It seems like every time I open up the paper, turn on the television or log onto the internet, I learn about another child who has been sexually abused by an adult. It’s gotten so bad that recently I read about a former sex offender counselor from Mesa who plead guilty to four counts of sexually-related offenses with a 13-year-old girl and unlawful administration of a narcotic drug. To make matters worse, the girl’s mother plead guilty to similar charges after reportedly taking photos of the sex acts while her daughter was dosed with sleeping pills.
Are you kidding me? This guy is supposed to be part of the solution, not the problem. And what’s going on with Mom anyhow?
A few days earlier, I read about a 51-year-old science teacher in the Higley Unified School District who was accused of inappropriately touching two female students, ages 13 and 14. The teacher has resigned. This incident was preceded a few days earlier by a 32-year-old gym teacher at St. Gregory’s Catholic School in Phoenix who has admitted to having sex with a 13-year-old girl. The gym teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
Are you aware that since 1998, nearly 60 teachers from East Valley schools alone have surrendered their teaching certifications or had them revoked from the state Board of Education because of sexually inappropriate relationships with students? Currently, there are 199 teachers under investigation by the State Board of Education who stand accused of sexually-related misconduct.
I thought closed campuses were intended to keep the bad guys out? Now it appears that we may be locking a good number of sexual predators inside of our schools. It’s sort of like locking the door on the hen house with the coyotes inside.
Maybe we need to seriously re-evaluate the way we screen candidates for teaching positions. There must be technology available to detect this sickness. Possibly, we need to expand the use of video cameras in our public schools. How about taking out some walls so that there are only three versus four?
This problem appears to be getting worse instead of better.
But let’s face it, the sexual abuse of our children isn’t limited by any means to our schools. This problem permeates our society. Think of the number of abuses that are never reported due to fear of retribution or ignorance. It’s a sickness and it must stopped.
When an adult sexually molests a child, that adult has murdered the child’s innocence. Maybe if we upped the ante on the consequences of sexually abusing a child we could begin to cut down on the number and frequency of incidences. Possibly, instead of simply providing counseling, jail time and probation, we should be talking about chemically castrating these perverts so they can’t prey upon our children ever again.
I don’t about you, but I’m mad as hell and I want to do something about it.
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Jon Beydler is a 32-year Valley resident and the former mayor of Fountain Hills who now lives in Chandler
PPLGuy posted at 9:36 am on Fri, Apr 15, 2011.
Think back a few years! We didn't have this problem until some well meaning jerks decided to take GOD and prayer out of the schools.
gilbertgrandma posted at 8:10 pm on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
Jon, I am finally in agreement with one of your articles - that's never happened before! This is well-written and I couldn't agree with you more.
Great Russ posted at 2:55 pm on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
Yes we need to punish all sex offenders the same (same sentence or male and female abusers) but we need to keep the punishment inline with other crimes. When a sex abuser gets more jail time than what you get for 1st and 2nd degree murder, something is really out of wack. But the biggest problem is that the Female perps get a slap on the wrist and the males get 15 to 45 years in jail for the exact same crime and situation.
Also I know the teachers are adults and must responsible for their own actions, but ever have a 16 year old come onto you on a daily basis? I work at a convience store and get offers all the time from under age girls if i would sell them alcohol. Some of these girl look really grown up... When I was in the military we called them jail bait. Some of these victims are really the predators hiding under the age of consent statutes..
Dale Whiting posted at 8:14 am on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
I first began to appreciate this problem when listening to a friend of mine talk about some experiences investigating such abuses while serving in the Juvenile department of the Mesa PD. It seems that many abusers have strong political, social or religious connections, ones which get them off of the hook.
Did any of you hear about those two Illinois [if I recall correctly?] juvenile court judges just convicted of taking bribes from the corporations who operate "for profit" juvenile detention and treatment centers. They netted almost $2 million dollars for sentencing all juveniles coming before them to jail, frequently over the objections of the assigned case workers. That is abuse of children on a scale far worse. Some offenders are driven by insanity and lust. These officials were driven by greed. They are expected to get only 12 of the 150 years of possible time behind bars. I vote to lock they behind those bars and throw away the keys.
They are the subject of the next Moore Documentary.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 6:00 am on Wed, Feb 23, 2011.
Very well said. I am sick and tired of seeing male teachers getting the "book thrown at them"....and female teachers "skating by".
We need to put a stop to ''ALL" of these teacher's criminal behavior with..........MANDATORY SENTENCES.
These "PREDATORS" who are in a position of Trust and Authority should receive at least a minimum sentence of FIVE (5) years in State Prison (we all know they will only serve 3years out of the 5 due "good behavior").
The columnist tells us that .........60 EAST VALLEY TEACHERS IN 11 YEARS have surrendered their teaching credentials for "INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS".......and a staggering ..."200 ARIZONA TEACHERS UNDER INVESTIGATION ..for SEXUALLY RELATED MISCONDUCT".
Folks this is another ...."CANCER" that must be removed from Arizona Society............MAKE THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME.