Editorial: Educators who sexually abuse don't deserve paychecks

How would you feel if your tax dollars were being put in the pockets of Alabama educators convicted of sex abuse on students? They’re put behind bars, banished from the classrooms where they once stalked their prey — and being paid for it — with taxpayer money.

That’s the case with a Washington County teacher convicted of a sex crime involving a former student. The teacher, Charlene Schmitz, is serving her sentence in a federal prison, but is still drawing her salary.

This practice must end, and it’s time the men and women we send to Montgomery put a stop to it immediately.

The state’s teacher tenure act serves a purpose and remains very important. But the act should not apply to educators who choose to have sex with their students. After all, that’s not the kind of education parents and taxpayers are paying them for.

One legislator, Chad Fincher of Semmes, has pre-filed a bill that will end the practice.

Fincher is a Republican. That said, we urge Democratic members of the House and Senate to get behind their colleague and support his bill and not oppose it simply in the name of political partisanship. Such pride and partisanship often gets in the way of doing what’s best for the state and nation. When people put party first, they do nothing for the people they supposedly serve.

It shouldn’t matter what party Fincher claims. What matters is the bill is a no-brainer and any legislator who believes it’s OK to allow educators convicted of sexual abuse of a student to remain on the state’s payroll has no place serving in Montgomery. It’s hard to fathom that we would have leaders put their stamp of approval on such disgusting paychecks and wastes of taxpayer dollars.

Recently Republican leaders have called upon Democratic leaders to call on the bill as one of the first when the legislative session begins next January. Like in Washington, Democrats are the majority in Montgomery, and wield the power.

“Republicans have put forth this much-needed legislation, but as the minority, we don’t control which bills are considered in committee or on the floor of either House,” House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) said. “We must have Democrats on board to stop this repulsive abuse of taxpayer dollars.

“Today, we call on the Democrat leadership in both the House and Senate to publicly commit that they will make Rep. Fincher’s bill a priority next session and join Republicans in stopping the practice of continued pay for teachers convicted of sexually abusing students.”

Democrats and Republicans shouldn’t waste any time on this bill and vote its passage immediately, then get on to other state business.

If this bill gets shunned, as ethics reform often does, it’s time the taxpayers consider who and what they are voting for when election season rolls around.