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Originally Posted by Chris Fultz
As my post says, I am all for screening. Maybe not FIRST's way - I think there were some real issues with the policy - but some type of adult screening. Our host school requires it, so the team was already covered. My read on the FIRST policy was that if a public high school team was already screening, their existing process could continue.
I was not trying to say that a church group was any better (or any worse) than FIRST volunteers. I was trying to make the point that most large organized groups have required screening of adult leaders for several years - Little League, YMCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Churchs and on and on - it is surprising that FIRST is just now starting.
My intent was not to offend or insult anyone - sorry if I did.
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If we were truly dealing with children in this issue, my feelings would probably be much different. The audience we're trying to protect here are young adults from the ages of 14-18. They're almost ready to enter that cold, cruel world we as adults operate in. Some of the responsibility needs to shift towards them when it comes to figuring out when situations are wrong and how to avoid them.
I believe that FIRST is succumbing to pressure from that group of people, collectively known as lawyers, to cover their butts before something comes to light. It is inevitable that when you put men, women, boys and girls together something "seamy" is going to happen. Ask the US military fighting the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistann....one would think that they'd have other things on their minds....but have heard of pregnancies rising in those areas of operations. The school personnel, mentors and students share a responsibility in maintaining an atmosphere that prevents "bad things" from happening to "good people."
I'll use the recent news headline about a 49 year old female teacher seducing and engaging in terrible conduct with an 11 year old male student as an example. Text to follow:
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A 49-year-old music teacher has been charged with having a sexual relationship with a boy she first seduced when he was 11 years old, authorities said.
Carol Flannigan, a teacher at Rolling Green Elementary in Boynton Beach, was arrested Wednesday on six charges, including two counts of capital sexual battery on a child under 12. Authorities said the relationship lasted for 19 months.
Flannigan had developed a close relationship with the boy and his family after he took her music class, inviting him and two younger brothers to sleep over at her Boca Raton home.
The stepmother of the boy, now 13, asked Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to investigate after finding sexually suggestive text messages on his cell phone Tuesday.
After interviewing the boy, investigators listened in on a phone call the boy made to Flannigan in which she told him to continue lying about their relationship, according to an arrest report.
The Department of Children & Families had investigated Flannigan in 2002, after her husband told a marriage counselor she had described feelings she had when she kissed a 12-year-old boy, according the report.
DCF and police concluded there was no indication of sexual abuse or inappropriate touching and closed that case after the boy said he had "tap kissed" Flannigan but had not felt uncomfortable, the report said.
Law enforcement officials were unable to confirm whether the boy in the DCF probe was the same as the one at the focus of Wednesday's arrest.
The accused teacher had undoubtedly passed through background checks in her school position....but guess what? She still was able to inappropriately interact with a student 35+ years her junior. Who's to say that she wasn't an adult mentor with a Lego League team...that would be the approving authority for YOUR mentor application to work with students?
Kinda makes you think. Why can't we adults simply assume the leadership roles, students take the follower/learner/(and of course teacher role for us old people) and lets get back on track and make the world a better place through recognizing science and technology?
See you on the high ground!
Jim