Topic : 06/12 Teacher Sex Scandal, Part 1

As a teacher working with children and youth, I think it is not at all unbelievable that a student and his buddies could/would concoct a story about their teacher.  As we have seen in many situations, teenagers can be just as malicious and devious as anyone and we have seen false accusations happen before when some teens want to make an adult's life miserable.It almost seemed to me like these guys cannot let go of the situation and need to save face, so continue to hold strong to their story.  I think  that anyone who has undergone what he supposedly had would want to see this so-called "monster" (isn't that what we would refer to a pedophile as???) in jail.  He seemed to have some other sort of personal vendetta against this teacher.  Was he a young student with a huge crush (and believe me, that happens all the time, regardless of the teacher's obliviousness to it) he was embarrassed that she did not return his overtures so he needed to make her pay? 

Please understand, as a mother and a teacher, I certainly never could endorse any kind of abuse against children ever, however, we adults have rights too, and too often, I think there are some really vicious people out there who make a mockery of the system that is supposed to protect the real victims.

Dr. Phil commented on how he was surprised at the way she was responding to the situation on the show.  As far as how she has responding on the show, I can only imagine that, as the case continues, she has grown somewhat numb to the atrocities that have been hurled her way and has had to try to remain as composed as possible.  To me, it looked like she was going to vomit when the former student came out on stage, and who wouldn't want to??? I am no psychologist, so maybe this was Dr. Phil's way of drawing her out.  Maybe she is just a really introverted person, or maybe, to keep herself from losing sanity, she has to focus on non-emotional facts of the case.  Maybe the situation of being seen inf front of thousands of viewers and on stage made her uncomfortable; who knows, all I know is that she did not appear to be a woman who was not affected by this situation.

In summary, I would have to say that I feel this woman has been wrongly accused and does not get paid nearly enough to have to have dealt with the allegations made about her (and hey, I recognize that it is not all about the money...).  This is her life we are talking about and people need to step up and re-evaluate the situation.  Sure, she could teach somewhere else, but any potential employer would surely have some reservations considering this incident.  I think that the evidence is fairly strong to clear her name and give her a chance back at life.  These boys should have to endure the shame she and her family have gone through and perhaps re-think their stance.

Growing up in the streets of Brooklyn I have experienced alot!! and I mean alot! I was very good-looking and popular,I have had many older women at a very young age and I can tell you that the students are out right LYING and I am drawing this conclusion from experience, and I am sure if anyone has been in an older woman situation would agree! In all my experiences with older women it never lasted more than 30 seconds because as a boy I would simply have an orgasm in my pants!! and no one admitted to this happening! if i am coming acroos a little vulgar I apologize but those are the facts!!

Thank you,

STREETGUY

The things you remember when topics get opened for discussion!  If I had had sex with half of the guys who bragged about it...I could have been a "pro".  It hurt then, today, I just laugh...I was a virgin when I got married...so the important people in my life know the truth...all that counts.

I wonder if this case ever would have made it to a trial in New York.  To me, there was no real evidence...a "he said, she said", seldom goes that far here...not even with younger children.  The "Burden of Proof" often results in honest cases getting tossed for lack of proper or sufficient evidence. 

You must protect innocent people from this...it often protects the guity, but without evidence, you can't really know...you can think...it's not enough to erase "reasonable doubt". 

I believe she is innocent.  I don't, and can't know, as I wasn't present.  Anyone who feels otherwise, keep your teens away from her...instill accountability in them.  If you sense danger, stay away...but in not really knowing, it's a rough call.  Gossip is very dangerous...that old saying "sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never harm me"...I'd rather have the sticks, stones, broken bones than to be accused of molesting children.  That's one old adage completely outdated.  May be a free pass to lie...names do hurt, and children must be taught that...

I think we've become too permissive in our dealings with children...if you are strict, it is seen as "abusive", and everybody has become an expert on "parenting".  Take a look at the youth of today...the drugs, the sex, the cutting...they all have these rights...and due to their immaturity, are so far out of  control, it is disturbing.

How can kids learn right from wrong with this pukey parenting...then you wonder why they can take it too far....because they have never had to face any real consequence for poor behavior. 

I commend you and your husband for stressing values...more should follow suit , as there must be accountability on the part of children.  Some kids are mean...it's a fact of life....and they lie...I believe that to be the case here.

Most of the guests on Dr. Phil's shows are really loud, vulgar, aggressive, & over-dramatize things. They're nothing like any people I've ever met.

Mrs. Oglethorpe acted like a mature adult & calmly pointed out all those boys' lies. Why should she have to scream and swear to be believed?

 My guess is that those boys were originally fantasizing & then pretended the fantasies were real & then were too embarrassed to admit what they'd done.  They're the ones who should be punished for nearly ruining Mrs. Oglethorpe's life.

After seeing both parts of this story I have mixed emotions.  If the boys are telling the truth (and I am not confident that they are), then I am truly sorry for their experience and feel that they have been taken advantage of by someone who was supposed to model the behavior of a responsible adult. 

However, if they have lied about their experience then they have ruined the life of a good woman and the lives of her husband and child.  I work in education myself and it is a stressful, tiring, and sometimes thankless job.  Teachers are not paid what they should be paid and given the huge responsibility of being educator, mentor, and often emotional supporter in the lives of children.  I find it disturbing in this womans case that her own school district has not supported their employee in any way or even given her the opportunity to defend herself against hormone-ridden teenage boys who may have possibly made these reports only for the vendictive purpose of hurting her.  It bothers me even more that even though charges were dropped and she has been allowed to retain her teaching license, that she isn't even allowed to just be a mother and volunteer in her child's class.  If the district is so concerned with the well-being of their students, they why aren't they concerned about her child too who is also their student?  What kind of mixed message are they sending to this little girl who probably doesn't understand what has happened with her mother?

In this day and age, all anyone has to do is whisper abuse without any reason and lives are ruined.  You are guilty until proven innocent, and even then you can't take back what you have lost.  I am grateful that there are laws to protect those who have been abused, but there is nothing to protect the innocent from hateful accusations meant to destroy lives.  I hope that, with the support of her husband and family, Joelle is able to pick up the pieces and move forward with her life.