response 14 of 26:

Oct 19 17:24 UTC 2003

I think that there are often situations where people have different 
perceptions about things. It is completely possible that this teacher 
was touching the student in a way he sees as being innocent and 
helpful. The student however, may have felt genuinely harrassed. I know 
that I come from a family that doesnt do a lot of touching. I would 
have been very uncomfortable if a teacher hugged me in school. Anyhow, 
it isnt desirable to live in a society were people who are simply 
accused of something lose their jobs but it also is important to 
respect that the accuser's feelings about this may be real and valid. 

response 16 of 26:

Oct 19 17:36 UTC 2003

"May I shake your hand?"

response 18 of 26:

Oct 20 02:39 UTC 2003

I don't know what the facts are, either, but I think it's a good thing 
if:

1) A petition doesn't have much weight.

Unless the petition-signers have actual knowledge of the event, they 
shouldn't have any say over how it's handled.  A popular teacher would 
be able to harrass a new or unpopular student in any way at all if 
things were done that way.

2) The teacher's role in the school (ie, advanced math teacher) 
doesn't carry much weight.

Nothing justifies harrassment.  Even if you're in an important role 
for your students.

3) There's some sort of investigation.

Looking at it one way, this girl came into school encountered a bad 
situation, tried to do what was needed, and is now ostracized right 
out of the school.

Looking at it another way, a good teacher was canned for nothing at 
all, other than being accused, possibly by mistake.

With no charges, the guy will never have to face the accusation again. 
He'll just go off to another school in a year or so and teach again.  
As long as he's innocent, that's fine.  If he's not, he can victimize 
someone else.

However, there's no way to vindicate yourself from such a situation.  
Even if he's found to be really innocent, having his name in the 
papers would probably really decrease his chances of working in the 
same state.  I have no answers for that particular problem.  I am not 
sure there are any good answers in that case.

response 20 of 26:

Oct 21 14:35 UTC 2003

I have really mixed feelings about this.  I think it's important to
protect people from unwanted sexual advances.  On the other hand,
someone I know had to spend lots of money he couldn't really afford
defending himself from a bogus sexual harassment lawsuit.  All someone
has to do to ruin your life these days, especially if you're male, is
make the accusation.  If you're in a particularly sensitive occupation,
like a teacher, just the public accusation is enough to derail your career.

response 22 of 26:

Oct 23 21:18 UTC 2003

My mother is a middle-school teacher; both my girlfriend and my brother's are
working on their teaching certificate's, and my mom's number one piece of
advice to them is "never be alone in a room with one student".  People need
to be protected from sexual harassment, and accusations need to be taken
seriously, but there comes a point where you can take the accusations *too*
seriously.  When people can cry rape whenever they dislike somebody, knowing
that their target's reputation/family life/career will be trashed regardless
of the truth, the false accusations will eventually drown out the real one,
and the *real* harassment will go unaddressed.

Teachers (and other public figures) need to heed the advice of "always have
a witness", but accusations need to be investigated to every extent possible,
and false accusations vigorously undone--every teacher falsely accused of
harassment needs to be returned to hir classroom--when possible, so keep the
signal from being lost in the noise.

*Not* punishing the falsely accused is as important to the interests of
victims as punishing the guilty.

response 24 of 26:

Oct 26 19:31 UTC 2003

Could be, but it's still the case that due process should precede
judgement.

response 26 of 26:

Nov 27 08:13 UTC 2003

*whore*