Druggie teacher can go back to class

new york daily news ^ | ALISON GENDAR

[freepatriot32]

A Staten Island teacher who pleaded guilty to felony drug possession can return to the classroom if he completes a drug treatment program, an arbitrator has ruled. Michael Campbell, a dean and eighth-grade teacher at Intermediate School 72, can keep his job even though he was arrested in April 2002 for cocaine and marijuana possession, according to a decision made public yesterday.

A spokesman for Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said the system would fight to keep Campbell out of the classroom.

"This is another example of arbitrators blocking the department's efforts to remove people who are not fit to be in our schools," said Klein spokesman Jerry Russo.

The city Education Department filed an appeal in state Supreme Court.

Campbell was arrested and charged with possession of 10 packets of cocaine and 10 packets of marijuana, sources said. He pleaded guilty in May 2002 to felony drug possession. However, sentencing was postponed for Campbell to attend drug treatment. Details about his participation were not available.

Campbell, an IS 72 teacher for a decade, has been suspended without pay since the arrest - adequate punishment, the hearing officer found. He could not be reached for comment.

"It is an insane system," said City Councilman James Oddo (R-S.I.).

The councilman testified at Campbell's administrative hearing and argued the community would be hurt if the teacher were allowed to return.

"The hearing officer did not hear and did not care about children," Oddo said.

Originally published on August 9, 2003

[freepatriot32]

"The hearing officer did not hear and did not care about children,"

Of course he doesnt thats not his job in the public school system his job is to protect the union teachers only and the kids be damned. Thats why everyone should homeschhool if its even remotely possible

[Dante3]

Truly a good argument for private school or home schooling.

[lilylangtree]

And we wonder why school children are drug addicts at an early age when drug-addicted teachers, part of being a role model, can't be removed. Ruins the whole concept that drugs are bad.

[.cnI redruM]

That's for darn sure. A teacher I studied under got accused of spying on girls undressing and he was never heard from again. I wish those standards still held today.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[OXENinFLA]

felony drug possession

That's it!?! What about INTENT TO DELIVER???????

[mtbopfuyn]

What about INTENT TO DELIVER???????

My thoughts exactly.

[robertpaulsen]

"charged with possession of 10 packets of cocaine and 10 packets of marijuana,"

Well, there goes the, "Marijuana is not a gateway drug" theory.

[Protagoras]

[Free_at_last_-2001]

A Staten Island teacher who pleaded guilty to felony drug possession can return to the classroom.... Just as well he didn't try to say a prayer..he would have been banned for life!

[MrLeRoy]

"charged with possession of 10 packets of cocaine and 10 packets of marijuana,"

Well, there goes the, "Marijuana is not a gateway drug" theory.

That was meant to be funny, right?

[sweet_diane]

"Campbell was arrested and charged with possession of 10 packets of cocaine and 10 packets of marijuana, sources said. He pleaded guilty in May 2002 to felony drug possession."

Sounds to me as if he was supplimenting his teachers salary.

[dennisw]

You must be here to stick up for this druggie teacher. With your loonytarian program of drug legalization he would be free to smoke crack in the teacher's lounge

[MrLeRoy]

You must be here to stick up for this druggie teacher.

Nope---requiring teachers to be drug-free sounds reasonable to me.

With your loonytarian program of drug legalization he would be free to smoke crack in the teacher's lounge

Utterly false---employers should have the freedom to set workplace conditions.