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Friday, September 19, 2008
Wylie city councilman resigns teaching post over diploma dispute
Merrill Young received his "diploma" from Concordia College, a noted "diploma mill."
Merrill Young
WYLIE — The Wylie News is reporting that City Councilman Merrill Young, resigned his teaching post at McMillan Jr. High after the TEA revoked his teaching certificate.
Young read the following statement at last week's Wylie City Council meeting:
“The Wylie Independent School District has been informed by the Texas Education Agency that my teaching certificate will no longer be valid due to accreditation questions about the university that awarded my diploma. I began the school year in a non-teaching role, and I plan to continue working through a university that is recognized as accredited by the Texas Education Agency to re-establish my teaching credentials.”
According to the Wylie News, Young claimed to have graduated from Concordia College in 1972. The Wylie News reported that, "According to the Washington State attorney general, Young paid $100 to Concordia College and University for a bachelor of business administration degree in business."
Concordia College is a "diploma mill" offering degrees with no classwork or tests.
Young's name appeared in a list of diploma mill graduates published by the Spokane Spokesman-Review.
According to the Wylie News article, Young began teaching at WISD in 2003 with a probationary teaching certificate, He was certified as a P.E. teacher in 2004 and as a science teacher in 2005. While he has resigned his teaching position, Young remains employed by WISD as an instructional special education aide at Cooper Junior High School.
Texas law calls using a fraudulent degree to obtain a certificate fraud and classifies it as a class B misdemeanor.
Young is presently serving his 4th term on the Wylie City Council. He also serves on the board of the Wylie Economic Development Corporation.
According to the Wylie News, Young stated that he has no intention of stepping down from his council seat and that he is planning a run for a 5th term in 2009.
Several citizens are expected to speak at the next city council meeting to demand his resignation.
Pegasus News Content partner - The Collin County Observer
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Brad LaRock, verified:
They can only ask him to resign his position from Wylie city council if he does not own a gun rack.
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Christin Richard, verified:
Would an accredited college diploma have made him any more qualified or competent in his field? Or would it have made him look any less like Ronald Reagan?
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Bill Baumbach, verified:
Actually, Mr. Young is a soft spoken moderate conservative businessman. I believe his desire to teach comes from a genuine love of children.
His voice on the council has been one of reason and compassion. His downfall brings me no joy.
Whatever my opinion of Merrill Young, no school district can tolerate a teacher with fake credentials. I believe the school district has no choice but to fire him. Any less is unacceptable in that it makes for bad precedent and leaves the students with a double standard on honesty.
In the same vein, I can't see how he can remain on the Wylie City Council.
Bill The Collin County Observer
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Scott Doyle, verified:
Or would it have made him look any less like Ronald Reagan?
I thought the same thing. Which begs the question, has he ever demanded a wall be torn down? If so, we need video/audio posthaste.
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justaguy5, anonymous:
What a laugh. Claims a bogus degree 20+ years before the bogus university even opened and has the nerve to make it sound like a simple clerical error.
This guy should not be allowed to step foot inside a school or city council meeting again.
It's amazing how often you see people trying to pass off Concordia, Kennedy-Western, Almeda, and other unaccredited universities as legitimate.
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jtmbls, anonymous:
If there is one lie, there are bound to be many more where that came from. I'm suddenly creeped out by his "genuine love of children".
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justaguy5, anonymous:
In the “Frequently Asked Questions” portion of the Concordia College and University Web site, http://www.concordia-college.net/, the question, “Can I select my own graduation date?” is listed. The reply is, “Yes, since your degree will be the deserved result of your prior experience.”
Young’s degree is listed as having been received in 1972.
The welcoming speech on the Web site says, “Welcome to Concordia College and University. Since 1999, Concordia offers you a unique opportunity to have your prior studies and professional experience converted to a nationally accredited bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. degree in only two weeks and without setting foot on a campus.”
Nobody is stupid enough to accidently mistake this for a legitimate school. He deliberately falsified his credentials and needs to go. There are honest and qualified people to fill his spot.
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Mike Orren, verified:
Travis, we prefer our Spam without off-topic historical lectures.
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What do you think?