Pennsylvania State Sen. Jeffrey E. Piccola is right in pushing for a lifetime ban on working in schools for those convicted of some serious and violent crimes — and a 10-year ban for those convicted of first- and second-degree misdemeanors.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, which many people would think should be on board with most of Piccola's proposal, considering that teachers work closely with children, apparently will oppose a significant part of the senator's plan.

That's the implication from James P. Testerman, PSEA president, who said the ban doesn't seem appropriate for some of the targeted crimes, and that the list of misdemeanors that could trigger a decade-long ban might be too broad.

Although it's healthy to have divergent viewpoints to allow a plan to get a thorough review, the PSEA viewpoint in this instance is unfortunate, since the more support this worthy proposal receives, the more likely it will be approved in a shorter time frame and implemented. Still, it must be noted that few proposals get quick approval in the General Assembly, no matter how worthy.

Even with strong PSEA endorsement, Piccola's plan would be due close scrutiny and adequate debate.

But now that the PSEA, which wields substantial political power in Harrisburg, is not on board, the proposal could have a tougher legislative road ahead. It's a process that will deserve watching.

What Piccola is seeking is a lifetime ban for those convicted of serious crimes, including sex crimes such as incest and prostitution, and homicide, and a 10-year school-employment ban for those convicted of first-degree misdemeanors such as drunken driving, and second-degree misdemeanors such as shoplifting or passing a bad check.

The commonwealth already has a list of offenses that mandate a five-year ban on school employment, but that ban is inadequate.

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association has endorsed Piccola's proposal with minor changes. However, the association is concerned about potential legal challenges to the lifetime ban and the potential for costly legal bills for school districts.

"Which of us wants our sons and daughters in the same building with a person who has committed these crimes?" said Tim Allwein, PSBA assistant director.

Supporters of the Piccola measure should regard the threat of litigation, while an important consideration, to be secondary to the more important objective of keeping convicted criminals out of the schools.

In addition to the lifetime or 10-year bans, Piccola advocates giving school administrators greater leeway to conduct criminal history checks on current employees if there is reason to think an employee has been convicted of a crime.

It's not an unheard-of action in business, and it should not be avoided when the safety of children is at stake.

"It's my humble opinion that any fair-minded individual or fair-minded Supreme Court justice would uphold this lifetime ban," Piccola said. Hopefully that thinking would be borne out in court.

But for now, the focus should be on moving Piccola's proposal through the legislative process and ensuring that it doesn't languish in committee indefinitely before being released for consideration by the full House and Senate.