Daniels signs bill to protect teachers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Governor Mitch Daniels (R) devoted part of his State of the State address to a call for a new school discipline law after campaigning for it along with new school superintendent Tony Bennett. Monday, Attorney General Greg Zoeller, Bennett and the governor delivered.

"The bill we're about to sign, as best we can tell, is the strongest in America in empowering teachers to control their classrooms and really ending the threat of legal harassment," said Daniels.

The governor's signature is meant to protect teachers against unruly students and unreasonable parents in what the governor calls a unique approach to a common problem.

Shelbyville Superintendent David Adams said, "90 percent of the kids and 90 percent of the parents really do a good job, but this will give an opportunity to really work with that 10 percent that causes some issues. You know, it really doesn't take very many kids to ruin a classroom."

The goal is to eliminate legal challenges and create an environment where teachers can focus on instruction rather than the students who cause trouble.

Under the new law, teachers have legal immunity from lawsuits related to discipline.

"It essentially eliminates the ability to sue a teacher or school if they're acting in good faith," said Daniels.

And, in the event of a lawsuit, the attorney general will defend it.

The governor started the 2009 session looking for a balanced budget, Kernan-Shepard reforms to local government, and permanent property tax caps. They all failed. The school discipline bill was not at the top of his wish list. He admits, however, that it's his biggest accomplishment.