Longview School District has much explaining, reform ahead to restore public trust after sexual abuse scandal; society needs to ask itself some questions, too
I removed a comment because it was potentially libelous. Please refrain from accusations that have no evidence to back them up. Or I will be forced to shut comments down.
This case finally broke open when students took it upon themselves to protest on the street outside the high school. They must have been frustrated and angry at the inaction and cover up by the adults that are supposed to protect them. Kudos to those brave kids.
I'm 81 and I remember the "horse play" of the star athletes in High School, this behavior has been overlooked forever. Our President and the local Longview City Council, have given these entitled young men a green light and set the example that people can to do whatever they want to. The rules don't apply to them.
Hats off to the young men who had the courage to report the abuse and to the students who protested.....I admire their courage. The school officials need to have a serious discussion about reporting requirements and take responsibility for the fact that they didn't follow the reporting requirement law and public apology to restore faith for the students, parents and tax payers in general.
The law on mandatory reporting is unambiguous. Full stop. The coaches, teachers and those involved did not live up to their duty to protect the children in their charge.
I can only say that it does not surprise me. We live in a microcosm of the larger world view, where if you're powerful, rich and connected the rules don't apply to you.
A few years ago, the counselors at the school would make comments about female students when they came to see them. Things like “is she cute? Is she a good one?” It made my skin crawl. Much worse things were said to female employees of the school about their sex lives or comments about their bodies. It was reported and nothing was done. It was a very hostile work environment and there were no protections for the people affected by this behavior. The counselor that was most offensive had no consequences and was praised as being excellent at his job as he retired. The climate at Mark Morris is to view people who bring these things to light as troublemakers or to say they aren’t team players. It still affects me to this day.
I am still deeply affected by what I had to put up with. I was made to feel like I was the problem for not going along with it. A co-worker told me the main perpetrator was “way worse” before he was with his then-girlfriend. After I reported it, I was excluded from department lunch gatherings and when they did include me, they said in front of me that they had to watch what they were saying because of “sensitive ears”. I was also not invited to work-related meetings where my input was necessary to the discussion.
I worked there for a month during Covid in the health room. Quit over how they “lack of handled” Covid positive players. This was under the previous head coach. I’m sure this type of stuff has been happening for years. They have always thought they were better than others.
I have to wonder how much the current political climate in our country, with respect to the Epstein investigation, influenced to poor decisions made by the alleged perpetrators. Frankly, I think the students who were charged should be tried as adults. It is also my opinion that some of the school district personnel should be fired.
I participated in team sports growing up in the 80’s and was fortunate enough to be guided by a group of coaches who were more interested in what kind of person you were than your athletic performance. This behavior is abhorrent and really should be seen as a leadership failure on the part of the coaches to set behavior standards for their athletes.
And why does the MM locker room have a “team room” with no windows? That is begging for misbehavior.
We should hold adults to much higher standards if we are going to expect more from teens. These kids don't need punishment, they need role models and to be held accountable. Adults in this town seem more worried about protecting their reputations and making waves than they are about protecting children from abuse.
So, what the devil is there to say about any of this sad event. So many are now under scrutiny. School administration, Boards, parents, Cops, even students. Was it all about bully's or perhaps "Privileged Jocks" and how they are treated? Esteemed. Where is the failure in how our young are reared and the role of our institutions and parents in providing a life path they should follow? What is right and what is wrong? What is it in terms of morals and ethos we want instilled in our youth that wasn't? How to behave and treat one another. Fact is, this isn't rare. Such things have always been with us. Humans are flawed. Institutions fail. The search for a solution, or prevention will go on. We don't have enuf fingers on our hands to point to all the reasons, the failures, persons---the what if's and could or should have happened stuff. No, this thing will cause lots of discussion but over time fade. That is until next time.
They were trying to keep it quiet to finish their season. No one can tell me otherwise. I am so proud of the kids that spoke up, didn’t let them pressure them to stay quiet and had courage. Kudos kids. Hugs to the victims.
I removed a comment because it was potentially libelous. Please refrain from accusations that have no evidence to back them up. Or I will be forced to shut comments down.
This case finally broke open when students took it upon themselves to protest on the street outside the high school. They must have been frustrated and angry at the inaction and cover up by the adults that are supposed to protect them. Kudos to those brave kids.
So proud of these kids. They have more courage than most of their elders.
Excellent writing and explaining of the issue. Thank you for shedding this important light of accountability. My heart breaks for the young victims.
I'm 81 and I remember the "horse play" of the star athletes in High School, this behavior has been overlooked forever. Our President and the local Longview City Council, have given these entitled young men a green light and set the example that people can to do whatever they want to. The rules don't apply to them.
Hats off to the young men who had the courage to report the abuse and to the students who protested.....I admire their courage. The school officials need to have a serious discussion about reporting requirements and take responsibility for the fact that they didn't follow the reporting requirement law and public apology to restore faith for the students, parents and tax payers in general.
The law on mandatory reporting is unambiguous. Full stop. The coaches, teachers and those involved did not live up to their duty to protect the children in their charge.
I can only say that it does not surprise me. We live in a microcosm of the larger world view, where if you're powerful, rich and connected the rules don't apply to you.
A few years ago, the counselors at the school would make comments about female students when they came to see them. Things like “is she cute? Is she a good one?” It made my skin crawl. Much worse things were said to female employees of the school about their sex lives or comments about their bodies. It was reported and nothing was done. It was a very hostile work environment and there were no protections for the people affected by this behavior. The counselor that was most offensive had no consequences and was praised as being excellent at his job as he retired. The climate at Mark Morris is to view people who bring these things to light as troublemakers or to say they aren’t team players. It still affects me to this day.
I graduated in the 2000s and I've been thinking a lot about the things I heard about some male staff members after the fact.
I can probably easily guess who it is.
Perhaps, though I wouldn't be surprised if this was a much bigger problem.
I can think of at least 3 besides the 2 I had to deal with directly.
That is sickening 🤮 I graduated from MM but made sure my children wouldn’t go there. They didn’t. I should’ve never went to work there.
I am still deeply affected by what I had to put up with. I was made to feel like I was the problem for not going along with it. A co-worker told me the main perpetrator was “way worse” before he was with his then-girlfriend. After I reported it, I was excluded from department lunch gatherings and when they did include me, they said in front of me that they had to watch what they were saying because of “sensitive ears”. I was also not invited to work-related meetings where my input was necessary to the discussion.
I worked there for a month during Covid in the health room. Quit over how they “lack of handled” Covid positive players. This was under the previous head coach. I’m sure this type of stuff has been happening for years. They have always thought they were better than others.
We worked together then I guess. The health room is connected to guidance.
Good possibility! We were testing so many students we kept that door shut. I pretty much stayed to that area because I didn’t like people 😂
I have to wonder how much the current political climate in our country, with respect to the Epstein investigation, influenced to poor decisions made by the alleged perpetrators. Frankly, I think the students who were charged should be tried as adults. It is also my opinion that some of the school district personnel should be fired.
I participated in team sports growing up in the 80’s and was fortunate enough to be guided by a group of coaches who were more interested in what kind of person you were than your athletic performance. This behavior is abhorrent and really should be seen as a leadership failure on the part of the coaches to set behavior standards for their athletes.
And why does the MM locker room have a “team room” with no windows? That is begging for misbehavior.
Exactly! The team room at ra long is not in either locker room- it’s upstairs to the side of the gym.
A windowless room with a locking door? Has the school facilities department...or a group of handy parents...torn that out yet?
I’m not sure why use of that space was ever allowed
We should hold adults to much higher standards if we are going to expect more from teens. These kids don't need punishment, they need role models and to be held accountable. Adults in this town seem more worried about protecting their reputations and making waves than they are about protecting children from abuse.
So, what the devil is there to say about any of this sad event. So many are now under scrutiny. School administration, Boards, parents, Cops, even students. Was it all about bully's or perhaps "Privileged Jocks" and how they are treated? Esteemed. Where is the failure in how our young are reared and the role of our institutions and parents in providing a life path they should follow? What is right and what is wrong? What is it in terms of morals and ethos we want instilled in our youth that wasn't? How to behave and treat one another. Fact is, this isn't rare. Such things have always been with us. Humans are flawed. Institutions fail. The search for a solution, or prevention will go on. We don't have enuf fingers on our hands to point to all the reasons, the failures, persons---the what if's and could or should have happened stuff. No, this thing will cause lots of discussion but over time fade. That is until next time.
They were trying to keep it quiet to finish their season. No one can tell me otherwise. I am so proud of the kids that spoke up, didn’t let them pressure them to stay quiet and had courage. Kudos kids. Hugs to the victims.
Replace the administration and coaching staff at MM.
NOW!!! Why are they still working.