EXPERIENCE NOT NEEDED

This teacher is not the only one working for the archdiocese who is concerned about repercussions from the Powell case. In spite of the archdiocese's sponsorship of a January 28 Catholic schools appreciation banquet, at which Stafford lauded experienced instructors for their devotion, a number of older teachers say that they are afraid they will be the next to go if budget shortfalls occur. And at least one veteran instructor has asked her principal to write a letter of recommendation for her now in order to counterbalance any documents the archdiocese might use against her in any future action.

According to Powell, stories like these are keeping him punching. "Not many teachers have taken the archdiocese to task," he says. "And it's really out of character for me to fight the archbishop. But I guess that's what I'm doing.