A troubled teacher in Charlotte
The story of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg elementary school art teacher caught with heroin in his classroom is bizarre and disturbing.
And complicated.
More details from The Charlotte Observer.
George Terry McDonald Jr. began working with CMS in 2004. Like all new employees, he passed a criminal background check.
In January 2005, he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and a Schedule II substance in Buncombe County. He entered and completed a deferred prosecution program, at which point the charges were dismissed.
CMS policies required him to report the arrest, but he did not. CMS officials did not learn about it until Monday.
Should the system have known? Superintendent Peter Gorman addressed the issue at a news conference Monday evening, the Observer reported, and said it's not practical for the system to run regular records checks on 17,000 employees.
He's absolutely right. The system does have the authority to conduct criminal records checks "on a selective, random or rotating basis." But, if that's done at all, it's not likely to be very productive.
Of course, McDonald violated system policy for failing to report his 2005 arrest. But he would have been fired if he had reported it, so what's the incentive to comply with that policy?
This is an unfortunate situation, but I don't know what the school system could have done to head it off.
Comments (5)
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This is an unfortunate situation, but I don't know what the school system could have done to head it off.*Doug Clark
Nothing can be done. It appears that the teacher is like many folks in this culture and addicted. There is hundred of cases daily in this country with teachers having all kind of legal problems within the government school systems. It makes good press just like the so-called Pop culture stories by the Sport and Movie stars.
Posted on June 5, 2007 10:59 AM
Doug,
I spent a little time visiting an elementary school class today, and I can see how a teacher would turn to narcotics after too very long. I'm not saying that's the right thing to do, but I understand.
Posted on June 5, 2007 2:08 PM
Thanks for the laugh, Norskar.
I wouldn't do the heroin, but I like the idea of putting a sign on your door saying, "Class canceled until Friday."
Friday is the last day of school.
This guy obviously couldn't take it anymore.
Posted on June 5, 2007 2:17 PM
For the humorous side of this issue (from a fictional angle), rent "Election," with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon. Classic scene where Broderick (as a teacher) hands out a quiz to his high school students, then leaves school grounds to set up an adulterous "date" at a nearby hotel, and returns just in time to collect the quizzes. (It's been awhile since I've seen this movie, but I think I've got the details generally right. I definitely remember the scene being VERY FUNNY!)
For the darker side (closer to the story you mention), rent "Half Nelson," about a middle-school teacher who has some arguably real teaching talent. As well as a drug problem. A well-made movie, worth seeing, about a tragic figure.
Posted on June 5, 2007 7:40 PM
Thanks, Hardy. Of all teachers, I'd guess those in middle school really find themselve's at rope's end by this time of year.
Posted on June 6, 2007 9:23 AM