4um: Warning lands Batavia teacher in hot water

A Batavia High School teacher's fans are rallying to support him as he faces possible discipline for advising students of their Constitutional rights before taking a school survey on their behavior.

They've been collecting signatures on an online petition, passing the word on Facebook, sending letters to the school board, and planning to speak at Tuesday's school board meeting.

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Students and parents have praised his ability to interest reluctant students in history and current affairs.

But John Dryden said he's not the point. He wants people to focus on the issue he raised: Whether school officials considered that students could incriminate themselves with their answers to the survey that included questions about drug and alcohol use.

Dryden, a social studies teacher, told some of his students April 18 that they had a 5th Amendment right to not incriminate themselves by answering questions on the survey, which had each student's name printed on it.

The survey is part of measuring how students meet the social-emotional learning standards set by the state. It is the first year Batavia has administered such a survey.

School district officials declined to provide a copy of the survey to the Daily Herald, saying the district bought the survey from a private company, Multi-Health Systems Inc., and the contents are proprietary business information.

They did provide the script teachers were to read to students before the test.

It does not tell students whether participation is mandatory or optional.

An April email communication to parents said their children could choose not to take the survey, but they had to notify the district by April 17.

The survey asked about drug, alcohol and tobacco use, and emotions, according to Brad Newkirk, chief academic officer.

The results were to be reviewed by school officials, including social workers, counselors and psychologists.

The survey was not a diagnostic tool, but a "screener" to figure out which students might need specific help, Newkirk said.

Superintendent Jack Barshinger said teacher support for doing a survey grew after several suicides by students in recent years. Students and staff typically said they had no idea those teens were in distress.

"We can't help them if we aren't aware of their needs," Barshinger said.

The results will also be compared from year to year, to see if interventions offered work, he said.

School officials have already reviewed the surveys and have talked to some students about their answers.

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“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken

It's all actually a very valuable lesson for the students, a "teaching moment" if you will, instructing them the real and practical value of the Constitution as opposed to the one that they've learned in skool. It's not really something that matters, it's only a book thingy.

Now, they'll have achieved much if they can extrapolate this to their other coursework as well.

Otherwise, yeah right, public skool teachers, a group that en masse tests in the bottom quartile of intelligence exams has smart people in their ranks. Just remember, for every "smart" one, given that rounding out, there has to be a half dozen complete morons.

Who go on to lifetime careers as politicians, and administrators of things' .gov.

Teachers generally aren't dumb. They just have to cater to the lowest common denominator, at other kids expense. If it wasn't for that, things would be a lot better.

What used to anger me was the amount of time that was wasted going thru what was taught the previous year. That was a big problem in grades 1-6.