One of the side controversies that arose out of the King Middle School birth control flap was that while the school was handing out birth control to children without parental consent, they were not filing mandatory reports that are required when children are suspected of being involved in sexual activity, in express violation of Maine law.
Now the Attorney General's office has given the school a pass, issuing a 19-page report saying school officials have the discretion to not file these supposedly mandatory reports. What's going on here? Ray wants to know where the mainstream media is on this story.
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19 comments:
Ray,
Tell us where we can find the 19 page report online, so we can make our own evaluation instead of hearing your" Probablies" as to the why's etc.
Listening to what you said, it sounds to me like he wants the competent front line personnel ie school nurses, to handle it
Bruce,
I am beginning to worry about your sanity.
Now you are defending the Attorney General's Office advocating that "reporters" meaning those required by law to report such issues can now use their own judgement to decide whether a child's health and well-being is affected?
Since when did we give the "school nurse" as you put it such legal authority?
Come on man, even you can't be so liberal that you think that a child being sexually abused is okay?
Its okay to be open-minded on things but if you are so open-minded your brains fall out, what have you gained?
The law says file the report and let the legal authorities determine if action should be taken.
I'm sorry but just because the AG's wife is at the center of the controversy does not give him the right to potentially destroy a child's life to cover his political backside.
I thought liberal "cared about the children?"
What happened?
You are obfuscating again.
All laws are open are subject to interpretation.
That is why we have courts etc instead of letting the police decide if some actually is guilty of something.
Since you did not tell me where I can go to read the report, I assume you don't want any one else looking at it.
Bottom line, the AG has made a determination you are not happy with, so be it. too bad. You are accusing the AG of something without any more fact than your feelings on the issue.
How do you feel about judges being allowed to decide if someone under 16 can marry? That is a law too.
Saying things like "even you can't be so liberal that you think that a child being sexually abused is ok" is typical of the right and particularly people who make their living off ranting on talk shows.
Obviously the AG interp of the law is that it allows the school nurse to decide weather to file the report
Call you buddy Michael Heath and take the AG to court.
Are you going to let me know where I can read the report.
PS, saw your buddy Saviello at a meeting this morning to listen to the tax reform plans from a couple of our legislators
Ray
This from the PPH
You better jump on this one.
Your buddy Michael Heath is at it again wasting our states time and money on something the "majority" has previosly voted on.
"AUGUSTA - A day after California's Supreme Court ruled that gay couples in that state can marry, an initiative to repeal Maine's gay rights law and reaffirm its law against gay marriages is moving forward.
Maine election officials say they expect to give the Christian Civic League of Maine the go-ahead next week to start a petition drive aimed at sending the proposal to the Legislature - and then probably to voters - no sooner than November 2009.
The civic league's proposal would repeal Maine's law protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination. It would reaffirm Maine's prohibition of same-sex marriage. It also would bar clerks from issuing marriage licenses to persons of the same sex, and bar municipalities from licensing civil unions."
Bruce,
So if the liberal Steven Rowe makes this determination, but other, more common sense minded District Attorneys disagree with his conclusion, is it still ranting on the air?
It is not up to the Attorney General to interpet the law. I thought you were some sort of educator in a previous profession. Shouldn't you have a basic understanding of how the process works?
The Courts interpet whether a law is Constitutional and its application.
The Attorney General is the top law "enforcement" position in Maine, not the top "judicial" position in Maine.
Call the AG's office and ask for a copy.
My statement is accurate. The report essentially says, "If the reporter (meaning one currently required under law to report) determines in their professional judgement that the sexual activity is not compromising the health or well-being of a child, not report is necessary."
I know this is hard, but think about this for a moment, without emotion or liberal ideaology.
The point of filing a report is so that DHHS and the District Attorney can investigate the issue and make a determination that is the best interest of the child. They have the resources available to conduct such an investigation, to determine whether this is simply experimental young people who are engaging in activities that they are not equipped to handle or if in fact the child is being abused and taken advantage of.
School adminstrators do not have the resources to thoroughly determine these types of issues which is why the law is in place.
Are we now going to give the school administrators the appropriate resources to investigate such a situation?
Is that now the appropriate role of public education?
You are not even applying logic and neither did the AG's office. They applied a political philosophy that suited their outcome.
This report was outcome based, not fact based.
I have spoken to a number of professionals since I became aware of this report and they all expressed concern that this was placing an undue burden on the education system and were concerned about where the appropriate resources would come from to allow them to make such a determination.
This ruling is about Steve Rowe 2010 and nothing else.
Thank God we do not have to put up with his politicizing his position for much longer for personal gain.
Bruce,
You need to pay more attention. I am not supportive of Mike running another gay rights petition drive. He will fail and it will open the way for gay marriage, an idea I do not support.
Mike Heath is my friend. He is steadfast in his beliefs. I admire him for it.
I do not agree with everything he has done and do not agree here, but that statement could be applied to almost everyone I know.
By the way, if this is settled in your mind, why wasn't it settled when it was defeated the first two times?
Be consistent, I know that is difficult for liberals where you live in the culture of the moment, but please directly answer that question.
You need to pay attention. I never said it was settled. I said it was previosly voted on. Nothing is ever settled in a democracy. You should know that ps 101
I never said Heath and his followers do not have the right to ask for a referendum. i just said they are wasting our valuable tax dollars and time.
People hae the right to bring up issues as often as they want until they get the desired outcome, then the other side can start over. Just as the Flouride in water issue use to come up year after year until it was finally accepted.
I forgot, "you all" were not around Maine during those years.
And yes it is still ranting
Rowe is the top dog here the other da's are not carrying the same weight .
You know if you have 3 lawyers in a room you have 3 opinions
He did interpret it and make a report.
So take the report to court.
I forgot, you think they are a joke too. Yes you did say that.
You are the ps guy not I.
Expecting someone who has taught one subject area to know all subject areas is a little unreasonable don't you think?
Yes, we should give schools those resources.
Ray,
I have the report
Steven Rowe did not participate in the preperation for the report.
Dep AG Linda Pistner signed it.
The report was an answer to a question from DHHS Comm. Brenda Harvey.
As usual lawyers look to pror cases for guidance.
The dep ag found page 7 " no case addressing the interpretation of the mandatory reporting law or its application to underage sexual activities" ie 2 underage people engaging in sex
From my perspective, after reading it over, it is well reasoned. I know, you are not surprised.
If the school suspects that a minor is being abused or neglected they have to report it.
Reporting of Two 13 year olds having sex, while it is something none of us want to happen, is not mandated by the law.
Although if a 13 year old gets pregnant by another 13 year old , a judge can give them permission to marry, Go figure. As long as it is performed by a church, I suppose that is ok huh?
However you and your friends have the right to go to court if you like. Of course Heath is busy now, probably no time for this issue.
Have a great weekend
So what is your fascination with Heath? Mike is my friend, but I know a lot of people. Why are you bringing him up?
I think you are going to find that the AG's office has opened up a hornet's nest they are not prepared to deal with.
There conclusion is irresponsible because they do not address how the determination that the actions are not harming the child.
Over the next few weeks as this gets out into the public, I suspect you will see countless law enforcement experts being critical of this finding.
This was nothing more than a conclusion seeking a justification.
They pre-determined the outcome and then wrote a report to support it.
It will be interesting to see how this gets played out by those who must enforce the laws on the books.
Keep in mind, the AG's office is a political patronage job, not popularly elected and accountable or appointed by the Governor and accountable to him.
Being accountable to this Legislature is like blowing on a sail and expecting it to inflate. It means nothing.
I may be wrong, but I believe those in law enforcement, but not in the AG's office will speak out against this in the very near future.
We all know what disdain you have for our elected leaders and our judicial system too.
I hope this does stir up a hornet's nest.
I agree with you it is harmful to a child to engage in sexual activity at 13 or 14 etc.
But you are not going to solve the problem by legislating and arresting 13 year olds that are having sex with each other.
My fascination with Heath is just that I believe he is just like other leaders of the religious right who are intolerant of people who do not hold their beliefs and lifestyles. He is the one here in Maine that is stirring up things and putting himself on the front page. I am not surprised you admire him.
The conservatives want govt to be off their backs unless it comes to "moral" issues that involve who is sleeping with whom etc.
They want teachers to teach only and not take the role of social service, except when they would like to have them monitor a mandated school prayer.
Thank goodness that hasn't come back.
The good news is that the majority of Mainers do not agree with Heath
I never, ever suggested we should be arresting a 13 year old for having sex with another 13 year old unless it is rape.
Come on Bruce, that is the whole problem with you guys on the left, you cannot understand the issues.
The issue is simply this. Maine has a law that says when this action is suspected, a report must be filed with the proper authorities so they can investigate it and determine the well-being of the child involved.
If a 13 year old is being raped by another 13 year old, then yes, they should be arrested and the appropriate laws should be applied.
If it is two kids experimenting, then other actions can be taken such as informing the parents or guardians, counseling on the consequences of sexual activity at that age and so on.
The District Attorney has a number of resoources at their disposal to handle this in an appropriate manner, but if they do not become aware of it because some idiot believes it is okay, then those appropriate actions can not be taken.
I thought liberals were all about education, contraception, avoiding teenage pregnancy and so.
Truth is, I think most liberals do not see this as an issue.
If that is the case, then they should go through the appropriate steps and change Maine law. The AG's office, along with the current legislature and the Treasurers office believe they are un-accountable.
They think they are smarter than everyone else.
I think they are pathetic.
....... And the consequences of their actions have been felt in Maine for the last three plus decades.
You can say whatever you want about what I believe, but the "evidence" is everywhere.
If it was against the law to be incompetent, these people would be in jail for life.
Knowing my luck, they will find a little known statuette to throw me in jail for questioning their authority.
Free speech is not something these people have much respect for.
Ray,
While I was flipping channels. I happened to catch you making a very curious statement which would be upsetting I believe to your faithful, who believe you dislike unions because they are bad for America
After your usual Union jab, you said you liked the Police and firemen's union. Wow!!
Are you pandering here or what.
If not pandering, please tell us what makes their unions any more necessary than any other profession.
Please be specific.
From one of your
"elite majority"
Gotta like that phrase
Bruce,
I can be very specific about my support for the police union.
First, I have always said, been very consistent, about my respect for people's right to collectively bargain. While I would love to see unions disappear, I would want it to happen naturally, not through a legislative process.
I think unions had their place at one time, they were necessary in order to restore balance between workers and management.
That time has passed.
With this said, I have the utmost respect for our law enforcement officers. If these men and women, who are willing to lay their lives down to serve us want to collectively bargain, I am all for it.
To take it a step further, a few years back, the Westbrook Police Union went several years without a contract. I publicly stood with the union against the city and our Mayor (close personal friend and political ally) in support of their efforts to gain a contract.
From what I have witnessed, the police union supports its members publicly but will deal with issues that face the group internally and not simply attempt to whitewash the actions of a member.
Other unions that I have witnessed first hand sweep issues under the rug and defend even the most inane actions.
Just for the record in my world, police and fire unions good, most every other union bad.
MSEA-SEIU at the top of the bad list in Maine along with the MEA.
That is bizarre reasoning.
But as you said "In my world"
What color is the sky in your world Ray?
So Ray says the unions he likes are good, the ones he doesn't like are bad.
The argumnet that Unions once were good and no longer are needed is a very old argument.
Union influence has gone downhill since the "Great Communicator's" reign.
The MEA and the NEA are voices of reason that are constantly battling aginst the whiz bang ideas that are
being thrown at education, by the so called "professional educators" in Augusta or Washington ie no child left behind for one.
Their unions are just as valuable and honest as your policemen's unions. You just have a "thing" for people in uniform.
Maybe we should get teachers some uniforms and assign them ranks so you would like their unions too.
Actually, I have always thought school uniforms were a good idea.
Maybe you are on to something with that idea.
Hey, we agree.
I meant for the teachers though,
Actually I do think that uniforms would be a good idea for kids too. It will never fly though.
Even though it would be nice to remove the peer pressure from the kids that really can't afford the $100.00 Nikes
We agree again. Uniforms make it more difficult to tell the haves from the have nots.
It also ends the gang color game.
Twice in one day. I am checking my medicine.
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