As a rule, the education that teachers impart to their students is confined to the classroom. And so it is with a sense of irony and disappointment that we note that Howard County students have been exposed of late to lessons that depart from this norm.
Last month, an Atholton High School wrestling coach reportedly pulled down the sweat pants of a cheerleader in the presence of other students. Ron McMillan, a 38-year-old Columbia investment counselor who works part-time as a coach, was fired following the Jan. 19 incident. It occurred in a practice room at Atholton as some 30 male and female students looked on. The incident was described as embarrassing for the cheerleader, who did not have on her uniform, only underwear, beneath her sweat clothes. For the coach, it appeared to be mostly some locker-room humor that got out of hand.
Mr. McMillan's dismissal was justified and swift. At any time, but especially since the school system has issued strict prohibitions against sexual or racial harassment, Mr. McMillan's behavior would be inexcusable. To his credit, he publicly acknowledged his mistake and assumed full responsibility.
"You make adult mistakes, you pay adult prices," he aptly told his students.
Earlier this school year, a Howard High School teacher reported to police she had been stabbed by intruders who entered the school early one morning and attempted to rob her. Her wounds turned out to be self-inflicted, although the public was not told the truth for months. The teacher ultimately resigned and the community moved to pick up the pieces of its crumpled reputation.
We would like to think that, once the dust clears, not all the lessons from these incidents will be bad. We hope that young people realize there is a price to pay for inappropriate conduct regardless of age or status.
Unfortunately, an inescapable byproduct of these incidents is that they diminish the public's respect for teachers, most of whom are immensely dedicated and responsible professionals. Hundreds of Howard County educators should not have to pay a price for an errant few. It would be nice if all our supposed heroes and authority figures lived up to our expectations. Alas, they don't. That is perhaps the hardest lesson of all.