My apologies if the title above makes you gasp but at least the news is good that Speaker Mattiello’s loss and the subsequent ascendancy of Joe Shekarchi bodes well for the chances of finally making it a crime for teachers to have sexual relationships with their students. He is firmly on the record in support… Continue reading We May Be Closer to Making Sex Between Teachers and Students a Crime
It’s never a good sign for students or taxpayers when the Executive Director of NEA RI is sending thank you notes to the Governor—on Twitter. Perhaps a moment of silence is in order. There was a time that Governor Gina Raimondo was a champion of reform, that rare Democrat willing to ignore and even clap… Continue reading NEA Sends Thank You Note to Governor Raimondo—and a State Mourns
We are a year into the #metoo movement and it remains legal in the state of Rhode Island for teachers, coaches, school bus drivers, guidance counselors and all other school personnel to engage in sexual relationships with students in their care, as long as they have turned 16. One of the reasons we continue to… Continue reading Let’s Protect Minors Before We Worry About Ourselves…OK Ladies?
It’s been 82 days since local TV and radio host Dan Yorke invited any lawmaker to come on his show and announce their support for making it illegal for teachers to have sexual relations with students who are sixteen or older. I was sitting in the studio when he did it on the heels of… Continue reading Rhode Island lawmakers Still Don’t Think It’s Wrong for Teachers and Students to Have Sexual Relationships
I named my blog Good School Hunting not because I’m necessarily a big fan of the actor Matt Damon but because I thought the Boston-based storyline of Damon’s debut movie, “Good Will Hunting,” suited a New England-based blog written by a mom who believes every kid deserves an awesome school. And I really did like… Continue reading Matt Damon, Harvey Weinstein, and the Hunt for Good Schools
Additional charges have been brought against Providence PE teacher, James Duffy, according to reporting by Dan McGowan and Walt Buteau of WPRI. And he will have his day in court. But a recent statement by his attorney reveals a total lack of understanding —ignorance, in face— when it comes to the abuse of children by… Continue reading This Lawyer Doesn’t Know What He’s Talking About When It Comes to Sexual Predators
We all agree we need to do a better job of protecting kids and while an explosive story plays out in Providence and a principal finds herself charged with a misdemeanor, we realize we have more questions than answers. In the aftermath of the arrest of a Providence elementary school principal for failure to contact… Continue reading I Got To Talk About Protecting Kids on TV!
Massachusetts and Rhode Island share a dirty little secret: neither has passed a law that makes it illegal for teachers to have sex with their students. I know. It’s pretty unbelievable. While consent laws theoretically protect all students under sixteen, there is a window of time during which students aren’t protected under the law —basically… Continue reading Rhode Island Lawmakers Still Asleep When it Comes to Protecting Students; MA Waking Up
[View the story “ICYMI: Dan McGowan’s Tweets re PPSD Teacher Arrest for Sexual Molestation” on Storify]
I understand why so many of us are cheering for the election of Emmanuel Macron in France. He seems like an antidote to Trump, is far more appealing to most than the seemingly Trump-aligned Marine Le Pen, and is a young fresh face. He is proof that, that at least in France, a third party… Continue reading We Can’t Normalize Romance (or Sex) Between Teachers and Students. Period.
