IT WASENT FUNNY LOOSING A 50,000 JOB, the wife and kids and almost going to prison. all because of your beloved public fool system.

and it's not funny you assuming that my kids are not my first priorty! The scenarios that you have given include two parents!! I work my ass off and get no help from their father! I happened to get a good education in the PSS and went on to higher education after that!! I do the best I can and you not even having children dare to step up and judge my parenting skill.....go to hell!

My kids will graduate the top of their class from a public school and will continue through to bigger and better things than you can even begin to consider! And you know what if they choose to be liberal, conservative.....or anything else that they believe in strongly then I will be their number one supporter! I will not bring them back home and brain wash them to gaurantee that they have the same beliefs that I do!

i bet your a fun date.

FreshMountain, Like you I appreciate teachers. Most of mine were heros to me. But as Invisible pointed out, live is unpridictable, and often those who abuse children are seen as wonderful people.

Some schools have taken some extraordiary step to assure that their staff (all staff, even maintenance) are top quality, but they didn't stop there. Some have even included a one day orientation at the beginning of each school year, discussing many issues, including when it's appropriate to be alone with any adult in the school and in what environment. And what actions to take if abuse occurs and so on.

We have to be able to depend on our schools to provide the safest environment that can be had. It's not enough that some educators love what they do, and would do it any fee, or even that they extend themselves above and beyond any job description. It's not enough because, those qualities can not protect every child at all times. That is not a fault of the teachers. It's the administration that needs to make correction and it's the community that needs to let the administration know, they expect it to be done.

An Associated Press investigation found more than 2,500 cases over five years in which educators were punished for actions from bizarre to sadistic.

Sounds like the system is working. They are catching these criminals, and being open with the public in most all cases.

Fact- most sexual abuse on children is done at home by a family member. Home-schooling is good for some people with the time and education to do so. However everyone is not able to do so and do so compedently.

Also, for chidren who expeirience sexual abuse at home, school is their only relief. It also gives the child exposure to adults who might notice and intervene, or be there when the child finally spills the beans on the abusive family member.

IMO, the best thing is to remain vigilant as a parent, and educate them early.

There are 3 million public school teachers nationwide, most devoted to their work.

To apply the tag to all the teachers for the sins of a few is not fair! Considering how few it is, one could consider the respone as sensationalist. Except that we are talking about innocent youth lost, and years of psycological problems!!

IMO, we should praise the good teachers, pay them more, and support a system that is working!

Nice to be in total agreement with you again Fanta.

And nice to know that I am not the only one left who supports our public school system .....thank you!