Teachers accused of sex abuse keep licenses

[felixthecat]

Teachers accused of sex abuse keep licenses

Associated Press
October 22, 2007

More than 1,600 teaching licenses were revoked because of sexual-misconduct accusations from 2001 to 2005, but none came from the District, according to an Associated Press investigation.

D.C. officials did not revoke the certification of a single teacher during that time, no matter how serious the crime.

...

Despite the plea (guilty) , the D.C. Office of Academic Credentials and Standards never formally removed Jones from the rolls of those licensed to teach in the city. As a result, his name was never added to a national database of teachers whose certification has been revoked.

...

The Associated Press sought records on teacher discipline in all 50 states and the District over the five years.

D.C. education officials provided a list of just four names. Three cases were people whose initial application had been denied because of criminal records. The fourth was the case of a male teacher not having his certificate renewed because of criminal convictions.

The request from the District also resulted in no records of a teacher sexually abusing a student, despite the national investigation finding at least 1,467 such cases.

...

Wayne S. Promisel, a retired detective in the Fairfax County Police Department's child services unit, said there needs to be a system for sharing information beyond what a criminal-background check reveals, which would help ensure that teachers who commit misconduct once don't get the opportunity to do it again.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/METRO/110220065/1004/metro&template=nextpage

If you think this ONLY happens in D.C., think again!

Do you really think the public school system wants THIS known?

Or that it is getting to be a MAJOR problem across the U.S.?

[felixthecat]

I need to add that I know there are GOOD, teachers out there.

My ire is NOT directed at you!

[Southern Lady]

Teachers are not the only ones that escape detection, you could add any and all professions into the mix. Many of these other professions also have direct contact with children. Maybe they should also be investigated.
I am not picking on your post, just pointing out teachers are not the only profession with huge problems.

[MochaMel]

And one more reason to keep your children even closer to home then ever! I am so picky about anyone even watching my kids'; even our own docter is suspect and i am always there for exams. (not saying he has done anything wrong i am just very, very careful with my children and who they are around in any setting) Ugh just sickening; what possesses people to do this to innocent children... The devil is sure having a field day more and more isn't he?!!

Jesus come quickly..

[felixthecat]

Teachers are not the only ones that escape detection, you could add any and all professions into the mix. Many of these other professions also have direct contact with children. Maybe they should also be investigated.
I am not picking on your post, just pointing out teachers are not the only profession with huge problems.

True ... but by law children are obligated to go to school. Many homeschool but others will go to public or private school. The reason allot of this happens in school is because kids, by law go to school for 6 1/2 hours a day, five days a week for 9 months a year. Trust is built up and predators can arrange one on one help and no eye brows are raised. To be certified they study the psychology of kids - so they KNOW how to have their way. Daycare centers are another popular spot for them for the same reason.

"Experts say abuse remains widely underreported, with an estimated nine out of 10 incidents never revealed. "

...

"Popular teachers often inspire loyal supporters. Hundreds of people -- including an entire eighth-grade class -- raised $400,000 to make bail for Jose Cruz, a Midland Park gym teacher who worked at St. Leo's School in Elmwood Park and St. Anne's School in Fair Lawn. He later pleaded guilty to fondling nine girls, ages 8 to 11, on their breasts, thighs and behinds, and was sentenced to five years of probation."

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?...Y3dnFlZUVFeXky

These predators are often POPULAR. As indicated above, kids and loyal supporters helped raise money for the predator bail!

Of course this could happen in Sunday school or by a Pediatrician, Dentist, kid psychologist and does but it is more common in schools - access and time to build a trusting relationship etc. Schools, because of the time and requirement for kids to be there is the playground for many predators. It's easily a career - the money isn't bad and you have unfettered access to your prey. You also have the upper hand over parents ... . Parents know this and tread lightly so as not to get grade retaliation - sometimes teachers are petty and childish ... .

The NEA and unions do PROTECT them. It's a dream come true for predators whereas in other situations they don't have this kind of protection.

"Even when a teacher is arrested or convicted, the state office in charge of revoking teacher licenses doesn't always find out. County prosecutors and school districts usually notify the state Department of Education when teachers are convicted of a crime. But they are not legally obligated to do so."

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?...Y3dnFlZUVFeXky

I know for a FACT they don't do proper background checks on teachers because it's TOO EXPENSIVE. So the "mobile predator" can move on with their license and start again.

So they move on to another school and prey on kids again. If you think the NEA or the unions want this known you're dreaming. The NEA and the unions WANT THE MONOPOLY they have on kids. They want the POWER and MONEY. There is no incentive to show how bad their system is. They don't want charter schools or more homeschooling. Schools in particular are a playground for predators and often there are no consequences even if they are discovered. Many would flee public schools but lack the resources. The NEA and unions do NOT want you to have school choice or vouchers. If you were a predator, wouldn't this be a situation you'd want?

[Southern Lady]

I never praised NEA or the unions for anything. The only thing I said was that they (or at are supposed to) protect good teachers from bad administrators. Which they don't always do, because some of them their time is running out to work in the unions and will soon have to go back to the classroom themselves. If they play right with the school board they can get themselves a nice office job and play anti-union.
Not only are the unions corrupt but the school systems themselves. The state we live in is a right to work state, means unions have little power. However, that isn't my point.
Schools protect those that want to protect, and do what ever to those that they will.
I remember some time back, a principal was accused of misconduct with several female teachers and students. They filed a complaint with the school board and a male teacher backed their accusations. The school board decided that they could not find the principal guilty, though there were plenty of witnesses. What they did do was transfer the principal (to a higher position and away from teacher and students) then the male teacher was fired. Reason for the termination was he was incompetent, a catch all if nothing else will work. The teacher sued and was offered a settlement which he accepted I think he is either in another state or country. The female teachers were given letters of reprimand. I think the female students were also reprimanded.
Why would anyone speak up?

[jadeeyes]

My husband and I just returned from visiting his cousin in Michigan. The cousin's wife is a high school science teacher. She teaches Biology, Chemistry and Physics. One of her fellow teachers, a male, is on administrative leave during an investigation into allegations that he had sex with a student. He actually called my cousin-in-law (is that really a word?) last week to tell her all about his affair. Of course, she had to report the entire conversation. The next day, she caught kids in her classroom passing around a petition demanding that the teacher be fully reinstated because they like him.:doh

[Southern Lady]

My husband and I just returned from visiting his cousin in Michigan. The cousin's wife is a high school science teacher. She teaches Biology, Chemistry and Physics. One of her fellow teachers, a male, is on administrative leave during an investigation into allegations that he had sex with a student. He actually called my cousin-in-law (is that really a word?) last week to tell her all about his affair. Of course, she had to report the entire conversation. The next day, she caught kids in her classroom passing around a petition demanding that the teacher be fully reinstated because they like him.:doh

Sometimes you can find out a lot if someone should ask students why do you like this teacher? But then again, some school systems put teachers into a popularity contest position. Good teachers give good grades. Bad teachers have their students work for good grades.

[felixthecat]

My husband and I just returned from visiting his cousin in Michigan. The cousin's wife is a high school science teacher. She teaches Biology, Chemistry and Physics. One of her fellow teachers, a male, is on administrative leave during an investigation into allegations that he had sex with a student. He actually called my cousin-in-law (is that really a word?) last week to tell her all about his affair. Of course, she had to report the entire conversation. The next day, she caught kids in her classroom passing around a petition demanding that the teacher be fully reinstated because they like him.:doh


The successful predators are very charming!

Like serial killers ... their is usually something likable about them and why they get away with it for so long.

As more and more are emotional and feeling driven ... they don't care ... if htey LIKE the person. It won't matter what they do. We often romanticze crime such as Bonnie and Floyd ... so why not a pedophile? Especially when allot of folks really want to BELIEVE that they are "born that way" or it's too "judgmental" to say anything negative - you know the old taken out of context verse: Judge not least YOU be judged.

[Southern Lady]

As more and more are emotional and feeling driven ... they don't care ... if htey LIKE the person. It won't matter what they do. We often romanticze crime such as Bonnie and Floyd ... so why not a pedophile? Especially when allot of folks really want to BELIEVE that they are "born that way" or it's too "judgmental" to say anything negative - you know the old taken out of context verse: Judge not least YOU be judged.

How very true, the one thing to say that will keep some mouths shut.