August 08, 1999
Fired Teacher Settles Case With O.C. District
By Karen Alexander
August 08, 1999
Former Capistrano Valley High School teacher Paul Pflueger, who was fighting his dismissal for controversial teaching methods, has agreed to take early retirement because he said he could not afford to continue his legal battle against the school district.
Pflueger, 55, was fired by the Capistrano Unified school board in February on the grounds of unsatisfactory performance and has been on administrative leave while his appeal was pending.
Although there were frequent complaints about his unorthodox teaching methods and sometimes abrasive approach, Pflueger’s case drew testimonials and letters of support from hundreds of current and former students and parents.
He had vowed to fight the dismissal. But the 18-year history teacher entered a settlement with the school district on July 30 after he learned that the teachers union wanted him to begin paying a portion of his legal bills. The union had been covering most of Pflueger’s expenses until that time.
“I would like this thing to have gone a long way so we could prove to the parents and students who have supported me that they can’t get rid of a teacher just because [of] a few unorthodox methods,” Pflueger said.
A hearing before an administrative law judge was scheduled to begin at the end of this month and could have lasted several months, Pflueger said.
The state’s largest teachers union, the California Teachers Assn., has spent $46,000 on Pflueger’s case, according to Chris Kirkland, executive director of the union’s local affiliate, the Capistrano Unified Education Assn.
School board members voted 6 to 1 to remove Pflueger after an emotional meeting attended by about 300 people. Scores of parents and students spoke in his defense. Capistrano Valley High School administrators had leveled 42 charges against the teacher, claiming he taught inconsistently, used offensive language, graded arbitrarily and failed to comply with suggested improvements.
Pflueger’s defenders portrayed him as a caring and dedicated teacher who inspired students and challenged them to think for themselves. His rough manner was a valuable part of his teaching approach, some argued.
Under the terms of the settlement, Pflueger will remain on administrative leave until next June. He will be entitled to the same medical benefits as any retiree, according to the school district’s lawyer, David Larsen.
Pflueger said the district offered him another teaching position in its continuation home school programs, which he rejected.
After Pflueger was dismissed, he rented a room at his own expense and offered students a free lesson to help them prepare for their advanced placement exam in U.S. history, his former subject.
Save/Share:
No comments:
Post a Comment