CAPE SCHOOLS DESERVED RIGHT TO FACE ACCUSER

It's important that our public school districts remain accountable to the people. But the same must be said about the people - we must remain accountable to our schools.

Last week, the Cape Girardeau Public Schools announced that it had been cleared of a charge that the district's gifted program discriminated against its elementary schools with larger numbers of minority students.

The investigation was prompted by an anonymous complaint.

When the government came to investigate, they didn't operate under the standard system of justice: The Cape Public Schools was not innocent until proven guilty. The government didn't carry the burden to prove the district's guilt. Instead, the district had to prove and document its innocence, and pay for that documentation. The district spent at least $5,000 worth of personnel time to defend the program over several months.

That's not the way American justice should work. If someone feels strongly enough to make a complaint, he should give his name - even if the name remains confidential to the investigating body. That will help guarantee that the accuser isn't making the complaint because he has some other ax to grind. The district deserves that protection, and so do the taxpayers. After all, it's our taxpayer dollars that are wasted on any frivolous investigations.

By design, the gifted program discriminates, but not racially. The program is selective in that not all students who want to participate can do so. Entrance criteria is based on academic ability, general mental ability, creativity, reasoning, problem solving ability and performance. There are more students who want in than spaces to fill.

That combination of circumstances might anger a parent whose child was not designated as "gifted." Hopefully, that's not what happened here. Unfortunately, we'll never know because the accuser had no personal stake in this investigation. He or she made the accusation and walked away. The person demanded accountability from the school district, and left not one shred of responsibility for himself or herself.

We understand that some people may not want to complain publicly - due to fear of reproach. On the other hand, it's not fair that an anonymous source can sic the heavy hand of government on a district or individual. We deserve more protection.

We should remain innocent until proven guilty, and be able to face our accusers. That's American justice. The Cape Public School District deserved no less.