Teachers should have been fired

Editor:

I recently saw on the news that two teachers from Arlee Public Schools had been caught giving students (minors) alcohol on a school field trip, and that they are employed by the Arlee schools. I was surprised to find out about this now, considering that it happened last school year. I also seem to remember this same thing happening around 10 years ago, and that they are still employed by the Arlee Schools.

I have had children in Arlee Elementary, only one now. My oldest had moved on to greener pastures (Two Eagle River School). But as a concerned parent in this community, I am worried about my own child and the rest of the children in Arlee. We entrust these teachers with our children, to be role models and educators; they are shaping our children's minds.

If a student was caught drinking and/or sharing alcohol on school grounds, they would be expelled not to mention criminal charges punishable by law.

To allow these teachers to continue teaching our (community) kids, is a slap in the face of the families that have lost children to alcohol. In case the school board has forgotten, there have been five young boys lost to alcohol less than 40 miles away, here in this county, on this reservation. The fact that those two teachers are still employed is a slap in the face of any concerned parents.

When I spoke to my 12-year-old daughter about the incident, and that I thought that the offending teachers should be fired, she said, "Not Mr.__, he's cool."

So, what message are they sending to our young children? My daughter knows that what he did was wrong, but since he's "cool," he must be able to continue working …

In my opinion (and I am sure it is shared), the only way to rectify the problem is termination of contract for the guilty teachers as well as criminal charges for contributing, and endangering minors — possibly stiffer sentences and/or fines, because they are entrusted with our young children.

I would hope that any educator would have enough respect for the lives of children not to be the first to corrupt their innocence, and send them down the wrong road. If this is not taken care of by the school, it will be left up to the community. My question to you, the public: When do we call the camera crews, and break out the picket signs?

Concerned parents,

Sarah Wahl and

Wesley Sapiel