Stolen Innocence Part 2

A middle school teacher molested a student. The community is rocked to it's core. If this sounds like an earlier blog I posted, it should. This is the sequel. And it doesn't get better.

By now you have heard of this story on Glenn Beck, and any of a number of news outlets. It has gained national news coverage.

The parents believe the six teachers who wrote letters asking a judge for leniency for a pedophile did something morally and ethically wrong. They have formed a group and want the teachers fired. A special board meeting was held. Last night was the regular board meeting where a decision would be rendered. Turn out was high. Several media people were present.

Two hours of emotional comments from the audience. The victim's sister spoke about having a horrible childhood because her older brother wasn't there for her. The brother she looked up to was torn apart. She spoke of being scared to return to the school this year with some of the teachers there.

Two hours of closed session. Some left as they had to be at work the next day. Most stayed. The auditorium was hot. Fans were set up, people wandered outside. Police presence remained. It was a waiting game. And the school attorneys were involved.

When they returned, it was as if a pall had fallen over the room. There was silence. The board president read what the board had decided to do. Basically punish all teachers by making them take ethics training. Seriously, they are worried about a law suit and not the safety and well-being of children??? Then they read a pathetic letter signed by the six teachers (now referred to as the Gang of Six). They don't condone child molestation...but they wrote letters of leniency for a child molester. They empathize with the victim and his family....they have not spoken to the victim or his family. In fact, one even got into an altercation with the victim's mother and state police had to be called. Where is this empathy???????

As the support group for the family silently followed the victim's family from the auditorium one parent yelled, "I hope you're happy, no one else is." He spoke the sentiments of all.

People who have worked so hard to make something positive come out of this, were crushed to the point to tears. They are regrouping and will work on the next course of action. First will be the recall of the board member who sat with the pedophile's family in court to show support. His wife is one of the Gang of Six.

Second, is the one feared by most. Many are pulling their children from the district. They will home school, send children to a charter school, the local Catholic school, or some other district. Pulling kids will be a huge loss to an already financially stressed district. At $7000/child it won't take many to cripple the district. At last count 60 were gone at a cost of $420,000. The district has already closed one building and cut just about everything it can. This does not bode well for them.

Third will be to try and work with the school so parents can remove their children from these children's classes. So far, the school is honoring those requests. How long they can do this will remain to be seen.

Is this over? Not by a long shot. Parents whose taxes support this school were ignored. They are not happy. They also vote. This is going to get ugly before it gets better. The school drew a line in the sand saying it's us against you. That is a shame.