Counselor: Dump Question 1 Complaint

By Julie Bolcer

MAINE ELECTION ILLO 1 X390 | ADVOCATE.COM

A guidance counselor in Maine wants a state office to toss a complaint made against him charging that he violated professional standards by appearing in a commercial to support Question 1, the ballot initiative that passed earlier this month and repealed the marriage equality law.

Donald Mendell could lose his license because of the complaint filed by another social worker October 19 with the state office of licensing and registration, according to the Kennebec Journal.

Ann Sullivan, who filed the complaint, “argues that Mendell, a Nokomis High School guidance counselor, ‘does not have the right as a licensed social worker to make public comments that can endanger or promote discrimination,” the Journal reported.

However, in a written response sent to the office on Friday, Mendell called the complaint “frivolous” and asked for it to be dismissed, citing the approval of Question 1 by 53% of voters earlier this month.

"I cannot be in violation of the ethical standards for social workers when I advocate in favor of the very public policy the state of Maine has on marriage, and has had since its first days in the Union," Mendell wrote, according to the Journal. "This board should have no part of this politically-motivated effort to misuse the code of ethics to demonize a fellow social worker holding a different view."

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Name: David
Date posted: 11/23/2009 6:55:59 PM
Hometown: VB

Comment:
Here's the email address of the school's principal, ashorey@msad48.org , let the school know how you feel about bigots counselling children.
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Name: Davya
Date posted: 11/23/2009 5:04:33 PM
Hometown: Wynnewood, PA

Comment:
It really all depends on what he said. According to the law, the state law as constrained by the federal law, simply stating one's support for a public policy is not legally punishable. However, the issue should not have been legal punishment (this is where Sullivan erred), but a simple school laying off. This of course depends on whether the school is public or private. If it is the latter, it has the full right (as usually is the case in state law) to dispose of its faculty based on discrimination of the students. However, this again depends on what was actually said. Did this individual make statements about the Gay community or did he simply state a legal opposition to gay marriage?
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Name: Shaun
Date posted: 11/23/2009 1:02:25 PM
Hometown: Peoria, IL

Comment:
Ah, y'know, I completely overlooked the part about him being a high-school guidance counselor. /facepalm In that case, I retract my previous statement. No GLBT student would be able to trust him; you're absolutely right. He should be let go for that simple fact. Or at the very least, be required to refer GLBT students who come to him to OTHER counselors, since he's clearly not qualified to deal with it.
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Name: ALAN
Date posted: 11/23/2009 12:14:44 PM
Hometown: DUNNELLON,FL

Comment:
The students at the school where he works should ask for his resignation, That would force the school district to rethink his employment there. If the students are asked why, all they have to do is say how can we trust somebody that hates people that are different, Nobody would go to him for fear that he might tell their parents or religious personnel thing that are suppose to be private. It would be hopefully just that simple.
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Name: Bob Smullen
Date posted: 11/23/2009 11:53:28 AM
Hometown: Hackensack

Comment:
In regard to free speech, what the American Constitution guarantees is that the government will not throw you in jail for exercising that right. It does not guarantee that you will not suffer consequences from friends, family or employers. I respect the right of Americans to speak out as they see fit, no matter how vulgar the content of their speech. But if I operate a bakery in Harlem, it would be detrimental to my business to keep a public spokesman for the Klu Klux Klan on my payroll. I would fire such an individual. The practical question for this school: Is this guidance counselor damaged goods in terms of being able to perform his job? I say that he is. How could any LGBT student trust this man?
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Name: AH
Date posted: 11/23/2009 11:28:10 AM
Hometown: Bloomington

Comment:
True, he does have the constitutional right to say that. But it is very stupid of him, especially in his profession, to speak publicly in favor of legalizing discrimination. Many schools have policies that condemn such behavior. Shame on this guidance counselor for being homophobic and thinking he has any right to force that on other people, especially when he is supposed to be a role model for young and impressionable youth.
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Name: Shaun
Date posted: 11/23/2009 11:06:04 AM
Hometown: Peoria, IL

Comment:
I'm going to have to agree with the accused in this case. I may not AGREE with his opinions, but I do believe he has the right to express them, even publicly, even in an advertising blitz that promoted a completely unethical and immoral Question. Without knowing any other facts, this does sound to me like a case of someone attempting to use a system for retribution, not for a legitimate cause.

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