Washington Supreme Court says privacy trumps identifying teacher in cases of unsubstantiated sexual misconduct | Seattle Times Newspaper

This case is one people will be one on which many people will have strong opinions. However, it should be noted by students that this is a very interesting example of the clash between the goals of protecting individual rights (in this case the teachers) from society's need to promote the general welfare (identifying and punishing sex offenders).

As a teacher, this makes me breathe a little easier. We teachers all live with a fear that someday a false accusation could end our teaching career - an occupational hazard of the modern day. I think it is a good and reasonable decision. To reverse this decision would raise havoc in our schools - students would know they could ruin a teacher by simply lying about his or her behavior.

I understand the argument on the other side, and I'm sure if I or a love one had been abused, I would want no stone unturned in prosecuting the criminal. However, I think if people looked objectively at the potential consequences they would understand why a majority of our State Supreme Court ruled in favor of protecting the identities of the accused.

Washington Supreme Court says privacy trumps identifying teacher in cases of unsubstantiated sexual misconduct Seattle Times Newspaper