Saturday, October 6, 2012

Three Teachers Arrested For Sex With Students

The arrests come after a two-month investigation. According to a statement released by the prosecutor's office, a student informed a substitute teacher in April about inappropriate relationships between male teachers and female students. The substitute teacher then notified Principal Catherine DePaul, 55, who, "in contravention to her legal responsibilities, failed to contact local law enforcement or the state Division of Children and Families and inform either of the allegations," the statement said.
Instead, DePaul met with the female student who told her that "teachers and students were hooking up," the criminal complaint states. According to the prosecutor's statement, DuPaul asked the student to write an account of the allegations. Vice-Principal Jernee Kollock, 39, "stayed in the room with the student, advised her on what to write and corrected versions of the student's account."
Prosecutors said Kollock admitted that she tried to protect the teachers.
 The three teachers were working in an environment that didn't seem to restrict inappropriate contact.  When given a chance to do the right thing, she "corrected versions of the student's account" to save aggravation for the school.  She failed to report unethical behavior and then actively tried to cover it up.

Teachers are in positions of power.  The age difference is only part of the issue, this is more like sexual harassment than a regular relationship (which would still be iffy territory).


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