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Posts: 931851Timestamp: Wed Dec 03, 08 5:27 PM
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| Post URL: Update & Opinion - School drops Crystal Gunns case
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Update & Opinion - School drops Crystal Gunns case
You've probably already read my blog entry about Louisa C. Tuck (aka Crystal Gunns) and the s
Sacha Kinksky
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:26:56 +0000
You've probably already read my blog entry about Louisa C. Tuck (aka Crystal Gunns) and the school district that had planned to fire her. If you haven't read it, go back there and get caught up on the story!!
Now the district has decided to drop the case. The question of the day is this - who ratted her out?
Charles D. Ottinger, Superintendent of Schools at Vineland School District, states:
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Neither the Vineland Board of Education nor the Vineland Public School District initiated the investigation into Louisa Tuck. We started our investigation after a reporter for The Daily Journal contacted our board president.
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In an article by AdultFYI.com, the statement by Mr. Ottinger includes concerns for the students and their families but does not denigrate Ms. Tuck for her previous employment. He also states that he understands how many students are exposed to various items of questionable nature on a daily basis.
It is admirable how Mr. Ottinger believes the school district should help be the "moral compass" for the students. But, this is obviously a man with his head on straight and a firm grip on reality. He believes that if the employees conduct themselves in a professional and forthright manner at all times there shouldn't be a problem. Isn't that the way it should be?
Mr. Ottinger said that only upon hearing the allegations did the school district seek legal counsel for input. After being advised that nothing could or should be done, the district ended it's investigation. And that's as it should be. To drag something on just because other people have their feathers in a ruff is not good business and not good for the students. If the parents and town busybodies can't let it go, then it's their fault when the kids have problems with it.
I do take issue with part of Mr. Ottinger's statement, however. He says:
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I certainly understand that people make mistakes, and when given the opportunity many people learn from their mistakes and actually become better people for having gone through that type of experience. While we want to teach our students about forgiveness, we also want them to understand that certain behavior is still considered by many to be unacceptable. Notwithstanding that point, it has been made clear to me that most of our parents do not want their children involved in any type of negative behavior they feel might have a detrimental impact on their children's futures. So there really is a fine line between forgiveness and accountability, and both are important life lessons.
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Make mistakes? Who said she made a mistake? And who is he to judge whether her previous life choices were wrong or not?
I can agree with keeping kids from "unacceptable behavior," but let's remember that there are many teachers and other school employees across this country who are either alleged to have had or convicted of illicit activities with their students! Shouldn't we be more concerned about keeping the children away from them? Those are the people that can actually hurt them, not some static photo or video on a website an elementary child shouldn't be viewing anyway. That's the parents' responsibility to keep the kids away from porn! It's only the school's responsibility during school hours.
And for the parents who "do not want their children involved in any type of negative behavior" -- get a life! If you're going to shelter your children so much that they never, ever hear a foul word or see a questionable photo, then don't expect the rest of society to pick up after your mess when your kids can't deal with the real world.
There are reports all over the news about "helicopter parents" who just can't let go and expect "Billy" and "Susie" to get top grades, the best teachers, and no responsibilities just because they whine about it (the parents, that is, not the kids). These are the types of parents that have children who can't function the first time someone reprimands them at their first job when they do something outrageously unsafe. These are the parents who have children who can't pass a class in college and the instructors are sick to death of hearing their students ask if mom or dad can call to negotiate a higher grade.
A little self-responsibility is what people need. And if you have children too young to be responsible for themselves, remember that they are your children. They don't belong to the school district, church, civic group, or any other agency you want to pawn off your responsibilities to raise your kids.
"Forgiveness and accountability are both important life lessons," to paraphrase Mr. Ottinger. Let's all be more forgiving after we've taken responsibility for our own families and lives.
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