Wausau School District. MWC file photo.
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – I know Wausau East band director Rob Perkins. He plays the organ at church.
His name was in the news last week because of a complaint filed against him by a student and their family. The student’s father posted on social media that his son was “targeted by his teacher all year, who uses racist and anti-gay slurs openly and repeatedly in the classroom.” The nature of the complaint isn’t known. The only reason it became public was because of public comments at a Wausau School Board committee meeting. Former school board member Mary Thao, who apparently has had some contact with the family behind the complaint, called for punishment: “I believe anyone that creates an environment that’s hostile to anyone, environment that creates chaos, environment that is insulting, threatening and dehumanizing to any of our students should be held to the highest consequences.”
That someone could make such a statement without even hearing from the accused is breathtaking. It’s punishment first, the facts can come later.
And that’s what’s happened to Mr. Perkins. He was forced from his classroom for three weeks, and, now that the investigation is complete he’s allowed to resume teaching.
It’s hard to comment on a situation where so much information is missing. The school board won’t talk about the case further, except to say they are working with a consultant to improve the learning environment.
What is outrageous here is that a respected member of the community had their name publicly dragged through the mud, only to be cleared.
How does Mr. Perkins get his good name back?
Chris Conley
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