The season finale of the police and legal drama Law & Order deals with teachers who have had their careers harmed by “nuisance complaints” from students.
One of the teachers included in the episode “Rubber Room” shares something in common with suspended Mount Vernon Middle School teacher John Freshwater—he was accused of branding a cross onto a student with a Tesla coil.
During the course of the episode, the police interview several teachers who might be able to provide a lead on a suspect. All of the teachers tell stories about being wronged by the system. The first teacher the police talk with is science teacher Ron Kozlowski:
Teacher: “It’s absurd, I didn’t brand anybody. You know what a Tesla coil is?”
Investigator: “Yes. [pointing] That.”
Teacher: “Correct. I assume you know what it does?”
Investigator: “It generates an electrical current.”
(A teacher on Law & Order, “Rubber Room,” describes using the Tesla coil on students.)
Teacher: “Good job. Last year, as I’ve done hundreds of times before, I did a little demonstration by passing the current over the arms of my students, left a little redness on the skin. Next thing I know there is a complaint filed that I ‘branded crosses.’ I was suspended pending an arbitration.”
Investigator: “One of your students wrote about you on his blog. He said you were a church freak.”
Teacher: “I’m a religious person, I don’t make any bones about that.”
Investigator: “We’re trying to identify the student who wrote this about you on his blog.”
Second investigator: “He probably gets A’s in English, drives a silver Honda.”
Teacher: “No. Doesn’t ring a bell.”
Investigator: “What about the student who filed the complaint, you have his name?”
Teacher: “There was more than one student. The Department of Education wouldn’t tell me their names. Sorry you had to drive all the way out here.”
Investigator: “Sorry you ended up out here.”
Teacher: “After four months of suspension I quit New York and took a job here. Half the salary, twice the commute, but at least I’m teaching.”
A person with the username "seabiscuit" on mvohio.net pointed out the connection between the Law & Order episode and the local controversy. "How about that!" seabiscuit wrote. "This situation has now been woven into a television show!"
2 comments:
I am just now watching the finale and my mouth hit the floor when they started talking about the burning of crosses into students' wrists. I knew right away what the reference was to.
Although I never had Mr. Freshwater as a teacher, I did attend the middle school and the high school for some time.
I have all the respect in the world for Mr. Freshwater because I know he is innocent, as do hundreds of other students, teachers, and supporters.
I don't know whether to be shocked and disgusted at the L&O crew for this or to be thankful for bringing continued acknowledgment to Mr. Freshwater's case.
Jennifer,
The show seems sympathetic toward the plight of teachers dealing with complaints. (At least for those teachers, like the science teacher, who deal with the problem in a civil manner.)
The New York Times and the New York Post both wrote articles about this episode focusing on how it shed light on the problems related to rubber rooms and overblown complaints.
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