Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Teachers' Union Wins: Wisconsin Porn-Watching Teacher Reinstated



Teachers' Union Wins: Wisconsin Porn-Watching Teacher Reinstated
by Dr. Susan Berry 29 Jan 2014, 11:21 AM PDT
On Tuesday, Gov. Scott Walker (R) of Wisconsin urged his state’s school superintendent to revoke the teachers’ license of Andrew Harris, a middle school teacher who was found to have viewed pornography and other inappropriate sexual material at the school.

According to Wisconsin Reporter at Watchdog.org, Walker sent a letter to state schools Superintendent Tony Evers regarding Harris, who teaches in the Middleton-Cross Plains School District.

“After hearing from concerned parents, I am asking you to act efficiently in your investigation into the actions of Mr. Harris and to initiate revocation proceedings,” Walker wrote. “The arbitration process afforded to Mr. Harris failed the school district and the students. It has taken both a financial and emotional toll on the district. Cases, such as this one, are a good example of why our reforms are necessary.”

Harris was fired in 2010 after another teacher filed a complaint stating that Harris showed her pornographic images at the school. A district investigation found that Harris received hundreds of pornographic images, videos and inappropriate jokes in his school email account and viewed them while at work.

Harris’ union, however, filed a grievance requesting that he be reinstated. The arbitrator in the case, according to Wisconsin Reporter, was Karen Mawhinney, who contributed $1,500 to both of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s failed campaigns for governor -- in 2010 and the recall election in 2012 -- against Walker.

In Harris’ case, Mawhinney sided with the union, ordering the district to reinstate him to a similar position and pay him nearly $200,000 in back pay. In addition, the district spent $627,000 in legal fees in an unsuccessful attempt to have the decision overturned in the courts. The state Supreme Court declined to review the case.

The school district reassigned Harris to Kromrey Middle School where he was to begin teaching again on Monday prior to a school cancellation due to cold weather.

The district plans to have a teacher’s aide in the classroom with Harris and permit his students to attend study hall rather than his class. According to Wisconsin Reporter, district spokesman Perry Hibner said that at least five students have requested the study hall. Harris will teach about 125 students.

Parents, however, remain concerned and formed a protest against Harris’ return. Hibner reportedly said the district has received scores of emails and phone calls from angry parents.

School district Superintendent Don Johnson told Wisconsin Reporter that his district must serve all constituencies involved – students, parents, teachers, the community, and Andrew Harris. Johnson added that the district must honor Harris’ reinstatement or face the threat of a lawsuit from the teacher and his union, the Middleton Education Association.

According to Hibner, the district asked the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to revoke Harris’ license in 2010 for “immoral conduct,” but the request has either been ignored or put on hold while DPI waited for the legal process to be completed. DPI, however, has the authority to act on a license at any time and has revoked licenses on lesser misconduct charges, officials said.

“I am confident that the overwhelming majority of teachers and educators across the state and in the Middleton-Cross Plains District are committed and dedicated to working hard every day for the benefit of our students, their families, and our state as a whole,” wrote Walker. “Teachers who make decisions that contradict what is best for students shed a negative light on their colleagues and the district, and in some cases, put students at risk.”

Teachers' Union
American Federation of Teachers was a contributor for Priorities USA Action.

Note: Priorities USA Action was a super PAC supporting the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign.
Barack Obama was the candidate for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, and is the president for the Barack Obama administration.
Gabriella Gomez is the assistant secretary for legislation at the U.S. Department of Education for the Barack Obama administration, and was a lobbyist for the American Federation of Teachers.
Demos was a funder for the American Federation of Teachers.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for Demos, the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, the Economic Policy Institute, the International Rescue Committee, the Robin Hood Foundation, the Brookings Institution (think tank), and the Aspen Institute (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Clifford S. Asness is a director at the International Rescue Committee, was a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, and supported same-sex marriage in New York.
Rhonda Weingarten is the president for the American Federation of Teachers, a director at the Economic Policy Institute, an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and was the president for the United Federation of Teachers.
Demos was a funder for the United Federation of Teachers.
Adele S. Simmons is a trustee at Demos, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Commercial Club of Chicago, Members Directory A-Z (Past Research)
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Rahm I. Emanuel is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Chicago (IL) mayor, Ari Emanuel’s brother, and was the White House chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration.
Ari Emanuel is Rahm I. Emanuel’s brother, and the co-CEO & director for William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.
Kevin Smith is a William Morris Endeavor Entertainment client, and the writer & director for Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic sex comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company.
Harvey Weinstein is the co-founder & co-chairman for the Weinstein Company, and a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.
Valerie B. Jarrett is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, and her great uncle is Vernon E. Jordan Jr.
Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).
Tommy G. Thompson was a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, and the governor for the Wisconsin state government.
Scott Walker is the Wisconsin state government governor, wanted to slash union benefits & collective bargaining with the 2011 showdown between Wisconsin governor & public unions, and ran ads in support of stand against unions with Americans for Prosperity.
David H. Koch was a donor for Americans for Prosperity, is the chairman for the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, and a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Americans for Prosperity Foundation is an affiliated group with Americans for Prosperity.
James S. Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Lester Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), and Demos.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Demos was a funder for the American Federation of Teachers, and the United Federation of Teachers.









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