9486 in the collection
Georgia Panel Ends Its Vendetta Against James Hope
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission reluctantly agreed Thursday to end a two-year battle to punish Gwinnett County teacher James Hope.
Members said they had nowhere to turn after the state Court of Appeals refused last week to hear the case.
The commission was seeking to suspend Hope's license for allegedly breaching his confidentiality agreement with Gwinnett County Public Schools after the fourth-grade teacher posted six Gateway questions on the Internet. Hope opposed the Gateway test and felt the questions were confusing and didn't reflect what students learned in the classroom.
The commission decided not to go to the Supreme Court after the appeals court refused to hear its appeal of a Superior Court judge's ruling that Hope had not violated the teachers' code of ethics. But the commission's educator ethics review committee warned that the state Supreme Court could also refuse to take the case.
"We want to make it clear that we believe this was in indirect violation of our code of ethics,'' said Amy Denty, the commission's chairwoman. "It's unlikely that the Supreme Court would hear [the case], so we are going to stop at this point and move on."
Hope, who teaches at Centerville Elementary in Snellville, is still the prime suspect of a criminal investigation by Gwinnett school police.
"I am thankful for all of the parents and teachers who have supported me," Hope said. "I hope this is the end of it."
The Georgia Association of Educators claimed a victory for Hope and other teachers with the courage to blow the whistle. An association attorney logged 250 hours fighting the case, which would have cost Hope about $30,000. The association will defend Hope if criminal charges are filed.
"This was an academic freedom case that had an impact on other teachers," said Terry Thomas, associate director of the teachers group and Hope's attorney. "The test was a public record, that is the key. At some point, reasonable heads had to prevail."
— D. Aileen Dodd
Teacher oversight panelists drop suit
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Feb. 14, 2003
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/gwinnett/0203/14hope.html
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
[1] 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> Last >>
