See You In Court! CABE Monthly Column
“See You In Court!” is written by Thomas Mooney and appears in the CABE Journal, a publication of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.
Social media has made it much easier to disseminate hurtful criticisms about teachers, principals, superintendents and even board of education members, and the good people of Nutmeg are no exception.
Local gadfly Ollie Obnoxious started the trouble during Public Comment at a meeting of the Nutmeg Board of Education last month. He spent his entire three minutes excoriating Tom Teacher and Mr. Principal.
“Tom Teacher is terrible,” he began. “His personality is abrasive, and the students I have talked to tell me that he is mean and lazy. I can attest to that from personal experience because my son was in his class, and Tom Teacher went the entire school year without returning a single piece of homework to his students.”
Mr. Chairperson cautioned Ollie not to be so negative, but Ollie simply went on.
“And don’t get me started about Mr. Principal. He is so stupid that it’s a wonder that he can find his way to school each day.”
Mr. Chairperson interrupted Ollie. “You are out of order! We do not allow personal attacks here. You are warned, Sir. Do not test me or you will never be permitted to speak during Public Comment again!”
“Never mind!” Ollie responded. “I am just about out of time, but don’t worry. I will be back next month to straighten you idiots out.”
“That’s it! No more Public Comment for you,” ruled Mr. Chairperson.
But that was not it. Ollie went on social media to attack Tom Teacher, Mr. Principal and, most of all, Mr. Chairperson. He repeated his claim that Tom Teacher had not returned homework all year. He didn’t spare Mr. Principal in his criticisms, but he saved his special ire for Mr. Chairperson.
“Mr. Chairperson is an embarrassment,” he started. “I don’t know how the Nutmeg Board of Education ever voted to make him Chair. But he thinks he’s God, and he tells everyone what to do. But I won’t put up with it, and neither should you. Mr. Chairman is a drunk who can’t hold a job. Please sign my Change.org petition, and with enough votes, we will be able to recall that S.O.B.”
Needless to say, Mr. Chairperson was mightily offended by Ollie’s comments. A teetotaler, Mr. Chairperson hasn’t had a drink in decades, and he has worked at the same accounting firm since graduating from college.
At the next Board meeting, Mr. Chairperson took action. He presented to the Board a motion to authorize Ms. Board Attorney to bring suit against Ollie for the defamation of Tom Teacher, Mr. Principal and himself. There was an awkward silence until Board member Mal Content spoke up. “I will second the motion, but only so that we can talk this through.”
During the ensuing discussion, it was clear that the other members had no appetite for Mr. Chairperson’s motion. “With all due respect,” Board member Red Cent asked, “Isn’t this your problem? How can we spend public money on your personal grudge?”
Does the Board have the authority to bring a claim against Ollie for defamation?
