Whitman Teacher and Crew Coach Arrested

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current Memorandum of Understanding with MCPS, MCPD, CPS, and the State Attorney’s Office:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/parents/2015-08-10%20Signed-Child%20Abuse%20Investigations%20MOU%20(4).pdf

I’m not sure why the link isn’t working but the Memorandum of Understanding is at the bottom of the MCPS Child Abuse and Neglect webpage:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/childabuseandneglect/

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/parents/2015-08-10%20Signed-Child%20Abuse%20Investigations%20MOU%20(4).pdf

[Anonymous]

Looks like the hearing got postponed again, to January 21st.

[Anonymous]

Post article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/30/kirk-shipley-sex-abuse-whitman-coach-rowing/

The parents on the board of the Whitman Crew program seem toxic. Of course we all know that parents at W schools have a "see no evil" attitude and that their instinct is always to circle the wagon, but this was more like circling the dumpster fire for several years. No doubt they were blinded by the fact that Shipley was himself an Ivy graduate (Penn) and thought the program was their children's path to similar schools. And the apologies that the board has made over the years seem pro forma and anything but heartfelt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Post article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/30/kirk-shipley-sex-abuse-whitman-coach-rowing/

The parents on the board of the Whitman Crew program seem toxic. Of course we all know that parents at W schools have a "see no evil" attitude and that their instinct is always to circle the wagon, but this was more like circling the dumpster fire for several years. No doubt they were blinded by the fact that Shipley was himself an Ivy graduate (Penn) and thought the program was their children's path to similar schools. And the apologies that the board has made over the years seem pro forma and anything but heartfelt.

Are you victim blaming?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Post article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/30/kirk-shipley-sex-abuse-whitman-coach-rowing/

The parents on the board of the Whitman Crew program seem toxic. Of course we all know that parents at W schools have a "see no evil" attitude and that their instinct is always to circle the wagon, but this was more like circling the dumpster fire for several years. No doubt they were blinded by the fact that Shipley was himself an Ivy graduate (Penn) and thought the program was their children's path to similar schools. And the apologies that the board has made over the years seem pro forma and anything but heartfelt.

Are you victim blaming?

The real victims here are the girls, and I don't think it's too far off to blame the parents on the board for their inaction which allowed both sexual abuse and emotional abuse to go on for longer than it needed to. So while I primarily blame Shipley, there wasn't anyone who wanted to hold him accountable except for some recent high school graduates, who should be praised for their bravery..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Post article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/30/kirk-shipley-sex-abuse-whitman-coach-rowing/

The parents on the board of the Whitman Crew program seem toxic. Of course we all know that parents at W schools have a "see no evil" attitude and that their instinct is always to circle the wagon, but this was more like circling the dumpster fire for several years. No doubt they were blinded by the fact that Shipley was himself an Ivy graduate (Penn) and thought the program was their children's path to similar schools. And the apologies that the board has made over the years seem pro forma and anything but heartfelt.

Are you victim blaming?

The girls are the victims not the parents.

[Anonymous]

There are so many safety issues that many are unclear about (rapists, child molesters, school violence, repeat offending students, what happens to staff who break school policy, monitoring SROs, RJ, bullying, mcps's policy re: club sports, etc).

MCPS needs to do a better job of keeping us informed of anything that affects the safety of the students.

PTA, if it doesn't already, should have a safety committee.

[Anonymous]

That parent board deserves a lot of the blame too. There were parents who had lots of kids go through the program and maybe their kid was one of the favorites. A 13-1 vote to keep the guy was deplorable based on the survey results and rumors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Post article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/30/kirk-shipley-sex-abuse-whitman-coach-rowing/

The parents on the board of the Whitman Crew program seem toxic. Of course we all know that parents at W schools have a "see no evil" attitude and that their instinct is always to circle the wagon, but this was more like circling the dumpster fire for several years. No doubt they were blinded by the fact that Shipley was himself an Ivy graduate (Penn) and thought the program was their children's path to similar schools. And the apologies that the board has made over the years seem pro forma and anything but heartfelt.

Are you victim blaming?

The real victims here are the girls, and I don't think it's too far off to blame the parents on the board for their inaction which allowed both sexual abuse and emotional abuse to go on for longer than it needed to. So while I primarily blame Shipley, there wasn't anyone who wanted to hold him accountable except for some recent high school graduates, who should be praised for their bravery..

Exactly. The girls are the victims, but some of the parents were enablers. There's more than one villain here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That parent board deserves a lot of the blame too. There were parents who had lots of kids go through the program and maybe their kid was one of the favorites. A 13-1 vote to keep the guy was deplorable based on the survey results and rumors.

I'm disgusted by everyone involved here, coach and parents. I say this as a former W-school parent (not Whitman). It's shocking that parents would allow his behavior to go unchecked to the detriment of their own kids. Very sad indeed. Bravo to those young ladies who had the courage to speak up.

[Anonymous]

Wow.

I just read the Washington Post article. It's damming.

I am reminded of the way MCPS handled the horrific brooming rape at Damascus high school, and how the Principal there tried to intervene in the case, questioning people before the police started their investigation, potentially confusing witnesses and tampering with evidence.

Principals need retraining. We need to be able to personally sue them for their part in enabling unsafe practices at their schools. As long as individuals up the chain do not feel personally vulnerable to costly lawsuits, career failure and public shaming, they will continue to shield perpetrators.

My kids go to a Bethesda cluster, but this could and does happen anywhere. It makes me sick that more was not done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow.

I just read the Washington Post article. It's damming.

I am reminded of the way MCPS handled the horrific brooming rape at Damascus high school, and how the Principal there tried to intervene in the case, questioning people before the police started their investigation, potentially confusing witnesses and tampering with evidence.

Principals need retraining. We need to be able to personally sue them for their part in enabling unsafe practices at their schools. As long as individuals up the chain do not feel personally vulnerable to costly lawsuits, career failure and public shaming, they will continue to shield perpetrators.

My kids go to a Bethesda cluster, but this could and does happen anywhere. It makes me sick that more was not done.

To continue - I am no stranger to competitive coaching, I completely understand that to achieve at a high level, coaches must be strict, and may appear harsh and uncaring. There is no "whole child" approach here. But from THAT, to SEX ASSAULT AND GROOMING OF MINORS, there is a gulf as wide as the Grand Canyon. The former can be acceptable in some circumstances, the latter never is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That parent board deserves a lot of the blame too. There were parents who had lots of kids go through the program and maybe their kid was one of the favorites. A 13-1 vote to keep the guy was deplorable based on the survey results and rumors.

I'm disgusted by everyone involved here, coach and parents. I say this as a former W-school parent (not Whitman). It's shocking that parents would allow his behavior to go unchecked to the detriment of their own kids. Very sad indeed. Bravo to those young ladies who had the courage to speak up.

I'm a W-school alum (not Whitman) and I'm not shocked at all. Disgusted, absolutely, but shocked? No. It's Whitman. It's Bethesda, my hometown. There are plenty of parents who wouldn't tolerate this atrocity, but plenty who will, as this case shows. Appearances are king to many parents there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Post article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/30/kirk-shipley-sex-abuse-whitman-coach-rowing/

The parents on the board of the Whitman Crew program seem toxic. Of course we all know that parents at W schools have a "see no evil" attitude and that their instinct is always to circle the wagon, but this was more like circling the dumpster fire for several years. No doubt they were blinded by the fact that Shipley was himself an Ivy graduate (Penn) and thought the program was their children's path to similar schools. And the apologies that the board has made over the years seem pro forma and anything but heartfelt.

Are you victim blaming?

The real victims here are the girls, and I don't think it's too far off to blame the parents on the board for their inaction which allowed both sexual abuse and emotional abuse to go on for longer than it needed to. So while I primarily blame Shipley, there wasn't anyone who wanted to hold him accountable except for some recent high school graduates, who should be praised for their bravery..

Exactly. The girls are the victims, but some of the parents were enablers. There's more than one villain here.

Yes. Except the one dad who voted no and pulled out when the rest voted yes. The rest of the board knew the coach was abusive at the very least, and the 4 mentioned in the Post article were present for 2018 and 2021 complaints/allegations. So shocked and dismayed that parents and some girls tried to blame the girls for writing the letter. Now THAT's victim blaming, not holding the board parents accountable for letting this slide twice and renewing his contract AGAIN. And that consultant? What a puppet. I am glad to read that the girls are pulling together and practicing on their own.

[Anonymous]

THANK YOU to whoever posted this.

I actually attended Whitman and had brief interactions with this man and I just remember him being really mean, stern, brusque and playing favorites. It seemed like the girls he had as his favorites were like this little team, super linked in and close to him, more than was normal. He seemed almost like one of kids, because he was that close to them. Now it makes so much sense. I am so glad that for whatever reason he never approached me- it seems to me a lot of these predators have a six sense for girls that will be vulnerable for whatever reason. What a disgusting pig.