Dear Editor;
I have followed with interest accounts of local teachers abusing the minors in their care who have been allowed to quietly resign only to cost their former school districts MILLIONS after successful lawsuits filed by their former students.
Bay Area school districts have faced more than 50 sexual abuse lawsuits in recent years, with only eight of 52 cases reported and some of them dating back to the 60s. In most cases the alleged perpetrators are men accused of abusing dozens of students age 4 to 17.
Effected local school districts have included the Acalanes Union High School District, West Contra Costa Unified, Moraga School District, Pleasanton Unified and Mount Diablo Unified. Extended litigation has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars away from much needed general funds and negative jury verdicts and settlements has cost districts millions, potentially forcing layoffs and program reductions.
In the most recent case the San Ramon Valley Unified School District agreed to pay close to $7 million to settle lawsuits by two former students who filed suit after their district agreed to let an allegedly abusive teacher resign – allowing him to continue teaching – while promising not to divulge details of the abuse to any inquiring districts.
I find this approach to burying district secrets and allowing abusers to continue teaching both alarming and pathetic as it appears to happen often enough for me to believe it has become accepted practice. If so, this is not the way our educational system should deal with problem educators.
Sincerely,
Sunnie Bowen/San Ramon
It seems to be bureaucratic reflex. Church or school, it is circle the wagons every time. There is no learning. There is no progress. Righteous behavior, courage is very rare.