Due Process and Education Secretary DeVoss

Although some people might be upset by the new ruling, most will understand that due process is an important component in dealing with any accusation of misbehavior.  This is especially true when the allegations are about sexual misconduct and most often he/she accusations and denials.

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Education Secretary Betsy DeVoss recently acknowledged the seriousness of this issue and need to protect the victim – while at the same time increasing the rights of the accused to due process.

I have been writing and training on this issue for years.  I am a strong advocate of fair-play and due process.  Indeed, I wrote my book:  Conducting Workplace Investigations:  Designated Investigator as a result of seeing how one-sided so many workplace evaluations and investigations were. 

I’ve also created two workshops for Illumeo that deals with this issue:  Interviewing:  The Art and Science and Investigating a Complaint in the Workplace. 

Although these courses were designed for the workplace – they are also applicable to allegations at school.  And, they tie in with the intent of Education Secretary De.Voss.

Burning the American Flag

Watching the news tonight is frightening. "Occupiers" broke into Oakland City Hall and destroyed property - that's bad - but then they deliberately and maliciously burned our American Flag.

If you are so opposed to America - GET OUT. Move elsewhere. I love this country. I know it isn't perfect, but we work together to continuously improve it - not to destroy it or its symbols.

In my lifetime I've seen enormous positive changes. For example,
--integration of schools, workplaces, libraries, etc. in the south and the rest of the country.
--Gary Rights
--Equal rights for women.

What's gone wrong!
--Too much government intervention into business causing huge failures - and causing a crippling economy. We need to fix it.
--Also too many jobs going away and not enough customers coming here. We need to fix it.
--California's education system (K-12) becoming among the worst in the country. We need to fix it.
--Newcomers to our shores not learning what America is all about - our love of freedom, liberty, and opportunity for all. We need to fix it.
--Loss of private charities - of individuals taking responsibility for reaching out and helping our neighbors. Again, we keep thinking it is "big brother's" responsibility - not true - it's ours as individuals. We need to fix it.

Let's fix it. Let's not destroy this country I love - or each other - or what it stands for.

Competence or Casper Milktoast?

There was an article int he paper today about education and the fact that Principals often select as their favorites teachers who don't make waves. Those who are competent, but have opinions that differ from that of the Principal (or Dean) are often the first to be marked down and rejected.

So, we wonder why our education system has become so mediocre. Students are expected to conform, not to be creative. To be quiet, not to speak up with their own opinions. Followers - not leaders.

Teachers need to follow the rules, blindly without questioning thinking or making suggestions for improvement. For to question is to threaten those in authority - and they punish you later.