Chip's Blog

Jan 16, 2008 | 1:50 PM

Oh come on, jonsmom....I was expecting a piece rivaling "War and Peace" from YOU!!!!

jonsmom

Jan 16, 2008 | 2:13 PM

Am I really that bad?

Jan 16, 2008 | 3:02 PM

No, actually, I think you are really that GOOD...you embody conservative values and yet are able to show that they are really compassionate rather than cold hearted. I looked forward to your response (I am so decidedly anti-Teachers Union...) as I do folks like miscricket, ahumbleman, captainseapig, dramamama, Chrissy, kayliesnana, JuneinMA etc.

What I wrote should be taken in a compimentary light.

Jan 16, 2008 | 3:22 PM

There shouldn't be any question about that. These teachers, who are human, and not perfect, have our children in their possession a majority of the day, why not? I personally believe EVERY employer should have the right to have their employees tested; After all, it's their money paying us. What if something were to happen while on the job, as did with the two firefighters, are the employers liable because they were on the job and impaired? I've been tested more than once, and without objection--I have nothing to hide!!! I've been coried, drug tested and had my driving record checked prior to employment--I honestly believe employers absolutely should--if for no other reason than to protect their ASSets!!!

jonsmom

Jan 16, 2008 | 3:41 PM

I didn't take it as an insult. I know I have a tendency to ramble sometimes. Especially when I'm irritated or frustrated. Just ask my kids. Anyway, I guess I don't have too much to say on the subject, that is until someone disagrees. I too have been drug tested and coried. Now if this were a post about cori's I'd have a lot to say. But for now I'll just sit back and wait.

Jan 16, 2008 | 3:55 PM

Absolutely, totally, 100% agreed, jonsmom!!!!! I feel the same way!!! And, I'm sure my kids would say the same about me, also!!!

Jan 16, 2008 | 3:58 PM

Let me take this a step further....there is a lot of talk about testing firfighters...and for good cause...but...

Teachers have the care of children in their hands 30 hours a week. Do impaired teachers afford more vulnerability than impaired firefighters?

JuneInMA

Jan 16, 2008 | 4:53 PM

If it were up to me, they'd be tested every morning before they step into the building to handle my child. I know that's extreme, but I just wanted to make a bold statement about this. It's nothing against them, it would be about the safety of my child.

So in all seriousness (the suggestion I made above is of course not reasonable), yes, they should definitely be tested. Like Kayleisnana said, they are human and not perfect.

FisherCat

Jan 16, 2008 | 4:58 PM

Not Only teachers should go through drug testing but also a NATION WIDE BACKGROUND CHECK FOR OTHER OFFENSES A TRIPLE III i believe they call it...for sexual predators backgrounds an other offenses....

Why do we have selected law enforcement for different classes of people?

Its stuns me all this talk about Steroids an Drug Testing in the News Boston Police an Fire Unions in Congress and in the NFL an other sports look at Marion Jones an the Olympics.....People we are talking about Illegal Drugs an if you had been pulled over in a traffic stop you would loose these rights listed below.......

*IMPORTANT FOR GUN OWNERS* besides food for thought in the discussions about drug testing an testing with positive results an firearms disqualifiers.....Reasons for disqualification
8/06
Clarification of Reasons for Denial of a
License To Carry Firearms or Firearms Identification Card
Like all laws, these are subject to change.
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
----------
Type of Conviction or Treatment License To Carry Firearms Firearms Identification Card
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
----------Felony conviction as an adult. */L.T.C.-Permanent ineligibility. */F.I.D.Ineligibility waived after five years.
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
----------1-Conviction under any law regulating the use, possession or sale of
controlled substances as

Jan 16, 2008 | 5:05 PM

Then I'll ask this follow-up question:

Why isn't Mayor Menino making a fuss about this, like he is the firefighters (don't get me wrong, I support mandatory testing of public safety personell, and argued for my community to do so to my firefighters when I was Chief of Department)?

Anyone want to bet he accepted PAC money from the Mass Teachers Assn in his election campaigns?

FoxFan67

Jan 16, 2008 | 9:31 PM

I'm going out on a limb here, as the one thing that scares me immensely is the fear of my children becoming involved with drugs. I have witnessed one to many friends get lost in the drug world. And will do all I can to keep my kids from traveling down that road. Therefor I believe that teachers should be tested. And CORI checks as well are a must. I feel it should be the same for Coaches as well.
I haver to say in all honestly I feel more strongly on that than the said testing of Firefighters.

Jan 16, 2008 | 10:34 PM

You are so right, Chrissy. Anyone who works, even remotely, with children, should definitely be tested and coried. Firefighters--well, it's only smart--it's for their own safety and the safety of their "brothers & sisters". I, too, know first hand the effects of drugs and alcohol. My family has been directly affected by both, and I can assure you that it is very heart-breaking, to say the least! It's such a shame that the firefighters are taking this as a black mark against them.

Jan 16, 2008 | 10:43 PM

Chip, not only am I not going to bet against you, but I'm also going to bring up the whole reason he really started on the firefighters: Media coverage. Get a whole bunch of media attention on some teacher getting busted for doing something illegal in the teachers lounge before teaching a class, and you can bet that money or not, people are REALLY going to scream, Mayor Menino included.

And, for the record, I am all for drug testing of teachers. And, not just for the illegal stuff. Some of the older anti-depressants and a good deal of prescription painkillers can really incapacitate a person to the point of being dangerous. (With those, if anyone's wondering, if they are found in someone's system, the levels should be checked against a dr's prescription. If they're significantly higher than prescribed, or not even prescribed to the person, then it should be just as punishable as the illegal drugs and alcohol.)

Jan 16, 2008 | 10:59 PM

well said, Xantun!!!

Jan 16, 2008 | 11:36 PM

I had to bring that up, Kayle...I know first hand what older anti-depressants can do. I've also known people who've been prescribed these medications who take them on a recreational basis, NOT how they're prescribed. (I actually knew someone who would only take their medication if they were going drinking, or smoking pot. Apparently, it increased the effects. Needless to say, I don't associate with folks like that any longer.)

Jan 17, 2008 | 8:41 AM

The reason Mayor Menino is "singling out" the BFD Local is because they do not cntribute to his campaign, becuase he has consistently used their "not striking" as a card to bargain in bad faith with them.

On the other hand, check out the list of his PAC contributors and check out how much the MTA's PAC gave him....

Jan 17, 2008 | 3:59 PM

Chip, I don't think it's a simple matter of JUST PAC money. Sure, the BFD Local doesn't contribute to Menino's campaign, but they've also got something else that the MTA doesn't have: Massive media coverage of the story of the two firefighters who died in the Roxbury fire, apparently while incapacitated. As annoyed as you and I get at the media, it seems they're key in getting things done. (For example, look at the new proposal to ban texting and hand held cell phones while driving. People have been trying to get a bill for this through to a vote for HOW long now?) I still think that if there were massive media coverage of an incapacitated teacher, coach, or bus driver harming kids, Mayor Menino would be under pressure to demand the same thing.

Jan 18, 2008 | 8:31 AM

Xantun, First--I am glad that you no longer associate with those folks any longer. Whether it's prescription or illegal drugs, they all have the same effect when used recreationally. Although I, personally, was never involved in drug use(my mother would have buried me alive), I do know their effects professionally, having worked in the medical field for a great many years. Our family has also been directly affected by someone who had some serious drug issues, and I can tell you it is so difficult on the ENTIRE family. It tears your heart out! Thankfully, she , too, no longer associates with those people, and is doing very well.