From the Wilmington Star-News (4/18/10): State education officials are finally working to make it tougher for incompetent or immoral teachers to keep getting jobs in North Carolina. But even as they propose requiring more information in the teacher licensing process, they advocate keeping those facts secret from the public.
Ironically, their action was prompted in part by former New Hanover County teacher and convicted child molester Jessica Wishnask, who has become a symbol of what is wrong with secrecy in government.
A panel of education leaders has recommended some overdue changes aimed at stopping bad teachers from moving from school district to school district in a process known in education circles as “passing the trash.” Among its recommendations are to require greater detail on teacher licensing applicants, such as criminal charges, past disciplinary actions and other character information.
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