The first article deals with a piece of legislation that on the surface sounds as if it is covering a dangerous error of omission in the criteria for membership on a Board of Education.
The entry on Jerry's page reads
BILL TIGHTENING REQUIREMENTS FOR SERVING ON LOCAL BOARDS OF ED ADVANCES (TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green and Assemblymen Jack Conners and Herb Conaway, M.D., sponsored to tighten requirements for serving on boards of education was released Thursday 8-0-1 by the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee. “If we prohibit someone from teaching in a classroom because of past convictions, then they definitely should be prohibited from presiding over the education of an entire school district,” said Green (D-Union). “It’s a common sense change that is long overdue.”
This is the state criteria:
Disqualifying Offenses As required by New Jersey law, the State Department of Education will not issue a teaching certificate, in most cases, to anyone with a criminal history of certain disqualifying offenses. Similarly, New Jersey facilities, centers, schools and school systems under the supervision of the Department of Education are barred from employing such individuals in positions which involve regular contact with pupils under the age of 18. 1-A conviction or charges pending for any of the following crimes or offenses may preclude a student from participation in field experiences (Introductory, Preprofessional or Professional Internship) and placement in school districts/agencies.Any crime of the first or second degree; * 2-Any crime involving sexual offense or child molestation; 3-An offense involving the manufacture, transportation, sale, possession, distribution or habitual use of a drug(s) or any violation involving drug paraphernalia; 4-Any crime involving the use of force or the threat of force to or upon a person or property, including but not limited to robbery, aggravated assault, stalking, kidnapping, arson, manslaughter and murder; 5-Any crime of possessing a weapon; 6-A third degree crime of theft or related offense; 7-An offense of recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats, criminal restraint, luring or enticing a child into a motor vehicle or isolated structure; 8-An offense of causing or risking widespread injury or damage; 9-Any crime of criminal mischief, burglary, usury, threats or other improper influences, perjury and false swearing, resisting arrest, or escape; 10-Any conspiracy to commit or attempt to commit any of the crimes described above.
This would seem innocent enough it were not for the fact that in the 2006 race for the Board of Education a " Person destroying slime mailing" similar to the recent ones attacking Rebecca Williams appeared aimed at Rashid Abdul-Haqq. (copy and post address in URI) (http://plainfieldstuff.blogspot.com/2006/04/2006-bd-of-ed-election-piece-sliming.html)
I have known and admired Abdul- Haqq, the object of that infamous flier,for years as a active concerned Plainfield Citizen who has always been concerned with educating and keeping Plainfild's youth free of criminal activity. He has not hidden his past and has devoted his life to try to prevent others from making similar mistakes.He is a true Community Asset and it would be a tragedy if some ill conceived but well meaning legislation would force him off the BOE in these troubled times.
Unfortunately He has opposed a certain politician in the past. Could there be an ulterior motive in the proposed legislation?
I would certainly hope this bill gets close scrutiny to be sure that no unintended injustice occurs.
His name is Abdul-Haqq. A simple look-up on the Board's sight would have given you this information. I was once told that people who repeatedly misspell or mispronounce your name is an indication of their lack of concern for other people's feeling.
ReplyDeletePlease be more conscientious in this area as you have done it quite often.
This is NOT for posting just for you to correct the man's name and be more aware of the spelling of others.
You are 100% right an d the problem is that I did check the spelling several times because I did not want to misspell and then I typed my preconceived spelling. I am human although some doubt that, and am not infallible. I do rely on readers like you to point out my spelling errors or omissions.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymours, "Get a life and don't be so touchy." Secondly, Mr. Green is not to be trusted and I wouldn't put anything past him. In this country I thought peopel were allowed a second chance. Lord knows, that we give so many crooked politicians a slap on the hand when they should be locked up for years. Perhaps Mr. Green should keep this in mind for furture reference.
ReplyDelete