The mysterious and bizarre saga of suspended well-known teacher Rafe Esquith continues (see Rafe Esquith Suspended Because Of A Mark Twain Quote? If True, This Is Insane….).
Read about it in today’s Los Angeles Times article, Teacher files claim against L.A. Unified, blames controversy on joke.
Here’s an excerpt:
Mark Geragos, an attorney for Esquith, filed a claim Monday against L.A. Unified, a precursor to a lawsuit. The claim gave notice of class-action litigation involving scores of teachers in similar situations who say they have been denied due process rights.
I worked 32 years for LAUSD but retired a few years early (at a large financial loss) because, in large part, I was afraid of teacher jail. I was a competent but vocal teacher. I feared that some less than competent administrator would trump up some crazy reason to put me teacher jail. I loved teaching and the kids but was so stressed because I saw how John Deasy was treating my fellow teachers. I observed Rafe’s class once and know just how good of a teacher he was. What a huge waste. He will sue LAUSD and he and all the others jailed wrongly will win. It will cost the District dearly. In the end it is always the kids who suffer because of administrative failures.