Cooper Middle School in McLean

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

Did you know this is how good detectives often break a story? Their 'hinky' meter is pegged. Good for you, for recognizing the subtleties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arleen's on the case. To be sure.

I think she is great too. The staff at Cooper is amazing, and if you have not read the Post article about the boy who literally died at field day and was saved by the staff, you should.

That being said, Rademacher was the walking definition of a red flag. Maybe because he was off in one of the modular classrooms, or not wanting to rock the boat with a fellow teacher, or some kind of weird professional courtesy, but I have to believe he must have given a decent number of the teachers and staff at Cooper the creeps. But no one did anything, at least not in a way that prevented anything from happening.

Can you name the other red flags? Tons of teachers are in modular classroom/trailers, I cannot see how that would be a red flag.

People who didn't fear being "judgemental" saw the red flags. So did the kids.

His class location is irrelevant. The Feds will determine which red flags were ignored by school administrators and other teachers. After all, they were all legally required to report his questionable relationships with some of the kids. Not their job to conduct an investigation to produce definitive evidence of sexual abuse.

Really? Can you provide evidence of this? No? Oh, right, because it's just conjecture on your part. The desperate musings of a woman who is completely off her rocker. You keep mentioning these many "red flags". Any examples, or just another buzzword you enjoy repeating until it literally means nothing. HEADS WILL ROLL!!!!

Evidence of what? Sex abuse? People knew. It should have been investigated long before now. Thank goodness for the nbc reporter who kept digging for the facts. Aren't you grateful for that?

Actually, I'm more interested in what you, hiding behind an anonymous forum, can present as evidence. You keep screaming about the red flags that should have been seen - WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW?? For you to just run your mouth with conjecture and rumors is just as bad as what you're claiming FCPS did. You're just fanning the flames of a potential scandal, hoping against hope to turn it into something, anything!

Yes, of course I think we're all grateful to anyone who actually comes up with facts about this situation and makes them known to the larger community. You? All you're doing is enjoying your anonymous 15 min. of... notoriety? Honestly, someone should just out you and make you own up to whatever "evidence" you keep crowing is out there. Because unless you have something concrete to share, your words are a complete waste of space.

From the way you are speaking, it sounds as if you think Rademacher is innocent?

Not at all. Of course, I don't know the situation any more than you do, or anyone else. All we know is the information from the NBC news report; nothing more. Is there actual testimony from the alleged victims? It sounds like a terrible situation. But I'm a lot more inclined to wait and review ALL EVIDENCE before damning anyone and especially damning an entire school and county. Do you have some hard, concrete, factual evidence to share? Because if not, this is all just a bunch of breathless melodrama. I'll save my outrage until ALL the facts are in.

NBC got their information using FOIA requests; they did not create the story out of thin air. Furthermore, the man did indeed embezzle funds from parents, which is probably why NBC looked into it in the first place. Parents signed their kids up for the trip and gave deposits, then all communication about said trip stopped. Two Langley fathers were interviewed by media and said they made multiple requests via email to try and track Rademacher down. They probably got fed up and called the media.

I don't think the sex allegations are simply allegations. I believe that information came from the documents obtained via the FOIA requests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arleen's on the case. To be sure.

I think she is great too. The staff at Cooper is amazing, and if you have not read the Post article about the boy who literally died at field day and was saved by the staff, you should.

That being said, Rademacher was the walking definition of a red flag. Maybe because he was off in one of the modular classrooms, or not wanting to rock the boat with a fellow teacher, or some kind of weird professional courtesy, but I have to believe he must have given a decent number of the teachers and staff at Cooper the creeps. But no one did anything, at least not in a way that prevented anything from happening.

Can you name the other red flags? Tons of teachers are in modular classroom/trailers, I cannot see how that would be a red flag.

People who didn't fear being "judgemental" saw the red flags. So did the kids.

His class location is irrelevant. The Feds will determine which red flags were ignored by school administrators and other teachers. After all, they were all legally required to report his questionable relationships with some of the kids. Not their job to conduct an investigation to produce definitive evidence of sexual abuse.

Really? Can you provide evidence of this? No? Oh, right, because it's just conjecture on your part. The desperate musings of a woman who is completely off her rocker. You keep mentioning these many "red flags". Any examples, or just another buzzword you enjoy repeating until it literally means nothing. HEADS WILL ROLL!!!!

Evidence of what? Sex abuse? People knew. It should have been investigated long before now. Thank goodness for the nbc reporter who kept digging for the facts. Aren't you grateful for that?

Actually, I'm more interested in what you, hiding behind an anonymous forum, can present as evidence. You keep screaming about the red flags that should have been seen - WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW?? For you to just run your mouth with conjecture and rumors is just as bad as what you're claiming FCPS did. You're just fanning the flames of a potential scandal, hoping against hope to turn it into something, anything!

Yes, of course I think we're all grateful to anyone who actually comes up with facts about this situation and makes them known to the larger community. You? All you're doing is enjoying your anonymous 15 min. of... notoriety? Honestly, someone should just out you and make you own up to whatever "evidence" you keep crowing is out there. Because unless you have something concrete to share, your words are a complete waste of space.

From the way you are speaking, it sounds as if you think Rademacher is innocent?

Not at all. Of course, I don't know the situation any more than you do, or anyone else. All we know is the information from the NBC news report; nothing more. Is there actual testimony from the alleged victims? It sounds like a terrible situation. But I'm a lot more inclined to wait and review ALL EVIDENCE before damning anyone and especially damning an entire school and county. Do you have some hard, concrete, factual evidence to share? Because if not, this is all just a bunch of breathless melodrama. I'll save my outrage until ALL the facts are in.

NBC got their information using FOIA requests; they did not create the story out of thin air. Furthermore, the man did indeed embezzle funds from parents, which is probably why NBC looked into it in the first place. Parents signed their kids up for the trip and gave deposits, then all communication about said trip stopped. Two Langley fathers were interviewed by media and said they made multiple requests via email to try and track Rademacher down. They probably got fed up and called the media.

I don't think the sex allegations are simply allegations. I believe that information came from the documents obtained via the FOIA requests.

You are exactly right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arleen's on the case. To be sure.

I think she is great too. The staff at Cooper is amazing, and if you have not read the Post article about the boy who literally died at field day and was saved by the staff, you should.

That being said, Rademacher was the walking definition of a red flag. Maybe because he was off in one of the modular classrooms, or not wanting to rock the boat with a fellow teacher, or some kind of weird professional courtesy, but I have to believe he must have given a decent number of the teachers and staff at Cooper the creeps. But no one did anything, at least not in a way that prevented anything from happening.

Can you name the other red flags? Tons of teachers are in modular classroom/trailers, I cannot see how that would be a red flag.

People who didn't fear being "judgemental" saw the red flags. So did the kids.

His class location is irrelevant. The Feds will determine which red flags were ignored by school administrators and other teachers. After all, they were all legally required to report his questionable relationships with some of the kids. Not their job to conduct an investigation to produce definitive evidence of sexual abuse.

Really? Can you provide evidence of this? No? Oh, right, because it's just conjecture on your part. The desperate musings of a woman who is completely off her rocker. You keep mentioning these many "red flags". Any examples, or just another buzzword you enjoy repeating until it literally means nothing. HEADS WILL ROLL!!!!

Evidence of what? Sex abuse? People knew. It should have been investigated long before now. Thank goodness for the nbc reporter who kept digging for the facts. Aren't you grateful for that?

Actually, I'm more interested in what you, hiding behind an anonymous forum, can present as evidence. You keep screaming about the red flags that should have been seen - WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW?? For you to just run your mouth with conjecture and rumors is just as bad as what you're claiming FCPS did. You're just fanning the flames of a potential scandal, hoping against hope to turn it into something, anything!

Yes, of course I think we're all grateful to anyone who actually comes up with facts about this situation and makes them known to the larger community. You? All you're doing is enjoying your anonymous 15 min. of... notoriety? Honestly, someone should just out you and make you own up to whatever "evidence" you keep crowing is out there. Because unless you have something concrete to share, your words are a complete waste of space.

From the way you are speaking, it sounds as if you think Rademacher is innocent?

Not at all. Of course, I don't know the situation any more than you do, or anyone else. All we know is the information from the NBC news report; nothing more. Is there actual testimony from the alleged victims? It sounds like a terrible situation. But I'm a lot more inclined to wait and review ALL EVIDENCE before damning anyone and especially damning an entire school and county. Do you have some hard, concrete, factual evidence to share? Because if not, this is all just a bunch of breathless melodrama. I'll save my outrage until ALL the facts are in.

NBC got their information using FOIA requests; they did not create the story out of thin air. Furthermore, the man did indeed embezzle funds from parents, which is probably why NBC looked into it in the first place. Parents signed their kids up for the trip and gave deposits, then all communication about said trip stopped. Two Langley fathers were interviewed by media and said they made multiple requests via email to try and track Rademacher down. They probably got fed up and called the media.

I don't think the sex allegations are simply allegations. I believe that information came from the documents obtained via the FOIA requests.

You are exactly right.

If FCPS or Friendship Connection had refunded those deposits, they probably could have kept this buried. Ironic. They are not very good at cover ups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

This is what I'm wondering too. My children have all had certain teachers through the years who are just more "casual" in their styles. I haven't always been thrilled with that, because I think the quality of teaching suffers when the teacher is trying too hard to be thought of as "cool." But I can't say I've ever been alarmed or sensed any red flags. I don't know that I would have if my child had been in this class and reported all of the above. I probably would have been irritated that in place of teaching, he seemed to be slacking off. But none of that points to sexual abuse, for crying out loud. How could anyone possibly have known?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

This is what I'm wondering too. My children have all had certain teachers through the years who are just more "casual" in their styles. I haven't always been thrilled with that, because I think the quality of teaching suffers when the teacher is trying too hard to be thought of as "cool." But I can't say I've ever been alarmed or sensed any red flags. I don't know that I would have if my child had been in this class and reported all of the above. I probably would have been irritated that in place of teaching, he seemed to be slacking off. But none of that points to sexual abuse, for crying out loud. How could anyone possibly have known?

Are you versed in "grooming"? Most pedophiles first groom potential victims before the actual sexual assault. Indications of grooming IS a RED flag, people, even if you choose not to believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

This is what I'm wondering too. My children have all had certain teachers through the years who are just more "casual" in their styles. I haven't always been thrilled with that, because I think the quality of teaching suffers when the teacher is trying too hard to be thought of as "cool." But I can't say I've ever been alarmed or sensed any red flags. I don't know that I would have if my child had been in this class and reported all of the above. I probably would have been irritated that in place of teaching, he seemed to be slacking off. But none of that points to sexual abuse, for crying out loud. How could anyone possibly have known?

Are you versed in "grooming"? Most pedophiles first groom potential victims before the actual sexual assault. Indications of grooming IS a RED flag, people, even if you choose not to believe it.

Of course I'm "versed in grooming". But I wonder how on earth you let your kids interact in the world without thinking every friendly adult in their lives is a potential pedophile. What if their soccer coach takes the team out for ice cream? Smiles at them? How about the music teacher who gives your child a hug when they master a difficult piece? The ice skating coach who catches your daughter so she won't fall? How do you possibly manage with all these "red flags" popping up on a daily basis?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

This is what I'm wondering too. My children have all had certain teachers through the years who are just more "casual" in their styles. I haven't always been thrilled with that, because I think the quality of teaching suffers when the teacher is trying too hard to be thought of as "cool." But I can't say I've ever been alarmed or sensed any red flags. I don't know that I would have if my child had been in this class and reported all of the above. I probably would have been irritated that in place of teaching, he seemed to be slacking off. But none of that points to sexual abuse, for crying out loud. How could anyone possibly have known?

Are you versed in "grooming"? Most pedophiles first groom potential victims before the actual sexual assault. Indications of grooming IS a RED flag, people, even if you choose not to believe it.

Of course I'm "versed in grooming". But I wonder how on earth you let your kids interact in the world without thinking every friendly adult in their lives is a potential pedophile. What if their soccer coach takes the team out for ice cream? Smiles at them? How about the music teacher who gives your child a hug when they master a difficult piece? The ice skating coach who catches your daughter so she won't fall? How do you possibly manage with all these "red flags" popping up on a daily basis?

Most people I know will say something when they just know something isn't right. Not their job to investigate. But if they're FCPS employees, it certainly is their job to report. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

This is what I'm wondering too. My children have all had certain teachers through the years who are just more "casual" in their styles. I haven't always been thrilled with that, because I think the quality of teaching suffers when the teacher is trying too hard to be thought of as "cool." But I can't say I've ever been alarmed or sensed any red flags. I don't know that I would have if my child had been in this class and reported all of the above. I probably would have been irritated that in place of teaching, he seemed to be slacking off. But none of that points to sexual abuse, for crying out loud. How could anyone possibly have known?

Are you versed in "grooming"? Most pedophiles first groom potential victims before the actual sexual assault. Indications of grooming IS a RED flag, people, even if you choose not to believe it.

Of course I'm "versed in grooming". But I wonder how on earth you let your kids interact in the world without thinking every friendly adult in their lives is a potential pedophile. What if their soccer coach takes the team out for ice cream? Smiles at them? How about the music teacher who gives your child a hug when they master a difficult piece? The ice skating coach who catches your daughter so she won't fall? How do you possibly manage with all these "red flags" popping up on a daily basis?

Your kids should never be alone with another adult - and pretty much every organization that deals with kids has mandated that rule. And if someone is organizing situations to be alone with children, that is an ENORMOUS red flag. That doesn't say they can't have one on one interactions - but it's door open, in full view of everyone else kind of thing. Hotel rooms, cars, houses - kids should not be alone with another adult in those places, for everyone's protection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

This is what I'm wondering too. My children have all had certain teachers through the years who are just more "casual" in their styles. I haven't always been thrilled with that, because I think the quality of teaching suffers when the teacher is trying too hard to be thought of as "cool." But I can't say I've ever been alarmed or sensed any red flags. I don't know that I would have if my child had been in this class and reported all of the above. I probably would have been irritated that in place of teaching, he seemed to be slacking off. But none of that points to sexual abuse, for crying out loud. How could anyone possibly have known?

Are you versed in "grooming"? Most pedophiles first groom potential victims before the actual sexual assault. Indications of grooming IS a RED flag, people, even if you choose not to believe it.

Of course I'm "versed in grooming". But I wonder how on earth you let your kids interact in the world without thinking every friendly adult in their lives is a potential pedophile. What if their soccer coach takes the team out for ice cream? Smiles at them? How about the music teacher who gives your child a hug when they master a difficult piece? The ice skating coach who catches your daughter so she won't fall? How do you possibly manage with all these "red flags" popping up on a daily basis?

Your kids should never be alone with another adult - and pretty much every organization that deals with kids has mandated that rule. And if someone is organizing situations to be alone with children, that is an ENORMOUS red flag. That doesn't say they can't have one on one interactions - but it's door open, in full view of everyone else kind of thing. Hotel rooms, cars, houses - kids should not be alone with another adult in those places, for everyone's protection.

Exactly. Time to get versed in grooming practices, especially those of male teaches perpetrated on male students. This is a relatively recent phenomenon. It used to be the usual male going after the girls, but that has taken a back seat. We now have many more cases of boys sexually assaulted by male teaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

This is what I'm wondering too. My children have all had certain teachers through the years who are just more "casual" in their styles. I haven't always been thrilled with that, because I think the quality of teaching suffers when the teacher is trying too hard to be thought of as "cool." But I can't say I've ever been alarmed or sensed any red flags. I don't know that I would have if my child had been in this class and reported all of the above. I probably would have been irritated that in place of teaching, he seemed to be slacking off. But none of that points to sexual abuse, for crying out loud. How could anyone possibly have known?

Are you versed in "grooming"? Most pedophiles first groom potential victims before the actual sexual assault. Indications of grooming IS a RED flag, people, even if you choose not to believe it.

Of course I'm "versed in grooming". But I wonder how on earth you let your kids interact in the world without thinking every friendly adult in their lives is a potential pedophile. What if their soccer coach takes the team out for ice cream? Smiles at them? How about the music teacher who gives your child a hug when they master a difficult piece? The ice skating coach who catches your daughter so she won't fall? How do you possibly manage with all these "red flags" popping up on a daily basis?

Your kids should never be alone with another adult - and pretty much every organization that deals with kids has mandated that rule. And if someone is organizing situations to be alone with children, that is an ENORMOUS red flag. That doesn't say they can't have one on one interactions - but it's door open, in full view of everyone else kind of thing. Hotel rooms, cars, houses - kids should not be alone with another adult in those places, for everyone's protection.

Exactly. Time to get versed in grooming practices, especially those of male teaches perpetrated on male students. This is a relatively recent phenomenon. It used to be the usual male going after the girls, but that has taken a back seat. We now have many more cases of boys sexually assaulted by male teaches.

There's nothing new under the sun. It's just getting reported/publicized more. In fact, had FCPS has its way, this would have gone the way that so many have gone in the past - teacher 'disappeared', no public report, nobody finds out. It was in everyone's interest to bury it, and FCPS tried to do just that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

This is what I'm wondering too. My children have all had certain teachers through the years who are just more "casual" in their styles. I haven't always been thrilled with that, because I think the quality of teaching suffers when the teacher is trying too hard to be thought of as "cool." But I can't say I've ever been alarmed or sensed any red flags. I don't know that I would have if my child had been in this class and reported all of the above. I probably would have been irritated that in place of teaching, he seemed to be slacking off. But none of that points to sexual abuse, for crying out loud. How could anyone possibly have known?

Are you versed in "grooming"? Most pedophiles first groom potential victims before the actual sexual assault. Indications of grooming IS a RED flag, people, even if you choose not to believe it.

Of course I'm "versed in grooming". But I wonder how on earth you let your kids interact in the world without thinking every friendly adult in their lives is a potential pedophile. What if their soccer coach takes the team out for ice cream? Smiles at them? How about the music teacher who gives your child a hug when they master a difficult piece? The ice skating coach who catches your daughter so she won't fall? How do you possibly manage with all these "red flags" popping up on a daily basis?

Your kids should never be alone with another adult - and pretty much every organization that deals with kids has mandated that rule. And if someone is organizing situations to be alone with children, that is an ENORMOUS red flag. That doesn't say they can't have one on one interactions - but it's door open, in full view of everyone else kind of thing. Hotel rooms, cars, houses - kids should not be alone with another adult in those places, for everyone's protection.

Exactly. Time to get versed in grooming practices, especially those of male teaches perpetrated on male students. This is a relatively recent phenomenon. It used to be the usual male going after the girls, but that has taken a back seat. We now have many more cases of boys sexually assaulted by male teaches.

Do you have any links that can back up your claims?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: WHAT RED FLAGS?? You've claimed "people knew". WHAT PEOPLE?? WHAT DID THEY KNOW??

I don't think anyone 'knew'. I know that my child was in his class at Cooper, and it was just an accumulation of little things you hear when you speak with your kid about their day - not something I went looking for, but stuff that kept coming up. One day it was the slide show about the scuba trip and pushing everyone to participate. Then the teaching via Skype from Germany. Then the off color jokes. And sending kids to his car for stuff, and the Chipotle runs. You hear this from time to time and say "There's something not right here, this guy is trying too hard to ingratiate himself with the kids." I honestly don't know if anyone complained about it. I did not, and I never compared thoughts with any other parents, but I also told my child to steer clear of him, and trips for scuba and Germany were not going to happen with this guy.

Problem is, if I had gone to an administrator, what would I say? "I got a bad feeling about this guy" They can't do anything about that, nor should they really. Nothing is really damning until someone accuses him of something real, or finds some evidence somehow. So no one really 'knew' until it was too late. The reaction afterwards is another story - FCPS seems to have really blown it on that.

I still don't see the huge red flags. Chipotle runs? Skype teaching? Sending kids to his car for stuff? Really?

What kind of "off color" jokes? What do you mean by he was trying too hard to ingratiate?

This is what I'm wondering too. My children have all had certain teachers through the years who are just more "casual" in their styles. I haven't always been thrilled with that, because I think the quality of teaching suffers when the teacher is trying too hard to be thought of as "cool." But I can't say I've ever been alarmed or sensed any red flags. I don't know that I would have if my child had been in this class and reported all of the above. I probably would have been irritated that in place of teaching, he seemed to be slacking off. But none of that points to sexual abuse, for crying out loud. How could anyone possibly have known?

Are you versed in "grooming"? Most pedophiles first groom potential victims before the actual sexual assault. Indications of grooming IS a RED flag, people, even if you choose not to believe it.

Of course I'm "versed in grooming". But I wonder how on earth you let your kids interact in the world without thinking every friendly adult in their lives is a potential pedophile. What if their soccer coach takes the team out for ice cream? Smiles at them? How about the music teacher who gives your child a hug when they master a difficult piece? The ice skating coach who catches your daughter so she won't fall? How do you possibly manage with all these "red flags" popping up on a daily basis?

Your kids should never be alone with another adult - and pretty much every organization that deals with kids has mandated that rule. And if someone is organizing situations to be alone with children, that is an ENORMOUS red flag. That doesn't say they can't have one on one interactions - but it's door open, in full view of everyone else kind of thing. Hotel rooms, cars, houses - kids should not be alone with another adult in those places, for everyone's protection.

Exactly. Time to get versed in grooming practices, especially those of male teaches perpetrated on male students. This is a relatively recent phenomenon. It used to be the usual male going after the girls, but that has taken a back seat. We now have many more cases of boys sexually assaulted by male teaches.

Do you have any links that can back up your claims?

You may review recent local news history if you like. Seems like the boys get assaulted as young as third/fourth grade.