Are Montgomery schools looking for troublesome behavior by teachers?

By Editorial Board, Published: April 28

THE ARREST of a Montgomery County music teacher for allegedly possessing child pornography has prompted the question of whether warning signs went undetected or ignored. The criminal case against the teacher is likely to provide some answers, but it’s important that Montgomery school officials conduct their own investigation to determine whether procedures were properly followed or if safeguards need to be tightened.

Lawrence Joynes, a teacher at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School in Silver Spring, was arrested by Baltimore County authorities after a search of his Dundalk home allegedly resulted in the discovery of child pornography on his laptop computer. Since the Feb. 27 arrest, there has been concern among parents of New Hampshire Estates students that their children may have been victimized. There have been no charges to that effect but, The Post’s Donna St. George and Dan Morse reported last week, police said that some of what they described as inappropriate images confiscated from Mr. Joynes were taken inside the school. The attorney for Mr. Joynes did not return a call for comment.

Should alarm bells about the teacher’s behavior have prompted earlier action?

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/do-montgomery-schools-investigate-teachers-behavior/2013/04/28/7b69a9f0-aea7-11e2-8bf6-e70cb6ae066e_story.html