Pedophile Teachers

Sick, sick, sick.

An Oconomowoc School District teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a young girl he met and taught while he was a student teacher in the Waukesha district, according to Waukesha police and a criminal complaint filed Monday.

Bryan F. Wendt, 27, of Palmyra, was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child and two counts of child enticement.

Wendt taught at Waukesha’s Central Middle School in the spring of 2008 and developed a friendship with the girl when she was an eighth-grader, the complaint says.

The friendship turned sexual in the summer of 2009, and Wendt admitted to investigators that he had sex with the girl numerous times between Aug. 17, 2009, and May 14, 2010, according to the complaint and Deputy District Attorney Stephen J. Centinario Jr.

Somehow, this seems more apropos today. 

1. And here we go again, and as I’ve mentioned once before: The age difference between teacher and student these days is just way to freaking close.  I don’t get it, but something is terribly wrong here.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 24, 2010 at 1911 hrs




2. Well we know it can’t be the education system that keeps pumping teachers out of colleges.

   Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 24, 2010 at 2007 hrs




3. You would think that somewhere in the degree, certification, license, or employee orientation process there would be a short course on the ramifications of such behavior.  This seems to happen way too often, and Mr. Pants brings up a good point.  In the “old” days it seems like the perps were a bit older, maybe acting out mid-life crisis or marital issues.  Here you have guys in their 20’s who should have plenty of options (i.e, single unattached girls willing to play).  There has been some kind of a moral shift here.  Or political correctness run amok - is it verboten to tell these teachers (male & female) that such behavior is prohibited?

   Anyway, before they set foot in a school as an intern or teacher, they should be subjected to a “scared straight” presentation.  Maybe some cops and district attorneys could present some real life examples.  Such activity pretty much blows any career potential as a teacher, gives them registered sex offender status, and maybe prison time, etc.  In fact, probably wrecks a lot of career options besides teaching.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 24, 2010 at 2031 hrs




4. This guy is a pedophile - straight up.  This isn’t one of these cases of a lonely young twenty-something teacher pining after a more mature 16-17 year old.  The guy is married! Yet he was targeting this girl in 8th grade (and possibly others).

   He cannot control his urges.  Lock him up for life.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 24, 2010 at 2058 hrs




5. Too bad the guy isn’t a priest.  He could just move down the road.

   I wouldn’t jail him for life. There is an easier solution:  simply remove the offending “equipment.”  He can then join the Vienna Boys Choir.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 24, 2010 at 2117 hrs




6. I know they aren’t 100% effective, but don’t they give these people some sort of evaluation to make sure they aren’t prone to be swimming in the kiddie pool?

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 24, 2010 at 2338 hrs




7. The sickest part is this parent standing up for a criminal who admitted to preying on a child.  Her child was exposed to him, too.  Maybe it’s not so tough to understand how a Bishop could be taken in by one of these guys.

   Outside the courtroom Monday, a parent who has children attending Oconomowoc schools where Wendt taught described him as a wonderful teacher.

   “I’m going to back him 100%. And if he’s guilty in the end, he made a poor choice,” Kramar said. “People do make bad choices in life. I’m sure this would be a horrific choice . . . if proven this is what he did.”

   Oh, sorry, I forgot it’s only a real problem if it involves the Church.  Sexual abuse in public schools is just a “bad choice.”

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 0719 hrs




8. The idea that this is due to the higher education system or to “political correctness” is offensive and stupid.  Nor is it due to his age.  The guy is sick and should never be allowed near children again, no matter if he’s 27 or 57.

   Posted by scott on May 25, 2010 at 1017 hrs




9. I didn’t say it was due to his age, I simply remarked that there is a recent pattern of teachers getting into this kind of trouble who are too close in age to their students. 

   I agree with you, sick is sick, no matter what age; but there is a disturbing trend that deserves some attention.  And it’s not just male teachers; young female teachers have been caught doing likewise in recent years.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 1055 hrs




10. So your starting point on this is that an increasing number of young teachers are having sex with their students.  Not to be argumentative, but are you sure this is true?

    Posted by scott on May 25, 2010 at 1115 hrs




11. I know they aren’t 100% effective, but don’t they give these people some sort of evaluation to make sure they aren’t prone to be swimming in the kiddie pool?

    Sadly, things seem to be going in the wrong direction. When I was still on the school board, the DPI wanted us to change our non-discrimination policy to include “arrest and conviction record”. Let me repeat that, “CONVICTION RECORD”. I was adamantly opposed and we managed to weasel a new policy, but were in real danger of major fines by the State. That is just wrong.

    Posted by Charlie Hillman on May 25, 2010 at 1119 hrs




12. No, what I’m saying (for the third time now) is that there is a pattern as of late of this kind of behavior occuring more frequently between teachers and students who are very close in age.  It seems like everytime we hear of this, be it in Wisconsin or elsewhere, the offender (both male and female) is in their mid-20s and the victim is between 14 and 17. 

    I make no argument.  I simply point to a pattern of behavior which deserves some attention.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 1136 hrs




13. This isn’t really unique to young teachers and students, and it certainly isn’t new.  I have an acquaintance in her 30s that started “dating” her now ex husband when she was 14 and he was in his early 20s.

    I’m not saying it’s right - far from it - but let’s recognize this isn’t just an issue of students and young teachers in proximity.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 1152 hrs




14. there is a pattern as of late

    It seems like everytime we hear of this

    And all I’m saying is that I wonder if there really is such a pattern.  It just doesn’t smell right to me for a variety of reasons.

    Posted by scott on May 25, 2010 at 1155 hrs




15. The idea that this is due to the higher education system or to “political correctness” is offensive and stupid.

    You wanna think a little bit?

    I went to a teachers college.  The vast majority only cared about graduating so they could get a job with the nice benefits and early retirement.  The colleges are pumping out teachers who don’t give a damn about teaching.  It’s no surprise that some of them get a job and for some reason can’t stop boppin’ their students.  Especially considering a great number of them haven’t gotten out of the “one night stand bang anything that moves” college mentality.

    Is it all of them?  Of course not.  Should colleges be screening them or weeding out the bad teachers?  How could they and besides that’s not their job.  My point is this.  Every year more and more people graduate with their little teaching degrees that don’t care about teaching, they only care about what’s in it for them.  When you take that into account of course there’s going to be a few here and there that are just plain wacky and sick.

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 25, 2010 at 1238 hrs




16. @Mr. Pelican…
    I agree with you that there is a trend (or at least it seems like there is) where more teachers in their 20’s are crossing the line and getting involved with students.  But I don’t think this case falls into that category.  I think this guy is a true pedophile who has urges for pre-pubescent/early pubescent children.  He’d be doing the same thing if he was 67 vs. 27.
    The other issue - 20-somethings getting involved with fully developed high schoolers - is more s symptom of general immaturity and lax sexual attitudes among the early-20’s crowd.  That’s different than pedophilia.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 1239 hrs




17. I think its harder to cover up these days, the ratios could be the same as twenty or thirty years ago . Years back the people involved just went away to a new district, the schools providing cover just to rid themselves of the pedo. The parents and student to proud or ashamed to raise there voices.

    The world is much more informed place nowdays, it happened in my school and everyone I know can cite a simular type thing happening.
    Dont get me wrong it does make it right, I just dont see it as sudden problem, I think it has been lurking under cover for years.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 1256 hrs




18. The world is much more informed place nowdays, it happened in my school and everyone I know can cite a simular type thing happening.
    Dont get me wrong it does make it right, I just dont see it as sudden problem, I think it has been lurking under cover for years.

    That could very well be the case, but I still would classify it as “worse” these days.  The reason: with all the publicity surrounding these cases, there should be more of a natural deterrent to those considering engaging in the behavior.  But still, teachers face publicity and jail time and brazenly go forth the behavior anyway.  For me it’s indicative of something different than it was in the past.  My theory is that the intellectual/emotional maturity gap between a 16-yo and a 25-yo is much smaller than it was 20+ years ago.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 1305 hrs




19. You wanna think a little bit?

    Well, Jay, I thought about it some more and you’re right, I’d like to add something to my previous conclusion: Offensive, stupid and repetitive.

    Onward. 

    Consider the case of a young teacher who is banging a high school senior.  Definitely not good for a variety of reasons—even if it doesn’t make one a pedophile.  Are we proposing that this happens more often today than it did, say, when my grandmother was in high school?  It could be, I’m not so sure.

    Consider the case of a true pedophile who targets students too young to meaningfully consent to any sexual behavior.  Are we to assume that this dangerous mental illness has become more prevalent today than it was decades ago?  Really?  What could be causing such an increase?

    It seems more likely to me that either the media makes a bigger deal out of it today than it did in the past, or we’re selectively remembering things which make it seem more prevalent.

    Posted by scott on May 25, 2010 at 1410 hrs




20. I went to a teachers college.  The vast majority only cared about graduating so they could get a job with the nice benefits and early retirement.  The colleges are pumping out teachers who don’t give a damn about teaching.  It’s no surprise that some of them get a job and for some reason can’t stop boppin’ their students.  Especially considering a great number of them haven’t gotten out of the “one night stand bang anything that moves” college mentality.

    How do those two things have anything to do with each other?  Someone too immature to stop his or her urges can be in any profession.  the fact is that what you have when you hire someone that is immature and prone to these things and you put them in the proximity of those that they seek you will have incidents happen.

    By the way I went to a business college and they were pumping out accountants and business majors that thought only of making money and didn’t give a damn about their customers.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 1510 hrs




21. Oh I’m so sorry scott,  I have questioned a hallowed part of your GodGovernment.  I must be flogged.

    I will pray now.

    Dear Obama, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Please lead me from thinking for myself and adopting the bliss that is GodGovernment thinking.

    Hope and Change.

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 25, 2010 at 1854 hrs




22. How do those two things have anything to do with each other?

    I’d explain it to you but I’ll let GodGovernment teach you about reading comprehension first.

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 25, 2010 at 1856 hrs




23. Jay: One indication that you’re a brainwashed extremist is when you often use terminology that only total fucking nutjobs understand, such as GodGovernment.  (Bonus for the interstitial caps, though: Very Web 2.0.  Or something.) 

    Seriously, go have a drink, get laid, double up on your medication or whatever.  You’re wayyy out there, pal.  Whatever validity may exist to what you’re trying to say is completely drowning in your nutjobbery for anyone to understand you. 

    Get professional help.

    Posted by scott on May 25, 2010 at 2147 hrs




24. @scott… Well said

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 2223 hrs




25. There is no excuse for any of these behaviors. Some people are pedophiles, true; they will be pedophiles wherever they work. Some teachers, may or may not be pedophiles.

    A mature 16 year old, and a 22 year old teacher having a relationship is also unacceptable—if not because of age difference, for another simple reason. In the workplace there are, or should be, boundaries.

    Teachers seem to be frequently crossing the line between “teacher” and “friend,” and what’s worse, that behavior seems to be acceptable, if not encouraged. Just as the “friend” approach is unsuccessful in parenting it is unsuccessful in teaching.

    Teachers texting (not sexting, just texting) students, becoming Facebook friends, and in general cultivating “relationships” (friendships) beyond that of student-teacher is inappropriate and ultimately harmful to the learning environment.

    The erosion of these boundaries seems to be the deeper problem.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 2236 hrs




26. With regard to Jay’s position…  anti-big gov’t probably a little more mainstream nowadays than those that belief in more government, or less fiscal restraint in this recession, aka Greece & Spain…

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 2246 hrs




27. J4L-
    My comments, had I posted them earlier and not just shaken my head and clicked away, would have sounded a lot like scott’s. Especially the “Whatever validity…” part. Remember, people will generally give you the benefit of the doubt, probably wise not to ruin it so quickly. GodGovernment? really?

    Posted by Mike on May 25, 2010 at 2322 hrs




28. scott

    You really need to learn that not everything is so serious on the internet.  As usual you’ve gone off the deep end and reverted to your nerd-raging anger.  Calm the hell down and learn how to sit back and laugh at a comment once in a while.  Are you really so uptight that you can’t just relax and have a good time and actually, I don’t know, LAUGH at the world?

    As is typical for people who try to solve the worlds problems by typing comments on a blog you lose it all as soon as someone doesn’t take every word you’re saying seriously or types up something that is an obvious far reaching joke of a comment.

    I’ll pray to your God-Governnent (I can haz web 2.0 nao?) that the new healthcare plan covers extreme stress due to being a douchebag that can’t handle reading comments on a blog.

    Maybe you should lobby for some oversight and legislation to make it illegal to comment on a blog without being totally serious at all times.  Remove the stick from your ass and lighten up.

    http://i40.tinypic.com/11h4hnd.jpg

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 26, 2010 at 0657 hrs




29. Sorry Mike, I’ll be more serious.  I’ll put on my Che shirt and sip a latte while typing my next response just for you.  Sound good?

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 26, 2010 at 0700 hrs




30. J4L-
    Finish it all off with an arugula salad and you’ll be cooking with gas!

    Posted by Mike on May 26, 2010 at 1151 hrs




31. A little mineral water in a glass bottle for $4 might fill out the picture, too.

    Posted by Mike on May 26, 2010 at 1154 hrs




32. I find this comment from a parent disconcerting:

    “And if he’s guilty in the end, he made a poor choice ..”

    He didn’t make a poor choice, any more than the guy that decides to rob a liquor store made a poor choice. He committed a crime. Other quotes in the article from the same parent tell me she has blinders on regarding this sexual predator and may have trouble condemning any sort of criminal behavior. Don’t forget: people like her get on juries ...

    And yes, he’s a sexual predator, using his position to victimize the vulnerable students, although technically he’s an ephebophile because his victims are adolescents.

    Posted by Peter on May 26, 2010 at 1317 hrs




33. There has been some kind of a moral shift here.  Or political correctness run amok

    Every year more and more people graduate with their little teaching degrees that don’t care about teaching, they only care about what’s in it for them.

    Both very good points. Clearly this situation is occurring with alarming frequency. I suspect that it’s like drunk driving in that there are far more incidents that occur than are reported to police. There must be something lacking in the moral, ethical, and character growth of these young teachers… else they would never put themselves in this situation.

    Perhaps they’ve been taught to be overly self important and narcissistic by an emphasis on unearned self-esteem. Maybe there is a disconnect that has been created by the constant assaults on values and religion. Perhaps the ethics behind teaching and the very idea of living up to some code has been so ridiculed and ignored by higher education that this type of teachers existence should just be expected. Without some sort of higher moral code, humans revert to their more base instincts… sex being among them.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1340 hrs




34. Perhaps you’re talking right out of your ass.

    Posted by scott on May 26, 2010 at 1433 hrs




35. Perhaps you’re talking right out of your ass.

    While that is below the level of commentary I expect (even from you), perhaps you’d like to actually point out why you feel that our general lack of ethics and morals does not contribute to these sorts of problems. If that’s the best you can do, well so be it ( a man has to know his limitations)... but this is clearly a growing problem. There must be a reason for it.

    Certainly, if these were teachers in a Catholic school (or priests in the church), I’m guessing you (and the lame stream media) would have a great deal more commentary on the ethics and morals of the school system that has created these scum bags.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1549 hrs




36. Both very good points.

    For brevity’s sake, the two points are basically:

    1. some “moral shift” has occurred, possibly due to “political correctness,” which is leading to an increase in teachers having sex with students, and…

    2.  An increasing number of education majors don’t care about teaching but are instead motivated by selfish reasons—leading to more teachers having sex with their students.

    First of all, you don’t know that crimes like this are happening more frequently. 

    Second, laying these kind of crimes at the feet of “political correctness” or whatever liberal political opinion du jour is abfuckingsurd and insulting in the extreme.  It’s so idiotic that I can hardly believe you’d express such opinions in public.

    Third, you really don’t have any idea what graduates of schools of education are—or ever were—like.  And you have no reason to believe that their character is different than it was in the past. 

    Furthermore, I hate to break it to you, but religiosity is hardly a predictor of sexual impropriety.  Therefore, trying to pin (a completely assumed) increase in sexual crimes on the irreligious is completely unwarranted and stupid.

    In short—you’re talking right out of your ass.

    Certainly, if these were teachers in a Catholic school (or priests in the church), I’m guessing you (and the lame stream media) would have a great deal more commentary on the ethics and morals of the school system that has created these scum bags.

    You don’t know what you’re talking about.  At. All.

    Posted by scott on May 26, 2010 at 1702 hrs




37. I’m going to note the defensive anger and vitriol behind your defense of orthodox political correctness. Other than saying I don’t know what I am talking about, you really present nothing in the way of counter-argument.

    You respond in a tone reminiscent of that used by those Catholic bishops in defense of the policies that created the priest abuse in the church.  I am actually stunned by the parallel that your defensiveness has to that of the Catholic Church. That vehemence in defending the removal of honor, morals, values and ethics, and their replacement with political correctness and baseless self esteem leads me believe that perhaps I, and my fellow commentators,  have hit upon some truth.

    Clearly something is causing the problem, and denying that it has some cause… or that it exists at all, really does nothing to solve it.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1753 hrs




38. If you insist on being coy about it, here’s some direct questions.

    1.  Do you know for a fact that there has been an increase in sexual crimes among teachers?  Perhaps there has been, I don’t know—but I’m betting you don’t either.  Thus, the phenomenon you’re so quick to baselessly blame on people and institutions you don’t like might in fact be imaginary in the first place.

    2.  Can you explain what “political correctness” might have to do with sexual crimes committed by teachers?  Seeing as you hailed this theory as a good point, you should be able to walk us through that pretty thoroughly.

    3.  Can you show that “the ethics behind teaching and the very idea of living up to some code has been so ridiculed and ignored by higher education”? If you cannot, then I insist you cease defaming the people and institutions involved in teacher education.

    4.  Can you help us understand the evidence for the assertion that an increasing number of education majors don’t care about teaching but are instead motivated by selfish reasons? You endorsed this claim in comment 33, so I’m sure you’re prepared to enlighten us with your intimate knowledge of the character of the young people entering the teaching profession.

    My “anger and vitriol” aren’t “in defense of “orthodox political correctness”—especially as I don’t even know what that means.  My anger is about how you are using a sick crime—and a completely presumed increase in such crimes—to indict American higher education, the teaching profession, and seemingly a host of other people and ideas you don’t care for.

    I think it might be helpful for clarity if you could enumerate your responses in accordance with the numbered questions above.  (Especially as, if history is any guide, you’re likely to write a couple hundred word reply without answering any of them directly.)

    Posted by scott on May 26, 2010 at 1847 hrs




39. Hmmmm…let’s see?

    What changed in the last 10-15 years that might facilitate this activity.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1955 hrs




40. our general lack of ethics and morals

    It all started back in the 1980’s with all the sexual devil may care disco herpes and the beginning of aids.  Everyone sleeping with everyone else and snorting all sorts of cocaine. Oh, the decline of morality during the Reagan years.  I wish I could go back to my youth during the 1950’s/60’s.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 2023 hrs




41. Scott, you never cease to amaze me. You ask (and demand answers as if you thought you were my boss) four questions that can hardly be answered in a sentence and then complain that I’ll have to offer a lengthy response. How about this… choose one question to start so that I don’t tax your attention span too terribly.

    If you cannot, then I insist you cease defaming the people and institutions involved

    I suspect you’ll see that quoted back to you in no time. As far as it goes, while you feel I have no information on the subject, you really have none yourself… yet you wholeheartedly demand retractions based solely on your feelings. Kinda weak.

    I better stop now… I don’t want to go past the 99 word limit.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 2130 hrs




42. First observation: You haven’t answered a single one of the questions regarding your previous remarks and accusations.  I’m inclined to simply declare my assessment in comment #34 correct in every way.  But perhaps you’re just building suspense.  I implore you: Give us an answer to the questions I posed above.  If you’re able to muster coherent answers it will no doubt spark a fascinating debate in the subsequent comments.  I (and I think some others) await your cogent responses with bated breath.

    By the way, I didn’t complain that you’d leave a lengthy response.  I worried that you’d leave a lengthy response that didn’t answer the questions.  Count me wrong on one point, then: Your subsequent comment was brief—but it still didn’t answer a single one of the questions.

    As far as it goes, while you feel I have no information on the subject, you really have none yourself

    I’m not the one making claims and leveling accusations.  I’m asking you to clarify and back up the claims and accusations you made.

    As for me, well… you may already know some of these facts, but for the benefit of other readers…

    1.  I am an alum of the college of education at marquette university.

    2.  I also work there.  And while my main job there is technology-related, I do work closely with the college of ed.  (I by no means purport to speak for them, however.)

    3.  I occasionally teach courses at the university (although not for the college of ed).

    Given these facts, I think I might be given some leeway to express an opinion on higher ed, teacher education and the values it does and does not endeavor to impart to its graduates. 

    However, I have expressed no such opinions.  I therefore have nothing to defend or answer for.  As I pointed out before, you are the one making claims.  You are the one who should be backing them up. 

    So how about it?  I asked for very clear questions before, based on remarks you made above.  I invite you to answer them.

    Posted by scott on May 26, 2010 at 2152 hrs




43. Second clue.

    The medium is the message.

    scott this should be an easy one for you.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 0805 hrs




44. Tick tock…

    I think it’s safe to say now that SoL does not feel able to back up his wild claims and inflammatory assertions. Consider me unsurprised. 

    Can we now all agree that blaming teacher sex crimes (which may or may not be increasing) on political correctness, lack of university values and general teacher selfishness is stupid and indefensible?

    Posted by scott on May 27, 2010 at 1122 hrs




45. As much as you may have deluded yourself into believing that you hold some position of authority over me, your demands and insistence upon time tables, response lengths, and content purity couldn’t carry less weight.

    When I have time to respond to your baseless denials of culpability, I will do so in a manner, length, and selection of content of my own choosing. You say you teach classes? I’m not in one of them. So, sit by your computer and wait for my reply. If I do not see your reply withing 90 minutes to any of my future comments, I’ll assume that you are admitting you are wrong under the new response doctrine.

    Stand by. Don’t move. Wait for it…..

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 1144 hrs




46. This is what happens when you talk directly from your behind and insult people and organizations and professions you know nothing about: they get mad and demand that you back up your nonsense.  And when you’re unable to do so, well, you lose the argument.  Perhaps next time you’ll stop and think a little before spewing garbage.  Someone who cares might read it and hold you to account.

    Posted by scott on May 27, 2010 at 1152 hrs




47. Can we now all agree that blaming teacher sex crimes (which may or may not be increasing) on political correctness, lack of university values and general teacher selfishness is stupid and indefensible?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 1217 hrs




48. Can we now all agree that blaming teacher sex crimes (which may or may not be increasing) on political correctness, lack of university values and general teacher selfishness is stupid and indefensible?

    Yep

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 1218 hrs




49. But what is the all to common thread in this. And not just for teachers.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 1223 hrs




50. You know, I introduced into the thread the term “political correctness”.  Now, blogging isn’t an efficient medium for conveying thoughts - things get lost in mispellings, grammatical errors, and trying to make a point in a brief amount of time.  Anyway, you all seem to be focused on the assumption that I meant “political correctness” as a causation of the problem.  Let’s take another look:

    Or political correctness run amok - is it verboten to tell these teachers (male & female) that such behavior is prohibited?

    Again, I don’t think that statement means “political correctness” is a causation of the behavior,  To me, “poltical correctness” has to do with the way things are communicated.

    As a parent of a grade schooler, I want to know what type of orientation or training these teachers/staff receive as it relates to inappropriate sexual contact with students.  I want to know what these teachers are told (and what students are told) - as in what terms and language are used. I suspect that the modus operandi is that when teachers are hired, the assumption is they are not considered potential predators until such time as they commit such an act.  Therein is where I suspect that “political correctness” comes into play - if staff were to be told in no uncertain terms that sexual contact with students has certain consequences, that might be an acknowledgment that yes, indeed, a teacher could be a sexual predator and your child may be a victim. Perhaps it is politically incorrect to say that.  As a taxpayer, I want to know what efforts the school district takes to prevent lawsuits that might result from staff/student sexual contact (and our school district just fired a teacher for sexual relations with a student).

    This is from my child’s Handbook for Students and Parents:

    Student & Staff Relations - Policy 519.1

    ..... To this end, employees of the district are expected to develop positive relationships by:
    ......
    2. Maintain appropriate adult to student boundaries in relationships.

    Somehow, that just doesn’t ring loud and clear that there is zero tolerance for sexual contact between staff and students.

    Where is GAMazzy when we need her?  She certainly knows what our school district does when it deals with student life topics - “Day of Silence” (acknowledgment of issues faced by gay students); “Challenge Day” (to deal with how students relate to each other in a positive manner);, and there was some recent “sleep-in” activity for middle school girls that was related to bullying or something.  I am sure all these things have value.  Awhile back, one of the elementary schools hosted a parent event on how to prevent their students from being victimized by Internet Predators - the news article didn’t mention if the topic of school staff predators was included.

    Now, we have school board members that comment here - maybe they know how proactive the school district is in preventing this type of behavior - I concede that perhaps I don’t have all the information - if there is such information, it should be communicated to the parents of students in the school district.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 1325 hrs