The issue focused on whether teachers can be convicted of misconduct with students, whether it is criminal and whether they should be allowed to resign in circumstances like those at court-ordered hearings. It also asked for further data on the number of cases that have resulted in convictions or prosecution of the accused teachers and whether any charges have been filed in those cases.


The prosecutor, Helene Engelstein, argued that teacher misconduct cases in New York State "represent a significant threat to the educational environment in schools and the public