Whitman Teacher and Crew Coach Arrested

[Anonymous]

I wonder if the Post will rescind his All Met coach of the year awards if convicted. Certainly a minor point in all of this, but it still bugs me

[Anonymous]

Eh, like pp pointed out, maybe DC courts will be tougher, fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

The crew board could have easily just not renewed his contract after the many rumors and reports.
Regardless of the results of any official investigation.
As a 501c3 the coaches are "independent contractors" with year long contracts. It would be like switching you landscaping service after a year, no reason or explanation necessary. Not at all like firing an employee.
So the crew board deliberately chose to keep a questionable coach around their teenaged girls.
Why? Because he made the boats go fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The crew board could have easily just not renewed his contract after the many rumors and reports.
Regardless of the results of any official investigation.
As a 501c3 the coaches are "independent contractors" with year long contracts. It would be like switching you landscaping service after a year, no reason or explanation necessary. Not at all like firing an employee.
So the crew board deliberately chose to keep a questionable coach around their teenaged girls.
Why? Because he made the boats go fast.

Huh, that last sentence is actually something Shipley said verbatim ("Today, the boat went fast"). Was that a reference or happenstance? It was written somewhere after Stotes in the last few years, in the Black and White probably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no faith in MCPS but I truly believe Dr. Dodd cares. He couldn't even get through the letter he was so upset when he shared the news with staff. He was hand picked by Dr. Goodwin to be his successor, so Dr. Goodwin clearly thinks he's up to the task, too. This is a problem that runs deep. There are some principals who bury their head in the sand or worse, they know and do nothing, but this is not one of those cases. The real issue is the investigative piece and when MCPS decides, or doesn't decide, to do anything more than write a strongly worded letter for the teacher's record.

Are you on Whitman staff?

[Anonymous]

Here is a question I have reading through these comments.

Bethesda is chock full of well to do entitled folks whose general attitude is rules, regulations, laws, and processes don't apply to them on account of their wealth in society.

Many Bethesda people are K Street lobbyists whose livelihood depends on finding loopholes, writing new loopholes or how to extract their interests after breaking the law. They will write Whitman teachers demanding they change their kid's grade because it impacts their ability to apply for Harvard.

When something bad happens or a mistake is made by a Whitman student, the MO of the Bethesda community for the past three decades is to pass the buck, blame someone else, rig the process and buy the best lawyer and go to court. Say things along the lines of, "my perfect angel could not have done ____ and I fear this will impact their chances at Yale."

After the 1994 drunk driving crash on River Road (going toward the Beltway, right side of road after Wilson Ln), Dr Marco installed a zero tolerance policy which stated if you drink and come to campus you get banned for a year from school activities including graduation. A student tested this in their senior year and got ZT. Well their parents got the best lawyer money could buy and took the school to court and prevailed, they walked the stage.

My question is why are people on this board so angry at the actions of MCPS policy or process, CPS, the police department, the organization that employed Shipley as coach? You can't have it both ways where you get angry that processes and rules aren't being followed when many in the Whitman community seek out ways to bend rules and processes when it suits them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a question I have reading through these comments.

Bethesda is chock full of well to do entitled folks whose general attitude is rules, regulations, laws, and processes don't apply to them on account of their wealth in society.

Many Bethesda people are K Street lobbyists whose livelihood depends on finding loopholes, writing new loopholes or how to extract their interests after breaking the law. They will write Whitman teachers demanding they change their kid's grade because it impacts their ability to apply for Harvard.

When something bad happens or a mistake is made by a Whitman student, the MO of the Bethesda community for the past three decades is to pass the buck, blame someone else, rig the process and buy the best lawyer and go to court. Say things along the lines of, "my perfect angel could not have done ____ and I fear this will impact their chances at Yale."

After the 1994 drunk driving crash on River Road (going toward the Beltway, right side of road after Wilson Ln), Dr Marco installed a zero tolerance policy which stated if you drink and come to campus you get banned for a year from school activities including graduation. A student tested this in their senior year and got ZT. Well their parents got the best lawyer money could buy and took the school to court and prevailed, they walked the stage.

My question is why are people on this board so angry at the actions of MCPS policy or process, CPS, the police department, the organization that employed Shipley as coach? You can't have it both ways where you get angry that processes and rules aren't being followed when many in the Whitman community seek out ways to bend rules and processes when it suits them.

You have a valid point to a certain extent….but the lack of consequences for abusers and pedophiles is a problem across MCPS widely, and therefore impacts schools in lower-income areas, not just Whitman. The loopholes exist for abusers everywhere, not simply Whitman & similar, so they need to be changed.

[Anonymous]

PP here.

"Make the boats go fast" is what they all say.

Coaches justify the grueling practices, the difficult seat races, the expense of travel, etc. all of it is "to make the boats go fast".

The parents left him in place for this reason and only this reason. If he were a lesser coach, his contract would not have been renewed again and again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a question I have reading through these comments.

Bethesda is chock full of well to do entitled folks whose general attitude is rules, regulations, laws, and processes don't apply to them on account of their wealth in society.

Many Bethesda people are K Street lobbyists whose livelihood depends on finding loopholes, writing new loopholes or how to extract their interests after breaking the law. They will write Whitman teachers demanding they change their kid's grade because it impacts their ability to apply for Harvard.

When something bad happens or a mistake is made by a Whitman student, the MO of the Bethesda community for the past three decades is to pass the buck, blame someone else, rig the process and buy the best lawyer and go to court. Say things along the lines of, "my perfect angel could not have done ____ and I fear this will impact their chances at Yale."

After the 1994 drunk driving crash on River Road (going toward the Beltway, right side of road after Wilson Ln), Dr Marco installed a zero tolerance policy which stated if you drink and come to campus you get banned for a year from school activities including graduation. A student tested this in their senior year and got ZT. Well their parents got the best lawyer money could buy and took the school to court and prevailed, they walked the stage.

My question is why are people on this board so angry at the actions of MCPS policy or process, CPS, the police department, the organization that employed Shipley as coach? You can't have it both ways where you get angry that processes and rules aren't being followed when many in the Whitman community seek out ways to bend rules and processes when it suits them.

Well put, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a question I have reading through these comments.

Bethesda is chock full of well to do entitled folks whose general attitude is rules, regulations, laws, and processes don't apply to them on account of their wealth in society.

Many Bethesda people are K Street lobbyists whose livelihood depends on finding loopholes, writing new loopholes or how to extract their interests after breaking the law. They will write Whitman teachers demanding they change their kid's grade because it impacts their ability to apply for Harvard.

When something bad happens or a mistake is made by a Whitman student, the MO of the Bethesda community for the past three decades is to pass the buck, blame someone else, rig the process and buy the best lawyer and go to court. Say things along the lines of, "my perfect angel could not have done ____ and I fear this will impact their chances at Yale."

After the 1994 drunk driving crash on River Road (going toward the Beltway, right side of road after Wilson Ln), Dr Marco installed a zero tolerance policy which stated if you drink and come to campus you get banned for a year from school activities including graduation. A student tested this in their senior year and got ZT. Well their parents got the best lawyer money could buy and took the school to court and prevailed, they walked the stage.

My question is why are people on this board so angry at the actions of MCPS policy or process, CPS, the police department, the organization that employed Shipley as coach? You can't have it both ways where you get angry that processes and rules aren't being followed when many in the Whitman community seek out ways to bend rules and processes when it suits them.

I could not have said it any better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no faith in MCPS but I truly believe Dr. Dodd cares. He couldn't even get through the letter he was so upset when he shared the news with staff. He was hand picked by Dr. Goodwin to be his successor, so Dr. Goodwin clearly thinks he's up to the task, too. This is a problem that runs deep. There are some principals who bury their head in the sand or worse, they know and do nothing, but this is not one of those cases. The real issue is the investigative piece and when MCPS decides, or doesn't decide, to do anything more than write a strongly worded letter for the teacher's record.

Are you on Whitman staff?

If there’s signs that an employee is breaking the Employee Code of Conduct (texting students, giving students rides, having students at his house, etc) but nothing criminal is known, what power does the principal have to get rid of the teacher/coach?

Can the principal put a teacher on par and not renew the athletic contract? Or is Central Office making the calls at that point? Who has the blame when criminal charges come forward later?

It seems like if a principal knows or should have known questionable behavior was occurring then that principal holds a good chunk of responsibility for not protecting children on his watch. Same for everyone in Central Office that were aware of complaints but failed to step in to protect students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a question I have reading through these comments.

Bethesda is chock full of well to do entitled folks whose general attitude is rules, regulations, laws, and processes don't apply to them on account of their wealth in society.

Many Bethesda people are K Street lobbyists whose livelihood depends on finding loopholes, writing new loopholes or how to extract their interests after breaking the law. They will write Whitman teachers demanding they change their kid's grade because it impacts their ability to apply for Harvard.

When something bad happens or a mistake is made by a Whitman student, the MO of the Bethesda community for the past three decades is to pass the buck, blame someone else, rig the process and buy the best lawyer and go to court. Say things along the lines of, "my perfect angel could not have done ____ and I fear this will impact their chances at Yale."

After the 1994 drunk driving crash on River Road (going toward the Beltway, right side of road after Wilson Ln), Dr Marco installed a zero tolerance policy which stated if you drink and come to campus you get banned for a year from school activities including graduation. A student tested this in their senior year and got ZT. Well their parents got the best lawyer money could buy and took the school to court and prevailed, they walked the stage.

My question is why are people on this board so angry at the actions of MCPS policy or process, CPS, the police department, the organization that employed Shipley as coach? You can't have it both ways where you get angry that processes and rules aren't being followed when many in the Whitman community seek out ways to bend rules and processes when it suits them.

What does this have to do about a predatory coach and teenager that was allegedly raped? I am curious what your theory is about the former security guard at Richard Montgomery HS?

All I can say is that you and the people amening this have issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a question I have reading through these comments.

Bethesda is chock full of well to do entitled folks whose general attitude is rules, regulations, laws, and processes don't apply to them on account of their wealth in society.

Many Bethesda people are K Street lobbyists whose livelihood depends on finding loopholes, writing new loopholes or how to extract their interests after breaking the law. They will write Whitman teachers demanding they change their kid's grade because it impacts their ability to apply for Harvard.

When something bad happens or a mistake is made by a Whitman student, the MO of the Bethesda community for the past three decades is to pass the buck, blame someone else, rig the process and buy the best lawyer and go to court. Say things along the lines of, "my perfect angel could not have done ____ and I fear this will impact their chances at Yale."

After the 1994 drunk driving crash on River Road (going toward the Beltway, right side of road after Wilson Ln), Dr Marco installed a zero tolerance policy which stated if you drink and come to campus you get banned for a year from school activities including graduation. A student tested this in their senior year and got ZT. Well their parents got the best lawyer money could buy and took the school to court and prevailed, they walked the stage.

My question is why are people on this board so angry at the actions of MCPS policy or process, CPS, the police department, the organization that employed Shipley as coach? You can't have it both ways where you get angry that processes and rules aren't being followed when many in the Whitman community seek out ways to bend rules and processes when it suits them.

Yes. You have described every single person in Bethesda and at Whitman. I don’t happen to know one person who fits within your hyperbole. You are a great fiction writer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a question I have reading through these comments.

Bethesda is chock full of well to do entitled folks whose general attitude is rules, regulations, laws, and processes don't apply to them on account of their wealth in society.

Many Bethesda people are K Street lobbyists whose livelihood depends on finding loopholes, writing new loopholes or how to extract their interests after breaking the law. They will write Whitman teachers demanding they change their kid's grade because it impacts their ability to apply for Harvard.

When something bad happens or a mistake is made by a Whitman student, the MO of the Bethesda community for the past three decades is to pass the buck, blame someone else, rig the process and buy the best lawyer and go to court. Say things along the lines of, "my perfect angel could not have done ____ and I fear this will impact their chances at Yale."

After the 1994 drunk driving crash on River Road (going toward the Beltway, right side of road after Wilson Ln), Dr Marco installed a zero tolerance policy which stated if you drink and come to campus you get banned for a year from school activities including graduation. A student tested this in their senior year and got ZT. Well their parents got the best lawyer money could buy and took the school to court and prevailed, they walked the stage.

My question is why are people on this board so angry at the actions of MCPS policy or process, CPS, the police department, the organization that employed Shipley as coach? You can't have it both ways where you get angry that processes and rules aren't being followed when many in the Whitman community seek out ways to bend rules and processes when it suits them.

What does this have to do about a predatory coach and teenager that was allegedly raped? I am curious what your theory is about the former security guard at Richard Montgomery HS?

All I can say is that you and the people amening this have issues.

There are multiple layers to the onion here, and multiple discussions going on here. This is in reference to folks complaining that the process or protocols weren't followed by MCPS, CPS, Safesport, Whitman Crew, etc.

One thing is for sure, even though he is not from Bethesda, Kirkland's behavior fits the Bethesda culture. Clearly bad actions and decisions can be excused with money, imbued with a sense of rules not applying to them. I think its the hypocrisy going on here, Bethesda people sowing rage at rules and processes not being followed but at the same time have no issue throwing people under the bus when it doesnt suit their own professional or personal needs.

Personally, I want accountability and I hope Kirkland pays the price. I am hopeful the District of Columbia court will have a backbone unlike say the Moco courts which are lax.

It sickens me to see how parents and boosters turned a blind eye just so boats could go fast. At what cost??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a question I have reading through these comments.

Bethesda is chock full of well to do entitled folks whose general attitude is rules, regulations, laws, and processes don't apply to them on account of their wealth in society.

Many Bethesda people are K Street lobbyists whose livelihood depends on finding loopholes, writing new loopholes or how to extract their interests after breaking the law. They will write Whitman teachers demanding they change their kid's grade because it impacts their ability to apply for Harvard.

When something bad happens or a mistake is made by a Whitman student, the MO of the Bethesda community for the past three decades is to pass the buck, blame someone else, rig the process and buy the best lawyer and go to court. Say things along the lines of, "my perfect angel could not have done ____ and I fear this will impact their chances at Yale."

After the 1994 drunk driving crash on River Road (going toward the Beltway, right side of road after Wilson Ln), Dr Marco installed a zero tolerance policy which stated if you drink and come to campus you get banned for a year from school activities including graduation. A student tested this in their senior year and got ZT. Well their parents got the best lawyer money could buy and took the school to court and prevailed, they walked the stage.

My question is why are people on this board so angry at the actions of MCPS policy or process, CPS, the police department, the organization that employed Shipley as coach? You can't have it both ways where you get angry that processes and rules aren't being followed when many in the Whitman community seek out ways to bend rules and processes when it suits them.

Yes. You have described every single person in Bethesda and at Whitman. I don’t happen to know one person who fits within your hyperbole. You are a great fiction writer.

No, not everyone in Bethesda is like this--in fact most Whitman students probably aren't like this but there are a lot of kids and parents who are. That said I have lived in a lot of places after leaving Bethesda and it is unique in the degree of entitled parents and kids.