Teacher who spoke out on sex abuse loses job

A teacher at a Rutland alternative school for juvenile sex offenders was removed from his job in September, just weeks after testifying to a legislative committee about the likelihood that offenders will commit new crimes.

Chuck Laramie taught English and history to teenage males at a residential school called the Park Street Program for 16 years. Laramie was placed on leave September 19^th , two days after the program got a letter from its funding source, the Burlington-based Howard Center, saying he should be dismissed.

Some Vermont lawmakers are expressing concern that the treatment of Laramie will place a chilling effect on the willingness of others to testify to legislative committees.

A Howard Center official says that Laramie's positions were "very much interfering" with the mission of the Park Street Program.