New laws to support teachers

BATON ROUGE – Governor Jindal announced Monday that two new laws will address classroom discipline problems, which he stated was a top complaint of teachers. According to recent surveys, Louisiana is the second worst in the nation in public discipline problems. “We need a zero tolerance policy for disruptions in the classroom,” he said.
The governor spoke directly to our state’s educators at the second annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium and Celebration. The day’s activities included workshops, speeches and honors for the state’s top public schoolteachers and principals.
Governor Jindal cited figures that show one in five teachers leaves the classroom after five years and that student discipline problems are the top complaint. He even told of a case in which a student’s parents directed their anger toward her when she tried to discipline their child. “There is something wrong with that,” Jindal said.
A new law approved during the 2008 regular session has been designed to strengthen Louisiana’s teacher bill of rights law. This measure supports teacher protection against frivolous lawsuits and requires experienced mentors for new teachers, as well as tougher penalties for students who are habitually absent or tardy.
Under these new laws, principals will be required to meet with students’ parents after their third unexcused absence in one semester. Parents could also face fines up to $50 and 25 hours of community service if their child accumulates five unexcused absences or five cases of unexcused tardiness per semester.
These rules will apply to students from kindergarten through eighth grade.