I did a post last fall on a recent study done by the AP highlighting the amazing amount of sexual abuse that happens in public schools. I commented on how it felt like the Catholic church scandals that rocked the American Catholic church a few years ago. Click here for that post.
Article in one of our local media outlets did some research on what happens in my state. Click here for what is happening locally. Again, it sends chills up my spine. Not necessarily that is happens, but that these abusing teachers can get away with it. They are given a resignation agreement that gets them out of criminal consequences and allows them to teach elsewhere. It is sickening to me.
Robert Sperlik, in Illinois, is finally behind bars. Click here for his sick obsession.
I guess as I read about these things, I wonder....where are the parents?? Do school districts tell parents when an offense has happened? If they do, why aren't criminal charges being filed? If I got a call from my kid's school that a teacher may have committed something against my kid, I don't care how many people tell me to hush up...I won't. Why? Because I need to be an example to my kid that when criminal things happen, you follow the legal system, and you don't "let things go". I also think it has a healing effect on the victim, they don't remain a victim but are empowered against their offender.
But that won't happen, because my kid won't be in a classic classroom. However, I can't protect my kid from everyone and everything. I feel a huge obligation to my kids to protect their sexuality. Sometimes I think I am the only one when I read articles like this, and I read about commissions who feel an obligation to give offending teachers their licenses and jobs back. I feel like this when I read articles like this and see very few references to criminal charges. As well as little reference to the parent's input--I would love to know how all of these parents and families feel about this kind of thing, because I think they deserve a voice.
6 comments:
Yes, makes you wonder...I am one of those paranoid parents when it comes to this! Just another reason to find alternative education!
In Christ,
angela
While this is not one of the reasons we decided to homeschool, it helps to confirm that we made the right choice for our children. It is very chilling and I agree that it has a similar feel to the Catholic church fiasco. So, so sad that the people we trust with the lives of our children are failing them on so many levels. Now, there are most definitely awesome public school teachers out there...it is just so heartbreaking that the creeps make them all look bad. I agree 100% that the entire system needs a huge overall. Unfortunately, the politicians would rather keep throwing money at it than call it a failure and rebuild.
See, I knew I liked Melenie! She is echoing so many of the thoughts I had in the first post I referenced. Yes, awesome public school teachers out there, yes they bust their guts at their jobs, but the system they are working in doesn't work as a whole. Plus, where is the huge amount of accountability when it comes to safety of our kids. It is so sad and it will be interesting to watch as this continues to unfold and progress. I think there will be a breaking point at some time in our future.
I would guess that some of these cases fall into a grey area where there is just not enough evidence the degree of misconduct to be able to obtain a conviction. Parents are considering the cost of having their child testify in court with the likelihood of receiving a conviction as a result. The article was also talking about the high price of prosecuting as well.
However, explaining the reasons is not the same as agreeing that it's good. I liked the conclusion they were reaching in the article that when it comes to the safety of children, transparency should be the whole focus allowing different school districts to really get a full report on the appropriateness of a teacher.
Agree, agree, agree! Awesome teachers, horrible system! The pub school system needs a major overhaul and more accountability. Great post and great points!
Angela
Tracy said it really well, the problem is multi layered with the point of this article being the lack of ability for schools to share information, at the expense of kids. The line where the expert is quoted as saying, "Job references have entered the arena of litigation." That did it. I just think all of this comes down to kids being vulnerable to sickos until it all gets figured out. I also don't think schools have the right to brush things under carpets at the expense of kids either. I think they need to take a smidge higher ground.
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