High School... Day Two problem...Pedophile?

I teach (law school) and am always offered a 'face book' for the class provided by the school.
Of course, the "kids" are a bit older.

 

They do give you a chance to sit where you want (most teachers) and then they make a seating chart. That's how it worked pretty much all through grade school; for me anyway.

Peter's just worried about his daughter (as well as her classmates I'm sure). In todays society we're having to worry a lot more about these sickos. If I were a parent, I'd rather someone take the necessary precautions and nothing be wrong. Instead of not, and something happening. And imo, with the lack of discipline judges/courts are ruling on pedophiles it makes everyone more jumpy.

 

thats bull****, highschool teachers are given a name list with pics from student ID's on them

 

I think you're worrying a little too much. Now if he asks for pictures of her in different poses, then yeah, you might have something on your hands.

 

but at the same time, the fact that he _is_ a substitute, is what brings up the issue of "what's this guys' problem?" Typically, it'll only be a few days, so why does he need to get to know them personally? there's something wrong, or the guy takes his job WAY seriously.

 

This kind of reaction is why I will never work in any environment that involves children, and is also why I don't offer rides in the Ferrari to kids. I know your heart is in the right place Peter, but all it takes is one misinterpretation or unbased accusation and a person's personal and professional life can be destroyed forever.

Please be very careful how you handle this.

T

 

Most schools require a release for pics, so you have every right to object. I think assuming the guy is a pedophile might be jumping to conclusions. He most likely is an overly enthusiastic education student who is trying to make a good impression by doing something creative and using technology. A conversation with admin should resolve any issues, or...go meet the guy in person.

 

Understood. I know I'll toss and turn tonight until the AM when I talk to the office again. This one just got me REALLY torqued!

 

This is very true, and Pete, you are playing with fire. I am all about protecting our children but you can just utter the word “pedophile” to the school and the teacher will be done, for life, in that town. It is one of the few things out there where you are guilty by suspicion. For that reason, I think even the title of this thread is bad form. You also open your self up to a SERIOUS lawsuit should nothing come of it. At what price to you ruin a mans life based upon suspicion of odd behavior?

Does his action sound creepy? Yes and no. We do the same thing when hiring and when interviewing new troops. Of course as was said above, they are a bit older and we are not “substitutes.” I suppose a key would be does your daughters school produce a face book or an id book to the teachers? Did he tell the principal he was planning to make his own? And how long will he be there in that class? (Big difference if he is subing for a month as opposed to a few days.)

But to hear about his plan and bust out the word “pedophile” on an online forum is simply bad form. And dangerous.

 

I wouldn't worry as long as it's a face shot. I've had to take pictures for my teachers as well.

 

Keep in mind that, at 13, your "sweet little angels" can become devils to a sub teacher -- changing their seats, answering to the wrong names, or not at all, etc. Once kids figure out that the teacher isn't allowed to back-hand them, civilization breaks down in the classroom.

The political board of eduction has never been as effective as the one applied to the back side.

It's a sign of the times when people see the word "discipline" and first think of a sexual fetish.

 

Ahhhh. The good old days when the Nun's at my grade school had the green light to beat the crap out of a kid!.....And I'm only 48! When the ACLU took belts away from parents and teachers, kids started to go down the tubes.

 

+1 for throwing around the word "pedophile" with extreme caution.

One thing wasn't clear ... did he ask the kids to come back with a picture, or did he say he would take the pic? That's a big difference, and the latter does raise a flag.

 

I don't remember ever doing it in high school, but did several times in college. Just because he is a temp teacher, doesn't mean he will only be there for a few days. I had a few experiences where we had temp teachers for a couple months. Based off of the little bit that has been said about the situation, I wouldn't worry about it. But make sure to have your daughter tell u if anything else out of the ordinary happens with the teacher. But also be careful with what she says. If she is getting bad grades, it may just be a way to take the blame off of her and not get in trouble.

 

The Sub told all the kids that on Froday (Today) he would take individual pic's of each kid during the class. I guess he would have them come up to his desk for a quick pic and write their name down.

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with the vice principal. He stated that he has a meeting with the teacher before classes start and there will be NO such pictures taken of ANY kids. He thanked me for bringing this to his attention (Along with 'a handful' of other parents that called with the same complaint). I was pleased that the school jumped on this one.

 

Good call, Peter. These days, pederasts are successfully infiltrating child-popular environments below myriad radar. Being a proactive parent is being a good parent. You can't spell to save your life, but you're a good father. Irrespective of whether this method of identifying students is popular, it feels creepy and kudos to your daughter for bringing it to your attention. If the teacher is an honest man, then he could only agree with what you're saying and would gladly welcome some insight into his veracity as an honest teacher.

 

I had a few teachers that were OBSESSED with learning the names of every student they had...and had a college professor that would try to impress us by knowing every single person's name after only one session of class. He would go down the line the second session of class and list everyone off by name and surprisingly got all of them right.

It is easy to sit here and tell you that you should let this go and any behavior on your behalf would be out of line. I'm not paranoid but the world isn't what it used to be. You can't leave it up to others to protect your most prized possessions. 20 years ago this behavior would be thought of as positive - positive that your teacher has such a good interest in his students that he wants to get to know their names.

Sorry but those days are over and you need to interfere. The problem is that you can't call him out on anything because that would be out of line - but you can stand protect your child.

I would write a note to the teacher and to the principal that states that for the protection of your child you want your child to be exempt from the photo exercise.

Bottom line is...he wants to get to know my child's name? Fine - memorize it. You want a picture of my child in your home that was taken by you? Be lucky I'm not at your doorstep already.

/not a father.

 

Easy solution. Make a seating chart and ask the kids not to switch seats.

 

I think you're doing the right thing by worrying, Pete. To add some perspective, I had this done from time to time in school. Teachers would take a picture and have us write our name, DOB, favorite book, etc. on an index card. It was always done at the beginning of the year. I think it's the best/easiest way for a teacher familiarize themselves with the students. Chelsea is 13 and in... 7th grade? In middle school teachers have 6-7 classes. It's nearly impossible for them to get to know each student quickly without doing something like that. As long as it's a head shot, I don't see the big deal.

 

High school according to the thread title. Probably will turn 14 in a month or so unless she skipped a grade.

Either way, glad everything worked out, Peter. I found it very odd a substitute teacher would do that. They're only temporary. I had a sub in one of my classes for a few months because my teach had a stroke. That wasn't the first day of classes, though. I would be careful throwing around the word pedophile in the future like others suggested.

 

Two Q's:

1. Is this substitute in as a long term replacement (due to a maternity leave or something) making learning the names more important?

2. Would you care if the sub was a woman?

 

#2: Not as much, but would still be a concern. Male or female teacher, the pic's are inappropriate.

 

I'm a sophomore and my Chemistry teacher took individual shots of all of us. They were just faceshots and they were in class. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

I had that too. Awesome teacher, great guy ... I was impressed that he'd know everybody by their first name in the class! LOL

Anyways ... with the rampant suspicion and paranoia today, it's gotta suck to be a teacher or any damn job with kids. Soon enough people who dare talk to a kid will be pedophiles.

 

By contrast, I got marked absent for half my thermo classes. Even reading off the class role, the prof so badly mangled the pronunciation of my name that I didn't recognize it most days.

He wasn't much better on tech jargon, either. Made for a real challenging course.

And I spent half the term wondering where the heck "Yuprainia" was.
("I am not russian! I am yuprainian!")