Ah, America! Where we have our God-given rights protected!  Where our Constitution guarantees us free speech and where we’re innocent until proven guilty.  Where we have a system in place to give us a right to defend ourselves.

So then, I’m questioning why my teachers’ contract needs to have another layer of due process? “Our society gives those accused of criminal acts the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.” -Lois Weiner in The Future of Our Schools 

She goes on to say, ” “Due process” requires only that a teacher accused of wrongdoing has the right to a fair, impartial hearing, based on evidence.”

I’m frightened, actually, that maybe my teacher contract actually precludes me from accessing a right to trial in a court. . .demanding instead that I follow arbitration procedures specifically negotiated by the teachers’ union.

Can anyone clear this up for me?