In what is becoming a routine segment in the news, reports are surfacing of yet another New Mexico teacher having an inappropriate relationship with a student. According to KOB.com, Roswell Goddard High School teacher and Coach David Lawrence surrendered to police Thursday and was charged with one count of criminal sexual contact with a minor. Comments on the report varied from disgust toward the teacher to blaming the parents of students who dress and act in ways that inflame the passions of teachers and fellow students.
While the arguments rage on, one thing is clear; in today's culture many schools are no longer safe havens to send children where they will not receive an education in subjects that would make most parents blush. Not only has the curriculum in some schools gone too far; Social acceptance of behaviors that were never tolerated in years past is promoted often despite the objection of parents. Additionally, many schools are now staffed by former students who grew up without a moral compass. Many of such are intent on pushing the envelope on how much they can “educate” children in more than just academics. It is no secret how our schools ever got to this point.
The best way for parents to insure that their children are not subject to this type of behavior is to be proactive, not reactive. This means parents must make it a priority to be active in their child’s education before anything adverse can happen. Parents can not have a “drop ‘em at the door and forget ‘em” attitude that it is the school’s mission to educate their children.
Constitutionally, parents are still responsible and in charge of their children’s education. With this in mind, parents must adopt an attitude that puts them in charge. There are a few simple steps parents can take that will go a long way toward making sure their children are safe from the potential of being a victim of this type of behavior:
1. Parents must exercise their authority by getting to know and staying in touch with their children’s teachers, principals, bus drivers, coaches, or anyone else that is in contact with their child.
2. Parents must make sure their children are raised knowing that as long as they are under their parents charge, they have no absolute right to privacy. Text, email, computers, phones, their personal effects, and even their rooms are subject to parental inspection.
3. Parents must make sure their children are dressed appropriately. This means that their clothes should be functional, clean, modest, and slightly loose fitting. Dressing your children as if they are going to the club on a Saturday night to pick up a date is a recipe for unwanted attention.
4. Parents must make sure their children have the tools they needed to complete their studies, not everything they need to spend the day communicating with their friends.
5. Parents must demand that their children are never alone with a school staff person, coach, etc. in a place where they cannot be observed by others, especially if they are of the opposite sex. If they need to meet alone, ask that a chaperone be present. It is okay to trust, but it is better to verify.
While this list is not all-inclusive, keeping our children safe requires diligence and standing up for the right thing even when our children and sometimes even those who work with our children may think our efforts are unreasonable. If something does not look right or feel right, speak up. It very well may be that there is something amiss.
Dr. Michael Williams writes columns as a national Conservative Examinerand as a local Albuquerque Family Examiner. You can follow him on Twitter: @drmlwilliams or @classicon00. He can be reached by email at: contact@classicalconservative.com. If you would like a free subscription to this column click on the subscribe button on this page. Finally, please share your well thought out perspectives on the issue by commenting below.
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