In Spokane Public Schools, the six pillars of character are taught to instill ethics in children – just in case parents don’t. The first pillar is trustworthiness and includes the admonition to “be honest, don’t deceive.”

So, when district spokeswoman (and, ahem, former S-R reporter) Kristy Mylroie was asked about Rogers High School teacher Peter Perkins, she said that he was under investigation for possible misuse of school computers, right? Uh, no.

Because the reporter used the term “suspended,” rather than the district’s preferred term, “paid administrative leave,” she was given a different answer, according to the district’s information chief, Terren Roloff. And that answer – that Perkins was attending an education conference – was wrong.

The implication is that the preferred term would’ve provoked the correct answer. Which means they knew the other reply was incorrect.

Guess that first pillar of character only applies to kids.

English only. Does it matter to you that a teacher, prosecutor, police officer or whoever is “placed on paid administrative leave,” rather than “suspended”?

I’m aware that managers in large companies or bureaucracies can be weirdly devoted to the special language they speak, even if everyone else is mocking these transparent power trips. But why is anyone else expected to follow along? Did I miss the desperate pleas from the public to be spoken to in jargon, acronyms and other forms of gobbledygook?

Far too many public information officials think this is just fine because their primary audience isn’t really the public, it’s their bosses. Information is power, so holding it back is important to chieftains, even if it is a disservice to the people who cover their paychecks.

By the way, where do these people learn their special protect-the-turf language? Does Berlitz offer quick courses on buzzwords, misdirection and the passive voice? Or does workplace immersion do the trick? Do they talk like that at home or to their friends? Do they even know how pretentious they sound?

And, finally, if they were to speak and write clearly – you know, like they were taught in school – would they be placed on paid administrative leave?

Playing the angles. An East Valley middle school teacher is incorporating rap to prod more interest in math. Whatever works:

Sine, sine everywhere a sine,

comes much easier when I bust a rhyme.

The acorn grew up and said with glee,

“I was a little nutty now Ge-om-e-try!”

Write often. A quick glance at Google News, and I see this headline: “Bush vows to stay in Iraq.”

Fine with me, as long as the troops get to come home.

Typecasting. So the other day I was reading a New York Times article about the U.S. Supreme Court considering a case that involves global warming.

The writer was Linda Greenhouse.