XPost: soc.women, alt.feminism, alt.activism.children
XPost: alt.feminism.individualism
From: child-rapist-liberals@democrats.org

ROSE CITY, Mich. � When Rose City middle school teacher Neal
Erickson pleaded guilty to molesting one of his students a while
back, most observers expected an open-and-shut case with the
school community rallying around the teenage victim.

And in some ways it was. Erickson was sentenced to 15-30 years
in prison for carrying on a sexual relationship with a boy in
his young teens between 2006 and 2009. That should have been the
end of the horrific tale.

But seven teachers kept the controversy alive by rallying behind
the rapist, going so far as to write letters to the sentencing
judge, seeking leniency on his behalf. The letters were posted
on a local blog, WBRC Teachers.

Perhaps the most disgusting letter was written by Erickson�s
wife, Toni Erickson, a 15-year educator currently teaching at
Ogemaw Heights High School. While her pleas on behalf of her
husband may not be surprising, her suggestion that the victim
was unaffected by the abuse is more than a little disturbing,
particularly coming from a teacher.

�As for punishment, because I know that is something the
community expects, hasn�t he been punished enough? He is losing
a job he has held for 17 years and losing all future career
potential as a teacher. �

�I have seen many delightful students who have been damaged by
horrible events in their lives. While I acknowledge that Neal�s
conduct with [the victim] was wrong, I do not believe he was
damaged by Neal�s actions and I base my opinion on my personal
interaction with [the victim], both before and after Neal�s
actions. However [my daughter] very likely could be. Please
don�t punish her by his absence in her life.�

So the real victim in the case is the rapist�s daughter, not the
young student who was assaulted? This lady needs her head
examined, and perhaps her teaching license permanently revoked.

There were other troublesome letters, as well.

Rose City Middle School English teacher Sally Campbell wrote to
the court, �Please take into consideration his pleading guilty
so as not to put this student through any more than what has
already occurred.�

How charitable of the rapist to not force his victim to testify.
Perhaps he deserves the keys to the city for that one.

�Although Neal has pleaded guilty to a single charge of criminal
sexual conduct, evidence of this being a one-time incident
reaffirms the fact that he is not a sexual predator,� wrote 4th
grade teacher Marilyn Glover.

The abuse occurred over a 3-year period, according to various
news reports. Without getting into the physics of it all, it�s
highly unlikely it was a �one-time incident.�

�Extremely poor decisions�

Rose City Middle School social studies teacher Kathleen Scheel
believes the loss of his teaching certificate and parole should
be sufficient punishment for Erickson.

�I am aware that he made some extremely poor decisions in
carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a past student of
his. I believe the loss of his teaching certificate and the
parole restrictions that will limit his freedoms for the rest of
his life are steep enough of punishments that a long
incarceration term is not warranted on top of that.

�Our community�s children are not at risk of Neal�s presence �
he is not a predator. Rather he found a strong emotional tie to
one particular individual who was too young to be experiencing
that type of relationship,� Scheel wrote.

Scheel added that out of the 1,000-plus students Erickson has
taught, �not a single one filed a complaint against him.�

�He has been, and will be, greatly missed in the educational
arena. This, in and of itself, has been a huge punishment to
Neal,� wrote Ogemaw Heights social studies teacher Amy Huber
Eagan, whose husband, Mike Eagan, is on the school board.

Many residents have called for Mike Eagan�s resignation or
recall because he sat with Erickson�s family at the sentencing.

�I am asking that Neal be given the absolute minimum sentence,
considering all the circumstances surrounding this case,� Amy
Huber Eagan wrote. She added she hopes he will stay in the
county jail instead of being sent to a prison facility.

Retired band teacher Harriett Coe wrote in her letter defending
Erickson, �I have faith that the right course of action will be
considered by the justice system.�

Rest assured, Ms. Coe, it was.

Music teacher Carol Rau defended Erickson, and added, �May the
court discern with wisdom as it seeks to know the truth and
judge with equity.�

Rest assured, Ms. Rau, it did.

The teachers� shocking defense of the admitted rapist was
heartbreaking to the victim�s family.

� � When (the letters of support from teachers) came out in
court we were angry and sick to our stomachs,� the victim�s
father, John Janczewski, told EAGnews.

�We can�t believe (educators) who took an oath to protect and be
there for the child would turn a blind eye,� he said. �We
promised ourselves we�re not going to stop until the (teachers
who supported Erickson) are fired and this board member is
recalled.�

The judge echoed that sentiment.

Upon receiving the teachers� letters, Judge Michael Bumgartner
said, �I�m appalled and ashamed that the community would rally
around, in this case, you,� referring to Erickson. �What you did
was a jab in the eye with a sharp stick to every parent who
trusts a teacher.�

The teachers� actions in this case have shaken the West Branch-
Rose City community to its core.

We at EAGnews stand with the family and community seeking
justice for not only the victim, but for all students whom enter
the classrooms of West Branch Rose City Area Schools.

At its upcoming August 19th meeting, the school board will be
deciding whether or not to fire these teachers. We anticipate a
large crowd will turn out to voice their opinion and we will be
there to cover it.

http://eagnews.org/jaw-dropper-teacher-claims-young-student- wasnt-damaged-when-her-husband-sexually-assaulted-him/
�

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: www.darkrealms.ca (1:229/2)