Passing the Trash

It's called "Passing the Trash." That's what they call the practice of allowing "itinerant abusers" to move from one area to another when trouble arises. Sound familiar? But it isn't priests we are talking about. It's school teachers, and the practice is widespread, according to Education Week in a a three-part series called "A Trust Betrayal " written in -- are you ready? 1998.

I found the report through a Google search. The result of a six-month project, Education Week conducted a survey of 50 states. Assembling a data base based on wire service clippings, archives, computer databases and thousands of news articles from March through August of 1998, they found 244 cases that were active in either criminal or civil courts or being handled by school district investigators. In just a six month period.

I am working my way through the series, but this subhead struck me: 'Passing the Trash' by School Districts Frees Sexual Predators To Hunt Again." Since the 1980s, according to the report,

many school lawyers have been urging their clients ...to adopt policies of limited or no disclosure about past employees.

The whole thing sounds uncannily like the Catholic Church experience. The only thing missing is the media posture of outrage.

The series can be found at Education Week. link

9 - 10 - 11

Not a new problem I found these in a Google search:
11 - Lansing teacher, 44, on trial for sex with 14 year old girl. link Feb 16, 2002
- GA - Two part series on teachers and students and sex. link April 30, 2002

In recent weeks, three teachers from Cherokee County have resigned. One in DeKalb is under investigation. And a school resource officer from Clayton was fired -- all allegedly had inappropriate relations with students.

- Teacher sex scandals cast dark cloud over educators" link April 7, 2001

From mid-February to mid-March, three teachers resigned from Woodstock High School (GA) -- located in the affluent Atlanta suburb of Woodstock -- amid charges and allegations of sexual misconduct with students.. Less than a week later, another coach-teacher, 25-year-old Gene R. Groves, resigned amid similar accusations.

10 - Gainesville, FL Female teacher and 15-year old boy link April 12, 2002

Cardenas had sex with the teen at his home numerous times between January 2000 and September 2001, White said. Cardenas gave birth to their baby girl last year and has been caring for her since then, White added.

9 - Lawsuit -Fairfield, OH music teacher sentenced to 2 years link March 15, 2002
UPDATE: A May 30, 2002 story notes that this is the thrid time in five years that a Fairfield teacher has been accused of an improper relationship with a student.
- S.C. school settles teacher sex-abuse cases lawsuit link November 29, 2000

Not just the U.S.

ITEM: It's not just in the U.S. May 2
"The Canadian teacher at the centre of a British schoolboy scandal yesterday accused a disciplinary panel of being "hung up on the sex thing" as it handed her the toughest penalty ever for professional misconduct," reports Sarah Schmidt in the National Post. Amy Gehring, 26, "was found guilty of seven charges of professional misconduct, including sexual abuse of students related to trysts involving British boys, aged 14 to 16." In her trial, a 11th grade student testified Ms. Gehring seduced him at her home when he was a 16-year-old virgin. The article concludes with:

Still, Ms. Gehring said the college need not worry because she has no plans to return to teaching. ''I didn't plan on teaching very long anyways. I didn't go into it for the right reasons.''

Ms. Gehring thinks she would have been a natural teacher. ''I know if my heart was in it, I could be a good teacher,'' she said, with a slight British accent still lingering.

From the National Post, May 2, 2001.

Green Bay, WI - May 16, 2002

ITEM: Psychologist convicted --- May 16
A Green Bay, WI psychologist, convicted of sexual exploitation of a 16-year old girl in his capacity as a therapist, was sentenced to two years, followed by nine years of extended supervision and probation. "A group of about 40 supporters stood as DeLain was led away in handcuffs, and one man called out, "We love you, Michael." The prosecutor hoped for a stronger sentence. He noted "that the most aggressive sexual encounter occurred only one week after the girl was released from a psychiatric hospital and was most vulnerable." story from the Green Bay News Chronicle.
UPDATE: May 15th DeLain was sentenced to two years in prison, five years of extended supervision and another four years of probation. He also received a concurrent six-month term on a charge of obstructing an officer in the case. He maintains his innocence. link