To the editor:
It is with deep sadness that I write this letter regarding the recent dismissal by the Caribou School Department of Kirsten Albair, a tenured high school English teacher. My disappointment is for all parties involved in this painful and difficult process: Mrs. Albair, the six Caribou School Board members, Superintendent Frank McElwain, Principal Mark Jones, and the seven students who testified under oath, as well as another 20-plus students questioned by their principal at an earlier date, who were not asked to participate in the hearing itself, but had given their testimonies of improper comments previously. All of these students were asked to speak the truth as to several improper comments made by Mrs. Albair in the classroom, which included ethnic, religious, and issues related to sexuality. While these students were specifically discussing issues related to the academic year 2007-2008, her questionable comments have not been limited to that academic year alone.
Individuals offering their support of Kirsten Albair have published three letters to the editor in our local newspaper during the past two weeks. Yet these people were not present at the hearing to listen to the students, administrators, sequestered character witnesses for Mrs. Albair, and even Mrs. Albair herself. Many individuals have been talking about this subject in the community without having the facts.
Let me offer some facts, some of which were not even made known during the hearing itself. I lodged the initial complaint against Kristen Albair to Principal Mark Jones, Not my daughter.
My daughter was to be absent from school for two days and checked with Mrs. Albair prior to leaving on a school-related function. Mrs. Albair stated that no homework would be assigned during her absence, and for her to “Have a good time” while she was gone. No assignments were noted on the class syllabus either, and students would be watching a film during the two class periods of English that my daughter would be absent.
According to other students in her class, Mrs. Albair assigned “punishment homework” as a result of students talking during the film. I spoke to Principal Jones after Mrs. Albair had ordered that my daughter have detention for homework that was not completed on her first day back. She was completely unaware of any assignment, and as a result of her “late homework”, she would receive a grade of zero. This was not acceptable to me, and I shared my displeasure with the principal during our telephone conversation.
In addition, I offered him other concerns that I had previously withheld regarding comments made in Mrs. Albair’s classes during the academic year 2006-2007 when my son was a senior English student, and 2007-2008 when my daughter was a junior English student. This prompted the principal to ask if my daughter would be willing to share with him some of the things happening in her English class. I suggested that he would have to ask her personally about what I had discussed with him. My 17-year-old would have to decide for herself if she would talk with him about the specifics of Mrs. Albair’s classroom discussions.
The following morning she spoke with Mr. Jones during first period when he asked if she would discuss her observations of Mrs. Albair’s classroom discussions with him. This was the beginning of an investigation that was deemed appropriate and necessary by a concerned principal. Not taking the word of one student alone, he asked my daughter what period she had English so that he might refer to the class roster for other witnesses. When approximately 30 students offered consistent information regarding inappropriate comments made by Mrs. Albair, the principal took further action. What was he to do except take these students seriously?
The reason why my daughter would wait nearly six weeks to complain about comments made by her teacher is simply this … she never intended to even discuss the remarks made by Mrs. Albair with the school’s administrators in the first place. She had considered it “scholastic suicide” to do so, and the only reason that she did tell about what was happening in her sixth period English class was because she was asked, by her principal, simply to tell the truth … without fear of repercussions from an intimidating faculty member.
My daughter and six other students offered their testimonies at Mrs. Albair’s hearing to attorneys, a mediator, a Maine Teacher’s Association Union representative, Caribou School administrators, audience members including many Caribou educators, City Council members, Mrs. Albair herself, and a panel of six School Board members elected by the people of Caribou. Mrs. Albair offered her testimony as well, in her own defense, and had numerous sequestered character witnesses speak on her behalf. The hearing was opened to the public just one day prior to the proceedings; I believe as a means of intimidating the students who were testifying against their former teacher. But the fact is, that the students (not singular, for the record) stood strong in their testimonies, while Mrs. Albair’s testimony wavered repeatedly and rang false to many in attendance, including some of her own supporters. Mrs. Albair’s sequestered character witnesses were complimentary about her, but when a final decision had to be made, the Caribou School Board found that Mrs. Albair had committed numerous grave errors in judgment. Errors in judgment that crossed the line of what are acceptable and appropriate by the law within the state of Maine’s educational system.
No one “won” that night. No one set out to ruin a seasoned educator’s career and future. But the law is clear, the Caribou School Board upheld the law and Mrs. Albair was held accountable for her actions.
Caribou
To the editor:
I just finished reading the editorial comments in this week’s Aroostook Republican. I do not know Ms. Albair or anything that led up to her dismissal so will refrain from an opinion on that matter. I would like to comment on the attacks that are being directed to your local school board and administration.
Having served on a local school committee I am aware that many times there are circumstances that school committees are not free to discuss, unlike the local community that has the freedom of comment whenever and wherever they choose. It is extremely difficult for administrators and school boards to release a tenured teacher without just cause and I am almost certain this was not done without legal counsel.
The majority of school board members give up countless hours of their time for the benefit of the communities they serve with the welfare of children in mind. If Ms. Albair has been dealt with unjustly, she has recourse and should follow-up with that. In my perspective Caribou does care about kids and I’m sure that carries over to the school system and those elected officials that have the burden so endorse that philosophy.
Washburn
To the editor:
After reading the articles in the last few weeks of The Aroostook Republican regarding Kirsten Albair, I felt it was necessary to share our experience with this so-called wonderful teacher. In our opinion, it was about time that we have a principal, superintendent and school board members that have done the right thing.
My son was a student in her class and, after missing the first two weeks of his senior year because he was away at basic training, she told him that he would fail her class and that he should not even bother trying. We then spoke to the principal and vice principal and nothing was done. Amazingly, after going to the superintendent, his grade went from failing to passing. We were told it was a miscalculation!
Not only this, but probably the most disturbing incident, was sitting in front of this teacher and having her call our son a “Tech Head” because he was taking vocational classes and was not a high honor student who dotted all his I’s and crossed all his T’s. In her eyes, he could never meet her expectations in the classroom. This was all said with my son sitting right beside me.
Well, as proud parents of this “tech head” who honorably served our country for one year in Iraq, I applauded the principal, superintendent and the school board. I fully supported this administration, which unlike others in the past will stand up for the rights of our children. Until you have experienced a teacher degrade your child, before you disagree with the actions taken on this matter, consider all of the issues that have gone unheard. The words Kirsten Albair spoke to my son are unacceptable, and with the recent events, I have no doubt this woman does not belong in the classroom.
Caribou
To the editor:
The termination of any professional is always saddening, and in the case of a Caribou educator, there is no exception. As a community member with no teaching ties or an established friendship with this individual, I have a different spin than some who have written to the editor or spoke on the radio.
I have chosen to support the members of the school board, the superintendent, and principal in this most difficult decision. I believe that professional biases and friendships may have encouraged a “witch hunt,” but not on the teacher, rather the students who were asked under oath to speak the truth, and the administrators and the school board members who had to make the difficult but unanimous decision to terminate a teacher.
I believe the vast majority of our young adults are well intentioned, and are simply looking to obtain an education. I find it very difficult to believe that the seven students in this case had any alternative motives. For individuals who want to discredit the students’ testimony, I ask them to consider that unless they were personal witnesses to all the events in the daily classroom, they should not be so eager to disbelieve. In addition, our school board members are elected individuals whom the community respects and voted on to represent the good of the students. These individuals are not “puppets” of the superintendent or principal. Finally, the superintendent and principal are well educated individuals who have not made a habit during their administration of firing teachers.
No professional is above reproach and may make mistakes and use poor judgment. If these actions result in detriment to our sons and daughters, than these individuals need to be removed from their position. Fortunately, the days of “throwing a book at a student and everyone getting a laugh,” as one writer quoted, is over and our students deserve better. I fear that the real danger in this situation is that future students may not come forward when asked for fear of retaliation by other teachers and the community. This is not the kind of climate we want to foster in our community … no one is perfect and if a teacher, doctor, lawyer, or any other professional, after a trial by their peers is found do have done wrong, the verdict must be respected.
Caribou
