O.C. couple say they paid tens of thousands for 'free education'

The L.A. Times reports:

To get proper schooling for their severely autistic son, an Irvine couple say they were forced to shower employees at his elementary school with diamond jewelry, Coach bags, Chanel perfume and other lavish gifts worth a total of $100,000, according to a legal claim filed this month.

Thomas Lin, a pediatrician, and his wife, Liya, a homemaker, also bought and furnished a condo that a teacher's newlywed daughter and husband lived in rent-free for a year before moving out with the furniture, according to the claim filed Nov. 2 against the Irvine Unified School District and the Orange County Department of Education.

"It was a nightmare for a long time," said Liya Lin, who, on her attorney's advice, declined to comment further.

County Supt. of Education William M. Habermehl said he was told the Lins were not pressured to give gifts in exchange for educating their now 7-year-old son, who could not speak and was not toilet-trained, but said county education officials had launched an investigation.

Teachers can't accept gifts more lavish than the typical flowers, candy or Starbucks gift cards, Habermehl said. "There should never be a situation where parents feel like they have to give."

Great moments in public education.As you see,public education isn't about "the children".