Posted on 07/02/2005 6:33:40 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
Principal Dan Doerhoff of East Lynne School in Kansas City, Mo., decided a fitting punishment for an unnamed fourth- grade girl in lieu of suspension was to make her pick up rocks along the road in front of the school for three days. Alone. Teachers thought the girl's punishment was too harsh and dangerous, and during their free periods several went out to help her and watch after her. The mini revolt was led by teacher Christa Price, so Doerhoff not only ordered Price fired for "failing to support the administration," he refused to do the final sign-off on her teaching credential, which she needs to get another teaching job. Seven other teachers quit to show support for Price, leaving only two teachers at the school. Parents are fighting back too: they gathered 177 signatures on a petition demanding Doerhoff's resignation, and are campaigning to vote out any school board members who support him. Meanwhile, district officials say they'll sign Price's certificate so she can get a new job. (Kansas City Star) ...No matter how old you get, it can still be satisfying to say "nyah nyah nyah" to the principal.
"This week, Forister said that she and her husband had decided to spend $5,400 of their fifth-grade son’s college fund to pay tuition to attend another school district. Forister said she and other parents were informed by state officials that school board members could not be recalled."
"Doerhoff declined to answer questions, except to say that he is under contract through the 2007-2008 school year."
"Trouble started last fall when Doerhoff punished the fourth-grader by forcing her to pick up rocks, put them in a bucket and then tote the bucket to nearby woods. Teacher Christa Price told Doerhoff that she was worried about the girl’s safety and that the punishment made the school look bad."
"Doerhoff dismissed her concerns, so Price went out during her free period to watch over the girl. Later, other teachers did the same."
"When contract time rolled around, Price — by all accounts a good teacher — was fired for insubordination."
"Seven teachers soon resigned. One, Vicki Hartsell, said the rock incident and Price’s firing were just part of reason she left."
"She said the district’s emphasis was no longer on education, but on everything from money to test scores."
“This community will be cheated and children will suffer as long as he (Doerhoff) keeps his job,” Hartsell said this week."
"Riggs declined to comment on Doerhoff’s future. He said, though, that he was bothered by talk that some parents would pull their children from the school."
“But parents have a right to do as they see fit with their children,” Riggs said."
"Riggs rejected talk in the community that Doerhoff would keep his job because the district cannot afford to pay off his contract and hire a replacement."
“We have the money in the bank to do whatever is necessary,” Riggs said. “Education will always come first.”
"Board member Terry Faulkenberry said that most patrons don’t know “the full story” about the controversy and that he fully supports Doerhoff. He declined to elaborate.Randy Petttet, another board member, said the public’s mood could not be mistaken."
Seems like more controversy surrounded Doerhoff in 2002 when student,Matthew Schooler, 13, pulled up WhiteHouse.org in class. Schooler's mom is fighting the school's action against her son because she said safeguards weren't in place and that the Web site wasn't pornographic, but a Web site (http://www.whitehouse.org/ )that parodies the official White House Web site. Matthew said he was researching the White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov/)for a school project and that his teacher suggested the Web site herself.
"We don't condone it. We don't like it and we discipline it," Superintendent Dr. Dan Doerhoff said.
Doerhoff insists that Matthew knew exactly what he was doing. The school district has Internet policies outlining "grave consequences." Matt was kicked off school computers for the rest of the year after teachers said that "he accessed pornography online".
Sounds like this guy is one step short of using his power to send children out to play on the freeway. His judgment is severely skewed.
That man is missing a few strawberries in his pantry.
Even the prisoners in our jails don't have to do that. (sarcasm)
"Respect my Authoritay!"
I like how the parents threatened to vote out the school board members ,... they should make a point by voting out one no matter what happens , the head of the school board would be the one to target , vote'em right OUT
This proncipal, and school board, needs freeping, BAD!
I would be sueing for all I could, perhaps then they will do something about getting rid of the idiot taskmaster.
I agree.
Yes, extremely skewered! His judgment crosses into the realm of criminally negligent. How these people manage to move up the ladder into positions of authority amazes me.
I can see why his teachers are resigning. I can imagine that someone who uses such inappropriate disciplinary measures probably created a fairly hostile work environment as well.
Probably by threats and intimidation.
That's what I hate, is that this could have been a simple solution of talking to the kids' parents and deciding on a good punishment (unleass they're the "not my kid" type). Instead, the principal took things into his own hands and did a STUPID bonehead move. And now, like the teacher indicated, the school looks bad and people come out of the woodwork and use it for their political platforms again. Geez, I wish some of these guys would think about the consequences of their actions. No one resents it more than me.
Typical of yet another person suffering from a severe case of "Authorititis". Tell the people they don't know the whole story, then be certain not to actually fill them in on what that story is. Why can I see this board member screaming "you can't handle the truth" in a really poor Nicholson impersonation?
The schools on the Missouri side in Kansas City are generally pretty bad, with a few exceptions. Granted, this one isn't in Kansas City proper, but apparently wishes it were. This principal needs to be fired and prevented from working with children again, and any board member (are you listening, Faulkenberry?) should be voted out in disgrace.
I don't agree with people sueing at the drop of a hat but c'mon this man is a danger to all the children in his care. He should be fired immediately.
The only mistake he made was sending her out unsupervised.
And that was a very dumb one to make I think.
I'm certainly glad that the parents of my students aren't ready to sue me at every mistake that I make. They'd be rich. We both give and take a little. They know that I care about the kids and I know they're trying their best to raise them. We work things out if there are problems and things go on. Some of these great parents become cherished friends. I appreciate them a TON!
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