In most places, personnel policies are private and confidential. And with most jobs, any inappropriate behavior, whether it's sexual harassment to raiding the office treasure chest will land you a seat on the curb. In Florida, inappropriate behavior lands you a slap on the wrist and, more notably, a spot in the state's new database of teacher misconduct records, www.myfloridateacher.com.

Following suit with its famous Sunshine Laws, the State Board of Education unanimously passed a motion to make teachers' misconduct records publicly accessible. Anyone can now search for information on teachers found guilty of misconduct and the disposition incurred.

Board Chairman, T. Willard Fair touted the move as an effort to shine a light on teacher quality. "It sends a message that we're serious about making sure we have the best people in the classroom."

But if the state has any doubts about a teacher, shouldn't the response be to terminate him--as opposed to a public lynching? It is unclear if the state's move can be explained by districts' own reluctance to act or because district actions are limited because of restrictive union contracts. Either way, the state could always legislate that any teacher convicted of criminal activity cannot teach in public school.

It's hard to say whether the database reflects worse on the teachers in the database or on the state.