Topic : 06/12 Teacher Sex Scandal, Part 1

To a great extent I do agree with you and Jillyinoc that a teacher should never be alone with a student, but fifteen years ago when I was teaching, I lived right in the middle of town in the only house for rent in the little backwater place, and it was impossible to keep my location secret, and ultimately I had students coming by to say hi. Now, I had NO intentions of ever messing with my own life and job by messing with these kids, and frankly, as an adult I had no attraction to high school kids, and I would encourage them to move along after five minutes or so. Of course, I never had students show up by themselves, always with friends along, and I left the front door open the whole time they were there so there was never a chance I would be suspected of anything, and thus never was. Shoot, even 20 years ago, when I was a student in high school, I remember me and a couple of friends going over to see our journalism teacher at her new apartment to give her a house-warming gift!

It makes me sad that because someone like Mary Kay Latourneau broke the rules, that all teachers are now suspected before anything happens. Teachers have it hard enough as it is without this new thing overshadowing their daily work, and I think it's horrible that anyone accused and then vindicated of such charges should still lose their jobs and whatever life they made for themselves because some little punks feel the need to hurt someone just to make themselves feel like big men. SHEESH.

But just as a sidenote - right before I made the decision to leave the teaching business, we had a teacher meeting during which our principal advised us to NEVER touch a child, even if it's just a pat on the back. Why? Because we could be accused of "hitting" the kid and get sued. Now, this wasn't a warning for our own benefit - it was for the benefit of the SCHOOL BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION! There is so much fear of being sued in the schools these days that we can't even give kids the positive reinforcement of patting them on the back and saying, "GOOD JOB!" Once he told us that, all the heart of my job went out the window and I gave it up for good at the end of that year. There is no joy left in teaching, and situations such as these are not encouraging for those who want to teach and are very good at it. It's downright SCARY.

And it is VERY wrong to sexually assault a child these TEENAGERS should know better, especially if they have a GOOD upbringing and not just "prominent" parents that buy off a lie detector to go in their so-call CHRISTIAN son favor.  HE IS A LIAR!!!  I have real problem that the family of LIARS didn't want to show their faces if they have nothing to hide and the LIARS think they are innocent.  I can't wait to hear and see the 3rd accuser tomorrow.  At least he is visible. 

P.S.  Joelle, I hope you suit the hell out of that town and WIN!!! 

I know Dr. Phil walks a fine line in treating all parties to disputes with fairness--and I've always respected him for being diligent about doing so.  But he was really close today to disrespecting Joelle.  It seemed as if he was being very critical of her ability to come on the show and discuss things logically--he was actually disappointed that she wasn't weeping and crying.  Believe me, I've been where she is and there will be occasions, years from now, when retelling the pain of what she went through and the horrors that she anticipated could happen will overwhelim her and she will shed tears and get angry and feel 101 raw emotions. But to try on today's show to make her look mechanic, stoic or casual was a low-blow for Dr. Phil.  I expect better.  An articulate, smart woman who has lived with these lies and accusations for five years ... who has had to retell over and over her story, and listen to a wide range of stories from the other side countless times ... can certainly muster enough internal strength to come on the show and recount again her story without crumpling into an emotional mess!  And, trust me, I know that when you've spent days, weeks, months, years, fighting court battles and appearing before councils and panels and kinds of judges, when you and your family have incurred over a $100,000 in legal bills, you DO start to feel and sound a bit like an legal beagle yourself!  Don't criticize her for it.  Pity her!  She would not sound like an attorney if she hadn't spent so much of her time during the last five years "in the system."

She came on the show because in the recent O.J. Simpson show Dr. Phil commented about the level of detail that the ghostwriter was able to share from O.J. ... smells, noticing tiny details about the dog, etc.  And he commented that level of specificity would be hard to fake.  Then today, he briefly indicated that the boy on the phone was detailed and specific and quick to respond.  He was rehearsed and prepared!  And he didn't even have to face his questioner--he was at home with mom!  More importantly, his level of detail did NOT come close to describing the mood, the smells, the feelings of the moment ... his two details (a wrap-around skirt and leopard bra) were notes which could have easily been added to the story over years of retelling--especially after previous versions were effectivedly discredited.  

Lastly, I know that the harm many children face at the hands of abusers, neglectful parents, and those in authority who steal their innocence is an abomination and atrocity.  If one more show was going to truly help us resolve the problem, I'd be all for it . . . but it seems to me, that in our fear, we have created an environment where far too many individuals can be falsely accused.  The pain these individuals falsely accused live with is significant, the changes that it brings to their lives are life-long.  And, oh, by the way.  Before someone says that the potential harm a child faces is always more important than the scarring a falsely accused adult faces, let me remind you:  the falsely accused have children, too, and they pay a huge price by having mommy or daddy labeled a pedophile.  I've never seen anyone show the slightest concern about what happens inside the falsely accused's family/home!  Dr. Phil consider that as a show!

Regarding the comment about the lie detector test he passed.  HOGWASH - if your parent was Mayor of the town you would undoubtedly have a 'passed' test no matter how bad you failed.  I find no credence in that passed test what-so-ever.

AND YES - I was a tad disappointed in Dr. Phil's remark about her non-emotional attitude, too.  BUT  -  I love ya, Dr. Phil and since Ibelieve you do and say everything for a reason I'm going to let you slide on this one!!

So the woman is never convicted, meaning she has not been found guilty of anything, and you wouldn't say "she would do this again"?  What would she perhaps do again?  Do you have first hand knowledge?  Were you there when these acts were supposedly taking place?

You know NOTHING!  You are condeming this woman on gossip!

This kind of judgement is horrid.  You'd best hope someone, perhaps a liar (or three liars) never point a finger in your direction.  It may not may any difference that you may be innocent.

Glen Rose is a small Texas town of about 2,000 in a country of about 7,000.  Glen Rose ISD has a taxable property base of 2 BILLION dollars from a Nuclear Power Plant in the County, etc. 

If there is no more "evidence", unlikely after 5 years (since 2002).

the 3 boys parents pay her yearly salary is a start.

Next the settlement should include the school board giving her an apology and resigned and never run for another public office.

The superintendent resigning since he "says the teacher got over"  with no gold parachute or retirement.

Olgetree not only be allowed to walk on any school property she wants to, but welcomed by the principal and their staff.

Olgetree get her job back with all back benefits and potential promotions with no actions taken against  her.

All Legal fees paid by the school board.   In addition, an appropriate settlement in the "millions"   to remind Glen Rose ISD that she was wrongfully terminated.  Glen Rose gets 5 times the average school Isd from its tax base. 

Any future charges of school wrong doing be reviewed and approved by the TEA or Licensing board. 

Any future charges of crime be turned over to attorney general office.  (local county or area prosecutors   or police can not arrest or prosecute her) . 

I would say the school board should pay her mortgage and maybe appropriate high end house in a high end area of Glen Rose.   

Now that's a good start.