Law makes no sense

We all enjoy reading about silly laws still on the books. For example, in Ohio:

* It is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday.

* It is illegal to get a fish drunk.

* When a terminated teacher appeals his termination, the board of education must pay for the referee to hear the appeal.

The first two examples are just silly, but the third is a travesty, especially in the case of Gerald Camp. The Wellington school board has been dealing with the foibles of the former teacher for 10 years.

The school board finally terminated Camp's employment at a special meeting April 29 on the grounds of gross inefficiency and immorality, violating the policies of the board, and good and just cause. The firing followed episode upon episode of misuse of funds, inappropriate conduct with students, and possessing lewd material in his desk on an his school computer.

The board has been patient with Camp, but finally had to fire him when it became clear the inappropriate behavior would not spot, even after court-ordered counseling. Now, because Camp is a union member, he is entitled to appeal the termination, following a procedure outlined in the same Ohio Revised Code that prohibits fishing for whales on Sunday.

The code provides that the state superintendent of public instruction appoint a referee from a list of three agreeable to the terminated employee and the school board. The school board then pays the referee's fee.

It seems to us if the Revised Code allows a state official to appoint the referee, the state should pay that referee. Or because the appeals process is granted by virtue of union status, perhaps the teachers' union should pay.

In a time when school districts are facing reductions in funding from the state and from local sources, making the Wellington district pay to keep people like Camp away from our children is ridiculous. It makes us want to get our fish drunk.