Two Whitmer Teachers Suspended With Pay
To start off, I have
been very intrigued lately by a story that has been in the news on Channel 11.
Two teachers from Whitmer High School have been suspended with pay while an
investigation is conducted regarding their relationships with students after
the students graduated. I am especially intrigued because I graduated from this
high school and knew one of the teachers that is under investigation. To me,
this situation is unfortunate, especially considering the fact that this
teacher is a good educator. However, I firmly believe that if teachers are
having relationships with high school students after graduation, than there was
some sort of unethical practices going on while the students were in school. In
my opinion, students and teachers of the opposite sex don’t just happen to
become involved after the student is no longer attending school; there has to
be some sort of conversation/assumption that something will happen post-
graduation. In the case of this teacher, multiple girls have come forward
claiming that this was the case- I don’t think this is coincidental.
The two male teachers are being investigated for waiting
until girls turn 18 and graduate so they could have a sexual relationship with them. Is this against the
law? According to the school board, the sexual relationship is not illegal, as
long as the girls are no longer in school. However, they are investigating them
based on the idea of “grooming.” Supposedly this is where these teachers are
using the girls’ high school years to develop an emotional relationship with
them. They then use this relationship to get closer to the girls, and
eventually start making suggestive comments regarding their appearance, and the
acts that are a possibility upon graduation. Upon graduation, these teachers
have been accused of taking these girls on a few dates, buying them alcohol,
and then developing a sexual relationship with them. In my opinion this is
illegal. These teachers are using their position in the workplace to get what
they want from these girls. Some may say that the girls are consenting adults,
but that’s not the issue at hand here. These men are using their position,
status, and power to manipulate these young girls- making them believe that
they are really interested in them as individuals, not just interested in sexual
encounters. And I’m going to assume that
most of these girls had no idea this was going on. As I said before, I knew one
of the teachers and would have never thought this could be true- I am saddened to
realize this is the case. Not because I feel bad for him---he knew the possible
consequences of his actions, but because now we have lost out on a good
teacher---someone who was truly able to effectively teach his students and help
them become more knowledgeable adults.
I don’t know much about the other teacher, just what I’ve
read in the newspaper and seen on the news. I think it is ridiculous that this
teacher has been suspended without pay twice now, for the same accusations. He
actually had a girl come to his apartment, drove her in his car, and shared
information with her regarding his marital separation. Can I ask why this man
is still able to teach in the school? And then he was suspended again because
he wasn’t supposed to have contact with this student, and he violated that
condition! Why is he still teaching? This is beyond my comprehension…if a school board knows these
activities are going on, why do they still employ these educators? Both of
these men have been caught buying alcohol for a minor girl at a bar, they both
went to a girl’s house post-graduation and brought alcohol with them, and at
least one of them is accused of having sexual relationships with these girls-I’m
not sure about the other guy. This to me is just ridiculous! I understand that
people make mistakes, but I have heard that they’ve both been employing these
practices for over five years now. It is amazing to me that this has not been
stopped prior to now.
The school board explained that both of these teachers will
face a hearing this Thursday, October 9th. At that time they will
hear the allegations against them, and will then have a chance to state their
case. I am interested to see where this story leads. I hope that neither of
these men will step foot into a classroom again. It’s not that I want their careers
to be ruined, but as a mother and future educator, teachers like this don’t
deserve to be in our schools. Under no circumstance should any suggestive
comments/conversations be taking place in our schools with under-age females.
These girls are being manipulated into developing relationships with these men,
probably assuming they’re the only ones and it’s not that big of a deal because
it’s not like it happens all the time. How wrong were they? I cannot imagine
the way these girls feel now, knowing the truth about these men and realizing
that they were used and manipulated so these teachers could take advantage of
them for their own desires. It seriously disgusts me and I am looking forward
to following the story of what these men’s outcomes are.
So I ask you all this question: Is what these two men are
doing illegal? Should they be reprimanded for developing sexual relationships
with students after they’ve graduated? If so, what should their fate be?
I am really looking forward to receiving some feedback on
this issue…I’d like to know what other people think about this situation. Do
you agree or disagree with me? Why?
You can check out these stories at http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?s=9110641
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?s=9115365
Students | Savannah
Monday, October 06, 2008 10:26:39 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  |
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