McLaughlin v. Machias School Committee

• Decision Date: 28 April 1978
• Citation: 385 A.2d 53
• Parties: David G. McLAUGHLIN v. MACHIAS SCHOOL COMMITTEE et al.
• Court: Maine Supreme Court

Page 53

385 A.2d 53

David G. McLAUGHLIN v. MACHIAS SCHOOL COMMITTEE et al.

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.

April 28, 1978.

Sunenblick, Fontaine & Reben by Donald F. Fontaine, Portland (orally), for plaintiff.

Drummond, Woodsum, Plimpton & MacMahon by Harry R. Pringle, Portland (orally), for defendants.

Before McKUSICK, C. J., and POMEROY, WERNICK, ARCHIBALD and GODFREY, JJ.

WERNICK, Justice.

On November 26, 1974, the Machias School Committee, after finding that plaintiff David G. McLaughlin was unfit to teach and that his services were unprofitable to the Machias Schools, issued a certificate of dismissal against him, pursuant to 20 M.R.S.A. § 473(4). In accordance with Rule 80B M.R.Civ.P., plaintiff, in December 1974, sought judicial review of the School Committee's decision by filing a complaint in the Superior Court (Washington County) against the Committee as defendant. ¹ Plaintiff claimed the Committee had unlawfully terminated plaintiff's employment as a teacher and coach at the Machias Memorial High School. In the course of these proceedings, after various affidavits had been filed, plaintiff moved for summary judgment in his favor. Evaluating plaintiff's motion, the presiding Justice concluded that defendant, not plaintiff, was entitled to summary judgment and, pursuant to Rule 56(c) M.R.Civ.P., the Justice ordered entry of judgment for defendant. Plaintiff has appealed from said judgment, as entered.

We deny plaintiff's appeal. ²

From 1970 to 1974 plaintiff taught physical education and coached several team sports at the Machias Memorial High School. By 1974 plaintiff had compiled an outstanding personal record at the school and had become a tenured teacher.

On October 16, 1974, plaintiff participated in a "pick-up" basketball game at the Machias High School with a number of students. Adverse weather conditions had caused cancellation of a late afternoon soccer practice, and plaintiff had organized the basketball game for the group on a voluntary basis. During the game, while plaintiff was in the act of shooting for a basket, a student pushed plaintiff from behind. Plaintiff immediately turned around and with a single blow of an open hand struck the student on his right cheek bone. The blow caused closure of the student's mouth and, in consequence, the student lost one of his teeth and suffered serious damage to another tooth. He also sustained a bloody nose and a black eye. After the incident, which lasted only a few seconds, plaintiff administered first aid to the student and drove him home.

At the hearing before the School Committee, plaintiff admitted that he had intended to cuff the student lightly on the top of the head but denied that he had intended to cause any damage. The student testified that the teacher struck him on purpose and in anger. The Superintendent of Schools expressed his opinion that plaintiff would not be able to perform in the school as effectively as before the incident. He explained that a coach or physical education teacher must teach by example as well as by discussion.

In its certificate of dismissal, the School Committee stated:

"Having held . . . (a) hearing and after due deliberation, the undersigned, constituting the Machias School Committee do find that the said Mr. David McLaughlin did on October 16, 1974 in the high school gymnasium strike a student, Chris Gaudette, without justification and with such force that the said Chris Gaudette sustained serious physical injury, to wit: loss of one tooth and serious physical damage to another tooth.

"The Undersigned, constituting the Machias School Committee, further conclude that the charge preferred by the Superintendent is true; that Mr. David McLaughlin's action in striking the said Chris Gaudette renders the said David McLaughlin unfit to teach and his services, by reason of said action, are deemed unprofitable to the Machias Schools; and, therefore, pursuant to Title 20, Me.Rev.Stat.Ann. § 473.4, and based on each and both of said statutory grounds, for the reasons stated herein, Mr. David McLaughlin is hereby dismissed."

1.

Plaintiff contends that the evidence in the record is insufficient to support the Committee's finding that, within the meaning of 20 M.R.S.A. 7 473(4), plaintiff is "unfit to teach" and his "services" have become " unprofitable" to the school. ³

Section 473 provides:

"Superintending school committees and school directors shall perform the following duties:

"4. Teachers dismissed. After investigation, due notice of hearing, and hearing thereon, they shall dismiss any teacher, although having the requisite certificate, who proves unfit to teach or whose services they deem unprofitable to the school; and give to said teacher a certificate of dismissal and of the reasons therefor, a copy of which they shall retain. . . ."

In Wright v. Superintending School Committee, City of Portland, Me., 331 A.2d 640, 647 (1975) we decided that the "single, isolated instance of 'grave lack of judgment' . . ." there involved could not in the particular circumstances presented "constitute 'unfitness to teach' within the intendment of 20 M.R.S.A. § 473(4)." In footnote 3 of the opinion we took the precaution to emphasize that

"(w)e do not mean to say that a single incident can never constitute 'unfitness to teach.' The facts of each case must be evaluated in terms of whether the character and degree of the act have so impaired the services of the teacher in properly instructing his students that he may be said to be incapable of or unsuited to teaching."

Here, in contrast to the situation in Wright, supra, the misconduct of the teacher pertains directly to his teaching position and performance. Cf. Fernald v. City of Ellsworth Superintending School Committee, Me., 342 A.2d 704, 708 (1975). The example set by a coach or physical education teacher is critical to his "overall impact" on impressionable young athletes, particularly at a time when the malady of violence jeopardizes the...