This is a universal story. Any time a teacher proves the other teachers wrong, proves it was the teachers that failed not the students that were disposable, the other teachers gang up to remove them from their school and the entire district if possible. They would have found anything to get rid of Miss Rusty, the book was just the first trumped up reason to get rid of her. If there was justice Miss Rusty would be the head master of the school, and the weasel head master should be fired. With a system run by dysfunctional teachers, for dysfunctional teachers the result is dysfunction. Teachers forget who their customers are, the STUDENTS!! Without them, no Job. Would any sane individual treat their customers as the teachers do? Schools are not the teachers personal fiefdom, with the students as the convenient pawns to be judged and on a whim cast aside. By Miss Rusty success she brings focus to the real problem in the schools, and it is the other teacher's own failings not the students. Imagine a school system where her passion for learning was the norm, rather than an exceptional. Thanks for another great radio program TSWI!!

I echo Paul Stevenson's comments. I have listened to TSWI for years. I would count the days to the weekend when I would listen on shortwave radio. This story brought tears to my eyes and of course, Jonathan does his usual outstanding job. Jonathan, you are the best interviewer I have ever heard, by the way. Thank you all for the producing the fine material you work so hard to every week.

truly a shame and miscariage of justice. if there is no factual basis for the charges of pediophilia in this case, was she able to get redress thru the courts, or is that notpossible in the UK??

assuming there is no legitinate basis for the accusations from administration hinting almost of pediophilia, at least inths country there would be redresss available in the court system. not so in the UK???

I too was fired while doing what I knew was an excellent job of teaching ESL at a local adult school. I wss told that they didn't have to give me a reason so I took it to the state board of education whose lawyer told me the same thing!! The worst part was that when I got another teaching job, I was told that they couldn't hire me because the principal who had fired me had added "She should not be allowed to teach in any city college in Chicago for the rest of her life." What a terrible person Ellen was!!!! (she was that principal)

I and my girlfriend listened to the whole story on NPR/WRLN on our way from Boynton Beach to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. It was an amazing story of dedication, humanity, professionalism, real caring and compassion. At the end it was just great the students recognized real and uncompromised value in their teacher. I bet anything that true friendship was formed among these people. But sad to notice that whenever these values are exposed and recognized, the system turns against it. This is pure evil. No wonder there were riots in England! They came to show how insensitive and corrupt the whole system really is. I am going to share this story with my friend who's also a teacher in London, and has her share of problems, both in class and with the system. Best of luck to all, God bless your lives and success in all you do.

I listened to this show on WMAU 88.5 (Washington, DC)this afternoon. I was shocked by the violent rection of the school against an unusually resourceful, motivated and successful teacher. Was the real reason for this perhaps that the principal and the colleagues were jealous of Miss Rusty and rather would have liked her to stick to "working within the rules" as they did themselves even if doing so had never shown any positive results. Professional jealousy can be a strong motivator towards all kinds of behavior.

I am also wondering how she can be listed as having had inappropriate contacts with pupils without being convicted in a proper court. She should be able to fight against that.