Monday, October 22, 2007

AP: Sexual Misconduct Plagues US Schools

Posted at chicagotribune.com.

Students in America's schools are groped. They're raped. They're pursued, seduced and think they're in love.

An Associated Press investigation found more than 2,500 cases over five years in which educators were punished for actions from bizarre to sadistic.

There are 3 million public school teachers nationwide, most devoted to their work. Yet the number of abusive educators -- nearly three for every school day -- speaks to a much larger problem in a system that is stacked against victims.

Most of the abuse never gets reported. Those cases reported often end with no action. Cases investigated sometimes can't be proven, and many abusers have several victims.

And no one -- not the schools, not the courts, not the state or federal governments -- has found a surefire way to keep molesting teachers out of classrooms.

When you surrender you children to others to care for them, you not only loose control of what your children are taught, but also what they are subjected to. Ultimately, as I've said many times before, you are responsible for what your children are taught and subjected to. Unless you feel certain that your children are safe in the hands of those in whom you have entrusted them to, you are being careless. I realize that no one can remove all risk 100%, however as parents is there any reason why we should not try?

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