Five teachers in the Cheltenham School District near Philadelphia have been given a formal reprimand for a survey they circulated among staff regarding\u00a0school violence.<\/p>\n
Cheltenham High School\u00a0recently was the site of a major brawl<\/a>\u00a0in which\u00a0seven teachers and three security personnel were hurt. On that same day, the teachers involved with\u00a0the survey received their official admonitions.<\/p>\n According to Philly.com,<\/em> the district’s official reason for the discipline measure is that the teachers “publicly disseminated the survey, which included accusations against specific students.”<\/p>\n However, one of the five,\u00a0Jon\u00a0Manser (who happens to be vice president of the local teachers’ union) said that none of those reprimanded is responsible for the survey becoming public.\u00a0\u201cWe broke no laws or district policies, and we were still disciplined,\u201d he\u00a0said.<\/p>\n The union has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.<\/p>\n From the story<\/a>:<\/p>\n [Manser] said the document was intended only for the district\u2019s 400 teachers and the administration, with the hope that the district would\u00a0address long-standing complaints\u00a0about school climate. Instead, Superintendent Wagner\u00a0Marseille\u00a0disciplined the union members. …<\/p>\n After the fight, the district said it would take action to deal with discipline and other issues, posting more safety monitors at the high school, shortening lunch times, getting help for problem students, and clarifying discipline policies, among other actions.<\/p>\n The union also filed a grievance with the school district that, if not resolved, could go before an arbitrator.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t cover up these public-safety problems with private reprimands,\u201d Manser said. \u201cWe won\u2019t let the district try to bury our\u00a0community\u2019s concerns\u00a0by threatening\u00a0union leaders.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Anyone still wonder why the growth of charter schools<\/a> continues?<\/p>\n MORE:<\/strong>\u00a0Recent melee at Philly school was predictable \u2026 if teachers were listened to<\/a><\/p>\n MORE:<\/strong> Progressive enclaves growing weary of ridiculously lax school discipline policies<\/a><\/p>\n Like The College Fix<\/em> on Facebook<\/a> \/ Follow us on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n IMAGE:\u00a0a2gemma\/Flickr<\/p>\n