Many teachers' contracts are written to block Ohioans from learning about
misconduct, but such provisions often violate state law.
Some union contracts give teachers the right to create obstacles to public viewing of their personnel files, purge negative information and hide things in off-the-record files.All defy Ohio's public-records law.
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The contract for Clearview schools in Lorain County, for example, says that a teacher or union representative has the right to be present when a member of the public looks at his or her file.
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Several union contracts allow discipline records to be purged after a period of
time.
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Dayton's union president couldn't be reached, and the union doesn't allow its other officials to speak to news media.
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Some districts still keep some information in secret files despite the state law that took effect in March.
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Lieberman, the union expert, said some blame has to fall on school boards. They're the ones agreeing to the illegal secrecy and privacy clauses, as well as promises that the district won't discipline teachers for things that happen outside school or in their personal lives. (my emphasis)
See, it's all our school board's fault. The union put these things in the contracts just to point that out to us. We should thank them.
The time and reason for unions died long ago. We should especially fight their bad influence in education and all parts of government.
