Public School Professionals At Work

I will leave it to others to debate the true motive of what Mr. Chandler's quest is. I have read all of his posts and as many links as I can find that are related to this issue. I have read many public comments that support and attack his actions. The fact that there is a question about his motives adds to the emotional energy of those who oppose his actions.

As far as I can tell from the research I have done, Mr. Chandler is operating well within the parameters of the existing law. I can understand why the law may need to be changed. As far as I can tell, the manner in which he was cavalierly and arrogantly rebuked by the public school systems has resulted in something far greater. In other words, the whole in now greater than the sum. I can vicariously relate to this mindset. I wonder if he has ever been labled an "isolated incident", "broad-brush attacker" or a "malcontent".


For those who are interested in how the public school systems operate, his blog promises to shed a lot of light. After you read this link, check out the other posts.


Oh....

Is "Power" Obtained By Keeping Outside Influences Illegitimate?

One way to not have to defend your self is to not acknowledge the entity that is trying to "gain power" over you. Depending on the circumstances and the relationship between you and the "power", simply ignoring it may work. Or, it may make matters worse.

I got to this place because the local public education system used different tactics to render me illegitimate when I wanted to "exert power" to change the course of events that I objected to. I have used the words "cavalier", "obfuscation" and "arrogance with ignorance" to describe my perception of how the District dodged the real issues.

While ignoring "the law" assuredly saves the District's money, being caught at ignoring "the law" can be costly:

Wrightslaw - Special Education Law - Whitehead v Hillsborough:

"Florida Jury Awards $600,000.00 to Parents of Handicapped Child
School District Failed to Provide FAPE; Retaliated Against Parents and Child"

NAPTA: TEACHER STORY, Doug Erwin, Florida:

"After nearly three days of deliberations, the jury awarded Erwin at least $175,000 in damages for emotional pain and mental anguish. He could get an additional $196,000 in salary for being pressured to retire 18 months before his scheduled retirement date of July 31, 2003, his attorney said."

I have said all of that to bring attention to what can happen when a school District ignores a public records request.

Polk Schools To Pay $25,000 in Legal Dispute | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL

"The $50,000 in legal fees spent during my fight with the Polk County School Board was the result of their having “acted contrary to law.” Certainly, taxpayer funds were wasted - by the PCSB (subsequently, the Duval County School Board wasted taxpayer funds doing the same thing). I find it curious that some folks think I’ve wasted the money when all I have done is to seek access to records that EVERY citizen is entitled to. Using the same logic marchers on Selma wasted taxpayer funds when the State Police beat them and used tear gas."

(Blond Moments from the Blogosphere...):



The lawsuit...:

"...Obviously, Mr. Conner [PCSB attorney*]acknowledges on the record that the PCSB knew that there was no basis in law for denying my request. Further, he admitted, on the record, that the only reason the PCSB did not produce the records was that they did not want me to have them."

"I believe this is the “smoking gun” regarding the criminality of the actions of the PCSB and Gail McKinzie. They knowingly refused to comply with a legal request for non-exempt public records. They knowingly frustrated my efforts to see these records even though they knew I was entitled to them. Their actions were conscious and deliberate. It seems clear that with the benefit of counsel and months of planning they orchestrated a series of hurtles and roadblocks to my obtaining these non-exempt records." -Joel Chandler

***************
What intrigues me with this information is that it bolsters my opinion that public exposure is the Achilles heel of the public school system. If legitimate concerns that are brought to them are obfuscated or kept illegitimate, what other recourse does anyone have? I am also curious as to who makes these decisions to obfuscate the issues.

* (my edit)