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Mike Glenn of the Houston Chronicle reported yesterday about an HISD teacher who was escorted off campus because a drug-sniffing dog identified her vehicle. Inside, there were some unidentified pills, for which the teacher could not immediately produce a prescription. Students were in tears as they heard of her being taken into custody by district officials.
I'm disappointed by this article. This isn't reporting; it's repeating an unsubstantiated allegation against an HISD teacher. Until there's proven wrongdoing, this event should be treated as discretely as possible. The paper should only publish this kind of information when it turns out to be an example of an employee who is under performing, is dangerous to students, or who will be disciplined by the district. I would be encouraged if the Chronicle were to adopt such a policy going forward.
To compound this particular affront, Roberts is a small enough school that its identification of the teacher, while attempting to walk the line between descriptive and anonymous, is in fact sufficient to let everyone know who it is. We all hope this will turn out to be a misunderstanding, quickly resolved; however, the publicity the Chronicle has afforded this case has served to add damage to the reputation of a long serving and much beloved teacher, who we hope to see back in the classroom soon.
2 comments:
Aren't you shooting the messenger? The problem isn't the story. The problem is HISD's high-visibility zero-tolerance stance.
On the Chronicle's site, most of the top comments side with the teacher -- a sign that if provided information, readers can make up their own minds. And (I hope) apply pressure on HISD to change.
Hi Lisa,
In this case, I think the messenger is part of the problem. Uncritically repeating news releases from HISD, especially without confirming that the teacher's information is sufficiently anonymous, only serves to help HISD claim their program is effective.
If the reporter's purpose was to be critical of HISD's zero-tolerance policy, he could have published the same report without identifying the teacher, or even the school.
Perhaps the right middle ground is for the Chronicle to report such ongoing "busts" without identifying the teachers until they are charged or disciplined. A more diligent reporter might analyze how many of these accusations actually result in formal proceedings, perhaps discussing whether these teachers/staff were rendered ineffective and/or dangerous because of their (at that point confirmed) drug use. This could strike a balance between protecting the presumed innocent and raising the visibility of an unpopular or discredited program at HISD.
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