that some of the 266 teachers laid off in October's budget reductions had sex with children or had hit them, a claim immediately and angrily challenged Friday by leaders of the Washington Teachers Union.

Rhee's comments appear in the February issue of Fast Company, a magazine aimed at young entrepreneurs and change-minded corporate executives. In a brief item, Rhee addressed the union allegation that she contrived the budget crunch to circumvent seniority rules and rid the system of older teachers.

"I got rid of teachers who had hit children, who had had sex with children, who had missed 78 days of school. Why wouldn't we take those things into consideration?" she said.

Rhee declined to provide specific numbers Friday or details to substantiate her remarks about sexual misconduct and teachers striking students. Neither did she respond when asked by e-mail why such teachers were allowed to remain in the school system before the Oct. 2 job cuts. D.C. police spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump said late Friday that she was researching the matter.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/22/AR2010012204543.html?hpid=topnews

Rhee has lost her mind trying to justify her layoffs. This unsubstantiated charge is reckless and uncalled for. I also think that it might open her up to lawsuits by those teachers for impugning their reputations with one of the worst charges possible. All 266 are now under a cloud.

In addition, if Rhee did let those teachers stay in the system if they were abusing students, she broke the law to say the least. Rhee deserves to be given a thorough review for saying this.

[midnight]

1. no information that any of the 266 had been under investigation for sexual offenses against children

The union usually receives notice from the District when a teacher faces disciplinary action, Parker said, and he has received no information that any of the 266 had been under investigation for sexual offenses against children. One of the 266 faced action for administering corporal punishment, he said.

I hope this can get resolved soon. I saw an interview several months back between teachers and Rhee. There seems to be a lack of understanding by this women.... It was only one impression that I got, and from only one and only introduction into this areas school issues...

[MadHound]

2. Time to hit her with a massive lawsuit for defamation of character,

And other fun charges. That should get her kicked out of her current job.

You don't make those charges unless you can back them up, especially to a national magazine.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. Kand R. She's a mess. How exactly did Rhee come by.....

... this position? ( i.e. schools chancellor)

I'm not familiar with DC politics.

If she's a Mayoral appointee.... as is the case in NYC.... how to account for a RW corporate privatizer employed by what is usually ( i.e. has historically been) a progressive DC gov't?

[malletgirl02]

4. Rhee Salary

Slightly off topic, but I read somewhere that Rhee makes over $200,000 a year. DC needs to look where its education money is going.

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. I hope the police or somebody

checks in with her to find out why she didn't report the sex abuse.