So, this is more of a 'public school in the news' article and it is disturbing. I know there are some excellent teachers in PS who care for kids, but this article also has some pretty startling stats. Of course, it just reinforces to me that it is MY job to keep my girls as safe as possible. I feel so bad for parents/children that this may have happened to.:x http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21392345/
I heard a stat that 3 out of 10 kids will be sexaully harrassed in some way in school....you can throw that out if you want...I heard it on the news on the radio...so who knows. I knew of two high school teachers sleeping with students when I was in high school. My fil was a ps teacher and said he got hit on all the time. LOL.
Well, I'm going to present a different view. Don't worry! I'm good at ducking tomatoes! First of all, I am in complete agreement that offenders need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I don't care if they're teachers, coaches, parents, pastors, Scout leaders. And anyone who helps to cover up a situation for ANY REASON should also be prosecuted. PERIOD, no if's, and's or but's. Having said that, though, we also need to keep in mind that we can't go on a witch hunt. Many of the the girls in high school are NOT "innocents", but have been sexually active for some time. They know what's what. That does NOT excuse behavior for the adult involved (again, I feel they need to be prosecuted), but just to say that these girls are not ALWAYS the "victim". Second, we live in a country where people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It's not unusual for today's teens to make accusations simply to "get even" with an adult. What does a principal do when there's nothing to go on but accusations and rumors? There's no proof. He shouldn't just ignore it, but how far can he legally take it? Can a person be fired on hear-say? And does the principal have the responsibility to report that hear-say to other school districts that seek to hire this guy? I can honestly see my dh in this situation. He takes special effort to "protect" himself. For example, he makes sure he's not in a room alone with a girl, even with the door open. One year, he had a girl who wanted to take his class "independent study", because she had a "required" class the same time his was offered. They had lunch the same time, so he suggested her coming up during lunch and he would help her. The next period he realized that wasn't so brilliant, so he looked her up and suggested she come WITH A FRIEND OR TWO. And again, the door was ALWAYS open. A teacher in his building was accused. DH said he honestly didn't know if the guy was guilty or not, but this guy often stayed after school and would help girls alone in his room with the door closed. Yes, there's a window on the door, but still, it's not a situation you should put yourself into. Turned out, this guy had been accused before. But one of the accusers later admitted she did it simply because she was jealous that the teacher was paying to much attention to anther student!
My former fiance was a pedophile. I know this because I saw it with my own two eyes. He was also horribly abusive to me, but that's really not the point here. He got his teaching degree and was hired at a local highschool. When I found out (this was after I left him), I wrote to the school and sent evidence I'd stashed away for just such an event. I was amazed at the response. The reply from the principal was to mind my own business. Didn't I know there was a teacher shortage in Missouri and they'd take whoever they could get?! He told me off. Because I was concerned for the safety of the girls in his classes. He always told me when he was subbing that he preferred the innocent ones. He enjoyed seducing them, and not them throwing themselves at him. I still pray for those girls on a regular basis. I don't know if he's still teaching there, but it's out of my hands. I recently heard that he was also serving as youth pastor of a local church. So I'm praying for those girls, as well. I just couldn't believe that a teacher shortage meant risking students safety with a pedophile.
Amie, YOU did the right thing! Don't you just want to shoot the principal that apparently doesn't care for his young charges, as well as the pedophile? I wish it were possible to hold him just as accountable!
I read in a Houston news article that Texas ranks #2in the nation for having the most reports of abuse by teachers. When I was in high school there were two female teachers (that I know of) who had relations with male studnets. One was found out and fired shortly after the boy had graduated and the other taught one year and moved somewhere else. The one who moved was my algebra teacher and the guy she was having a relationship with I had briefly dated. Now I have to say that these femals were around 25 years old and one boy was 17 and one was 16. These boys were not innocent BUT the teacher is the one in a leadership position entrusted with other people's children! It is ultimately the teacher at fault. This was a very small country town. It can happen anywhere.
Jackie, I think you said it perfectly!! Last year, when we were still in TN, there was a childrens's minster of a local mega church, who was accused of sexual abuse (and admitted he was guilty). The pastor covered it up to keep it out of the news. He was not removed from his position at all! The accuser kept talking and you can image that it did hit the news! I feel that the pastor should have been prosecuted, too. Lots of people did, but because of his staus, it sort of just went away. You are also right in saying that teachers can become the vistims themselves. There are lots of people out there who will set someone up just to get back at them. When I was in high school, there was a just-out-of-college football coach who many girls threw themselves at.
I agree with you ... It stinks that teacher's have to "watch over their shoulders" & protect themselves just like the kids need to!!! It's sad that a teacher who really wants to help & succeed could be put in the position of being accused of something that was not done because of the "he said, she said thing"!!!
A lady just got 3 years probation instead of jail time for 3 felony counts which is up to 15 years each. I can't believe it, the Dad and son feel sorry for her low self esteem. Here's the link:http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=2011874
As I said, my fil, was a high school math teacher and got hit on quite bit. There was this young teacher at my high school that was very good looking. The girls were constantly throwing themselves at him. He was just out of college. Yes, he should know better. HOwever, he was very tempted....to the point of well...he was never fired or prosecuted but he had a few slip and fall accidents. lol. He actuallly hit on me while a bunch of us were out one night. This was the year after I graduated so it was legal. It was still too weird for me. lol. I was never one of his fans anyway. However, he was a hottie...ok not the point. Look, you got young teachers and girls and boys that are bold sexually. Things are going to happen. That doesn't make it right but it makes it true.
I know that in certain professions, education and medical most notably, someone who doesn't report suspected abuse is liable. I would think it would be true in this case, too. You would think that a pastor would want to protect the children in his charge. I can understand wanting to work with a repentent parishner, but I consider admitting guilt, owning up and accepting the consequences of the behavior as part of being repentent. I would be OK with a person who screwed up still attending the church as long as that person was not put into a situation where they had authority over children/young people, they were involved in on-going counseling/accountability, and they were cautious to not put themselves into situations where there is even a HINT of inappropriate behavior.
In the USA, pastors ARE court mandated reporters. That's the term you are referring to, Jackie. Any pastor, teacher, school employee, foster parent, counselor, doctor, nurse, hospital staff member who even suspects child abuse and does not report it is breaking the law. Even if it breaks dr/patient, attorney/client, clergy/parishioner privilege. The privilege becomes null and void at the point that abuse is suspected. You don't have to give details if privilege applies, but you do have to report the people involved and the general idea of what gave you concern. (I had to take a class on abuse law when I was going to be a foster parent)
Thank you, Amie! I wasn't sure who all it applied to, but I did know it even implied to camp couselors. I had a camper that discussed some things with me concerning her step-father. "But don't tell anyone, because I don't want trouble between him and my mother...." I explained to her that I had NO CHOICE by LAW but to report what she had told me for HER protection. We then went up and talked to the director's wife, who was a certified counselor and who would do any "official" reporting.
For the record, it doesn't have to be any sort of "official" report. A simple call to 1-800-4achild will satisfy your requirement. This also applies to day care workers. I always forget about them. Basically anyone in a position of leadership who can observe potentially abusive behavior on a day to day basis.
Well, it "hit home" today! I guess yesterday the Christian school in the Columbus area with probably the BEST reputation had a staff member (I think the girls' soccer coach) removed in handcuffs on charges of "sexual misconduct". I was half asleep, but I think two staff members have been charged, and the school sent out e-mails to parents, promising a "complete" investigation.
Oh, I know he was required by law to report it. The police and court system just overlooked it, because of who he is.
