Lisa Savage Letter to Morning Sentinel on 2/29 appearing with several
others under the headline
"Teachers raise their voices against fingerprinting law."
Dear Editor
Governor Angus King and Commissioner of Education J. "Duke" Albanese say that
if one child could be saved from the trauma of sexual abuse by a teacher,
then fingerprinting and background checking of all Maine educators is
justified.
If one child could be saved from abuse by door-to-door police checks in
Augusta's neighborhoods, would state official support such measures? Where
do they draw the line between civil liberties and children's safety?
When I became a teacher, I would have freely chosen to be fingerprinted in
order to become certified. Now I am told to submit proof that I am innocent
of a crime I have never been charged with, or lose my job.
The Department of Human Services receives thousand of reports of child abuse
or neglect every year that go uninvestigated. why not focus our efforts on
responding to these cries for help. We owe it to our children, just as we
owe them our defense of the erosion of citizens' Constitutional rights at the
convenience of the state.
Where will we draw the line between violating civil rights and protecting
youngsters in Maine?
Lisa Savage
Skowhegan
Teacher, Messalonskee High School