Mike & Me
THE LAW OFFICE OF
MICHAEL N. McCALLUM
Michael N. McCallum has been practicing law for the past eleven years.
Prior to opening up his own office, he was a partner in the law firm of Maredyth & McCallum, LLP.
Mike's office is located next door to the San Juan Teachers Association, at 5820 Landis Avenue, Suite 3, in Carmichael.
Working with Mike, are Robin Thompson, an Education Law Paralegal for more than fifteen years, and Shirley King, our Legal Assistant.
The Law Office of Michael N. McCallum handles employment-related matters for members of the California Teachers Association and provides free half-hour consultations to CTA members regarding non-job matters. In addition, our practice includes family law, wills and trusts, and misdemeanor criminal representation.
If you have a legal matter you wish to discuss with Mr. McCallum, please contact SJTA to schedule an appointment.
Turn Off Your Computer
We all do it. In our busy days, it seems like wasted time to have to wait for the computer to find its brains so we can log on. It just seems quicker and easier to leave the computer on all the time so its ready when we need to use it. However, just because it's easier doesn't make it smart. In fact, leaving your computer on can lead to serious problems because anyone can use your computer without your knowledge when you're not there. And because it's logged on in your name, you will be the one who is blamed if someone visits an inappropriate website.
Over the years, we have had several cases involving teachers who have had allegations of inappropriate computer use made against them. Almost all school districts have internet filters and other programs which keep track of attempts to access inappropriate websites, especially pornographic sites. If such activity is discovered, it will usually result in the administration confiscating the teacher's computer so that a thorough review of the materials on the hard drive can be made. A teacher may have absolutely no idea how this inappropriate material came to be on his or her computer. Almost every time this occurs, it is because the teacher has not turned off the computer when away from the classroom.
Unless you are lucky enough to be able to prove you could not be the one using your computer at the time, you will end up being falsely accused. These accusations are serious and can have disastrous consequences for your career. You can potentially lose your job, your credential, and you may even face criminal charges. Because it may be months or even years before an allegation is made, it can be extraordinarily difficult to prove that it wasn't you who visited an inappropriate website. Not many people can remember what they were doing on a specific day and time months or years earlier. We believe it is smarter not to put yourself in this position. When you are going to be away from you classroom for any significant period of time, and certainly at the end of the day, log out and turn off your computer. You may waste a few minutes when you have to log back on again, but you will potentially save yourself a world of trouble.