[copernicus]

Hey guys, sorry but I havent been in the political forum for a week or so.

Thanks for posting Doggin it. Schools are a hot top and the issue of sexual misconduct is very much in the news. Those stories are disturbing and educators who are found guilty should be FIRED!

First, let me state that if a teacher crosses the line in a sexual way with a student then that teacher has no place in the classroom.There are cases like Sandusky and others that are 100% guilty and they make the front cover of every media publication as they should. These "educators" should be removed and if enough evidence is present they should be jailed.

Unfortunately, its never not as simple as that.

Where to start? So many layers.

Somewhere in the last 10 years the teacher's perception and role has changed dramatically. The political powers that make up educational philosophies seem to be way out in RIGHT field. Teachers are to act as facilitators rather than teach the actual subject. Its bizarre, the political elite treat students as if they are adults. There in lies much of the educational issues today. The students have way too much say. When you and I were kids, we earned the right to be heard. Not today. Even the kid with severe mental issues words seem to way more than the educators. It very much acts as a handcuff for teachers. Funny how educational policies are changed, teachers are forced to teach a certain way and if the student fails, its the teachers fault entirely, but no fault lies on the forced policy that many in the education world criticize. Also, no longer is the teacher's word respected but rather challenged. The students have more say. In most cases, the more extreme the case, the better chance, in the end, it is found that the child is lying. These cases never make the media, never find there way anywhere other than damaged reputation of the teacher and nothing done to the student or parents.

I would estimate that in my total of 210 students that I personally see in my classroom each day of the school year about 10% of those students are disturbed and in many cases it is there parents who have issues as well. I have and small percentage (again around 10%) of parents who are addicted to drugs, prostitutes, physically and sexually abusive to their kids, alcoholics, etc. My point is that when I step into the classroom, I am often dealing with a percentage of students that need a much different setting than regular education. In most cases, these are the students who harm others around them and make the most outrageous accusations about teachers. For example, last school year there were a few cases of female students giving oral sex to male students in back stair cases in my school. Think girls who give oral sex in middle school hallways are not disturbed? These are the same type of girls who will accuse a male or female teacher of something outrageous. Should a teacher be immediately fired after an accusation from students like this? Should teachers have no protection from disturbed students?

What do we do? Do we immediately fire a teacher if an accusation is made about them? Isnt this America where if a person is accused of something they are judged amongst their peers? I guess just not teachers

One of many examples, last year in my school a polular science teacher was taken out of the classroom by the FBI and thoroughly interviewed for sexual misconduct. Why? Unbeknown to him a facebook was set up by a fictitious student who claimed she was having sex with him! Other students names were mentioned and it became HUGE news across the school. His reputation is damaged and he had NOTHING to do with it! It is scary. Guess what happended to the student? NOTHING. How do you think the next group of teacher's in the upcoming school year feel about having this student in their classroom? Think it will affect their teaching style? You bet.

I am all for removing teachers from the classroom who are found guilty of sexual misbehavior. Unfortunately with a percentage of disturbed students and parents who make up lies in hopes of a big pay day it is not as simple as it appears. Add that presently, politicians, media, and the public are blaming teachers for everything and it becomes an unfair fight. If the politicians had there way they'd fire any and every experienced teacher. Imagine if all it took was a false allegation from a disturbed child who just wants attention?