Topic : 12/06 Teacher Troubles

I do agree the parents are responcible here because I feel if more kids had computers out in the family room instead of their rooms we would see less porn viewed by underage kids and my space stuff going on.  Parents don't keep close enough tabs on what our kids are doing.  We need to be in their faces and checking out what they do on the computer.   Do I feel this teacher is going overboard with going after the parents for money? YES!   She says it will make her safer and I don't by it.  IF she feels so unsafe then why does she still work at that school?   If it is truly that bad why not move?   I am a mother of 2 kids and believe me have had a discussion with a mother or two who think their boys are perfect and wouldn't do any thing like that until I printed out their sons myspace stuff and gave it to them to read for themselves.   We need to wake up and see that we don't have little good boys and girls anymore.  We would love that and if we are over their shoulders more I think we would be closer to the mark. 

   As a teacher, I admit you are right about us not knowing how to deal with all our students' problems. Sir, are you also aware that ,due to privacy laws, we are often not allowed to even be told about these problems? My daughter is bipolar and I have learned as much about it as I can, but as a teacher, I am not qualified to "treat" these students. In my class alone last year (8th grade), I had a pregnant student (second child by her step-father!), I had several physically abused children-yes, we reported it-, and a student living in a trailer with 23 other people. You know what? The only thing my students and I are being "held accountable for" is the score on one test.  No exceptions-are the schools stressed? You bet!

This case reminded me of a situation (although,perhaps, not as serious) when I was the around the same age as these "kids".  When I was 13 I kicked a soccer ball once too often against a neighbour's house.  He grabbed the ball and threatened to keep it.  I got mad and picked up a rock and threw it through his front door window.

 

My father had to pay for the broken window ... but I also dearly paid for this transgretion !!! ... I was ordered to apologize for the incident and I had to cut the neighbour's lawn (push mower) once a week for the whole summer.  The neighbour accepted the apology and indicated that the cutting of the grass was not necessay ... but it was!

 

I learned a lesson ... and I never purposly broke an other window in my life !!!

 

The teacher is seeking "accountability" with the student and the family  (and I agree with this) ... but I think there may be a better way ...

 

The letter from the young lad saying that he "planned" never to do this typy of "prank" again, and his parents plea not to subject them to judicial harm, is totally insufficiant !! This response sounds too much like a canned letter dictated by a lawyer for the family.  What I suspect may be a lawyer's words, indicate a greater degree of concern for the financial repercussions on the family than the serious impact of acknowledging and accepting accountability by this young man ... and his family!!!

 

If the young man and his family are truely remorseful, then let them demonstrate it publically (such as with a public apology and some sort of community service) ... I suspect that such a positive action will go a lot further than continuing in a long and fruitless legal battle against the family.

 

"Sue Your Neighbour" is becoming (in both the USA and Canada) a far too common and destructive retort to problems ... this is not the way to teach our children right from wrong !!! ... and the only ones that win are the lawyers ... not the victims, nor the families, nor the children !!! 

 

If the young lad does this and is sincere ... and if the teacher does not accept it ... then I would suggest that perhaps the problem may lay more likely with the teacher (seeking a monetary gain from an act of stupidity by a child) than with the young man. 

 

Dannyboy53

I was very disappointed and angry about the manner in which you dealt with the teacher on today's show.  She is absolutly correct in taking the action she is taking.  Its always an excuse for the behaviour of these 'kids'.  The parents reaction -no face to face- is indicative of the attitude taken. 

I taught high school for 10 years and even tough parents were requested to come in and talk about their troubled kids many didn't respond until they may had rightfully failed for wasting time, then parents came, not to the teacher, but to the principle, to bail them out and not have them responsible for their actions or lack of them.

It is too bad to have a feloney  follow them through live BUT maybe this has to happen to make parents awaken to when their kids are doing all evening on the computer.  You truly felt sorry for the kids and that was very dissaponting to shame them for the monetary damage.  Did you not hear them that it was not the  money but to get these parents and kids responsilbe.

You said the poor parents will have to pay, well that is too bad.  That is the problem.

What are we teaching our kids.

My son, in senior year, wanted me to call in sick so he could go to senior ditch day, my response was I really wasn't against him going but he will have to suffer the consequeces of his actions.

I would not make excuses for him.

Today he is a good responsible 46 year old citizen that knows where his kids are on the internet.

Dr Phl-you disappointed me and many of my friends.

Pat

She should reconsider, however, civil suits against all the boys instead of criminal charges.

What documented proof do you have that the Presidents daughters are alcoholics.  I watch a lot of news and have never heard anyone say that they are alcoholics.   But my main point is how do the presidents daughter even fit into this topic.  I don't remember them being mentioned even once during the show, this show was about wether a teacher should get her job back because she was in a porn movie years ago, not that the presidents daughters are alcoholics and they teach so this women should be able to also.  My first reaction about the teacher being in a porn movie years ago was "I don't want that person teaching my child" but after listening to the who show, I wouldn't have a problem with her being my teacher.  I would be more worried about the students that have the porn and what the parents are doing about that.

 

Also about the Vice-princpal filing charges against the students and the parents for creating a website full of lies about her.  Good for her.  To often parents will just cover up or make accuses for the behavior of the childern.  Also, the school can't do much to the students unless the web site was created at school off of a school computer.  This was done on their own and it wasn't a school activity. Once the kids out of school and any school activities, their actions become the responsiblity of their parents, not the schools.  The schools have no control over what they do at home, that is the parents job.

Dr. Phil,

I seldom disagree with your opinion but in the case of the Teacher troubles and the Principal who had myspace.com issues, I think civil action is the correct way to handle the boys who posted the information.

 

I understand they have remorse, especially when they are facing a felony offense. But let's be real, given the court system today, what are the odds of them actually being convicted of a felony?

 

The U.S. education system is on the rocks today. Teachers are at risk in classroom, their pay - not the administrators, the actual teacher's salaries are horrible. I think it's time the children and parents receive a clear message that destroying another person's credibility is not going to be tolerated.

I am a high school teacher.  The assistant principal is right. The states provide little in regard to protection for teachers.  In my case, the State of Florida loves to pile the work and the stress onto teachers but when students are disruptive and violent, there is no remedy.  We are supposed to be understanding.  What those students did was reprehensible---it damaged this woman's reputation.......and, in the words of Benjamin Franklin, "a reputation is like fine china---it's very easily broken and not very well mended."  The students AND the parents should be made to pay........and money is the ONLY thing that gets anyone's attention. (basic economic concept)   I hope the assistant principal gets evidence on the other students so that everyone gets the message.  The kids think it's joke???  Ha Ha.....who is laughing now?

 

I would also hope that the Congressmen throughout the nation were watching this show.  Many people PROFESS vigilant support of the teaching profession but little action is taken.  "No Child Left Behind" piles the work onto teachers and does nothing in the way of compensation..... (except to Neil Bush, who is making millions off of software that is lacking in essential subject matter.)  In our state, teachers are leaving the profession in record numbers.   I'm sorry......the teacher in the first segment lost her job because of indiscretions in youth (albeit, I believe she should keep her job), and these students AND their parents need to be reminded of their indiscretions as well......

 I was torn at first about how I would as a parent react to finding out that one of my childrens teachers  had a past in the pornogrophy industry.....I came to the conclusion that we all make mistakes and if for some reason my children became aware of this information about the teacher...I would sit them down and discuss with them what they may feel of think about this, I would encourage them to not pass judgement and realize that everyone makes mistakes and it is not for us to judge. It would be an oppertunity to discuss how women are exploited in that industry and also a very good example of how one can pull themselves out of a horrible situation and make themselves better and become successful!
Clearly this woman was an awesome teacher, parents, co-workers and students did not seem to have a problem with her prior to becoming aware of this information from her past, to turn around and condemn her and question her as a teacher and a role model after finding this out is ignorant to say the least.
With that being said, I think that it is not possible for her to go back to work at the school she was at due to the publicity from this. It would be unfair to expect anyone to be able to "return to normal status quo" after this. That is unfortunate, however I do feel that she should be able to continue teaching....she has proved herself!
I commend her on her accomplishments!
My 11 year old daugther watched this episode with me, we are now discussing this topic.
Way to go Dr.Phil for addressing another great topic important to both parents and children!