Two years ago, Andrew Harris was terminated from his position as a seventh-grade science teacher for viewing and sharing inappropriate content on his computer. According to Wisconsin State Journal, some of Harris’ colleagues commented on how he would show inappropriate images during team meetings, at least once displaying pornographic pictures as students passed near an open door. However, just recently, an arbitrator ruled in favor of Harris, granting him his job back with back pay and benefits of about $200,000.
What is really sad about this is that the Middleton-Cross Plains School District has already spent an incredible amount of time and money fighting Harris and the Middleton Education Association—the district teachers union that represented him. Over $300,000 has been spent on a case that is more common sense than anything else. Nobody should keep their job if they are looking at pornography on their work computer. Plain and simple.
There are so many negative consequences that come with this decision. First, this behavior in itself taints the image of teachers. One man’s misstep has implications far beyond his own reputation. Teachers in general now have to deal with the perverse implication Harris has forced upon them. He has truly embarrassed teachers everywhere.
Secondly, hysterical parents are going to run rampant. Parents are already expressing their disapproval to Huffington Post reporters. How is the school going to deal with parents who refuse to let their kids take classes with Harris? Or maybe they take their kids out of school altogether and turn to private schools. With the budget shortfalls public schools are facing, the last thing they need is parents taking their children out of the classroom. The faith in Wisconsin’s public school system has been shaken thanks to the actions of one man.
Lastly, how will the kids respond to the ruling? When Harris returns to work there is bound to be some resentment and tension between him and his students. As a former seventh-grader myself, I would absolutely feel weird going to a class taught by someone who was previously fired for looking at pornographic images. I am sure I am not the only one who would be creeped out by that and I believe it could affect the students’ learning.
But I suppose the most important question is, who seriously knows of any person who kept their job after being caught viewing inappropriate images at work on their work computer with other people nearby? Anybody who thinks this behavior is okay is severely misguided. Not only is it unprofessional, but also morally impermissible and perverted. I don’t really care if you want to look at those images in the privacy of your own home, but to even think to open that up around seventh-grade kids is sickening. The fact that any person, whether he or she is a teacher or CEO, could keep their job after that is ludicrous.
I would like to point out here that Superintendent Donald Johnson is in fact against the arbitrator’s ruling. He expressed his disappointment in the ruling by commenting how it sends a message to employees that this type of behavior is tolerable. Thankfully there is still somebody in charge who has a somewhat decent moral compass and some kind of common sense. I commend Johnson for his efforts and hopes that he continues to fight for Wisconsin kids.
Even some teachers have expressed their disappointment in the ruling. The Huffington Post reported that Bob Weitzel, a counselor at Glacier Creek Middle School, plans to set up a website where teachers can sign a petition protesting the ruling. The website will be called Middleton Teachers for Integrity and will give teachers a chance to stand up for what is right.
The bottom line here is that you have to ask yourself one simple question: would you let your child attend a class with a person like Andrew Harris? My response is a resounding “no” and I am glad that the Middleton-Cross Plains School District agrees.
Nick is a junior majoring in marketing. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
