Unequal suspensions cast further doubts of Perry Township School Board fairness.

Commentary by Proteacher

Nearly one year has passed since veteran English teacher Connie Heermann was called into a meeting and told that if she didn't resign she would be fired for letting her at-risk students read The Freedom Writers Diary.

But Ms. Heermann stood her ground. In a closed two-day trial that made national and international headlines -- and evoked thousands of email protests from around the world directed at the Perry Township School Board -- Ms. Heermann was suspended from teaching without pay or benefits for a full 18 months.

Now the same Perry Township School Board has suspended a female assistant high school principal and male basketball coach for "inappropriate behavior" for four weeks without pay. Both will be reassigned positions within the district.
These recent suspensions pale in comparison to the much longer sentence of Ms. Heermann.

The "inappropriate behavior" was not an isolated incident and not of a racial or violent nature. That leaves only one other thing it could be, right?

Board member Barbara Thompson is quoted in the Indianapolis Star (November 11) as complimenting the new Superintendent Thomas Little on how he handled the situation. "He did not seek to throw them away. In most cases, with the poor decision they made, you would be fired...we realize they are human they made a mistake...he is going to allow them to continue doing the good work they are doing in the district...it did not affect the children..."

But the inappropriate behavior conducted by an assistant principal and coach is infinitely more serious than that of an English teacher using a New York Times bestselling book to motivate at-risk students without apparent administrative approval. Saying that it "did not affect children," is outrageous and naive. Maybe the students did not see that various acts of the two parties (both married) but it made the news -- and that will affect students. It affects them by the example set by the school board.

How are students to interpret the unequal suspensions? Apparently you can commit "inappropriate acts" if you are an administrator or coach...but not an English teacher. Apparently if you commit "inappropriate acts," that's ok..but don't try to get students to read an award-winning book!

The bad example set by the Perry Township School Board leaves one wondering: what is fair here?