Comments on: Priest and Teacher Sex Scandals in Perspective http://jaypgreene.com/2008/04/19/priest-and-teacher-sex-scandals-in-perspective/ With Help From Some Friends Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:15:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Jay P. Greene http://jaypgreene.com/2008/04/19/priest-and-teacher-sex-scandals-in-perspective/#comment-52 Jay P. Greene Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:14:15 +0000 http://jaypgreene.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-52 There are important differences between typical sexual misconduct by priests and by teachers, but I don't think it's the difference in institutional response that Larry suggests. The point of Scott Reeder's reporting at http://www.thehiddencostsoftenure.com/ is that it is actually shockingly common for teachers accused of misconduct not to be fired. Even if they are removed from the school it is sometimes under a legal settlement in which the school promises to provide a neutral reference if the teacher applies elsewhere for a teaching job. As the Church has been accused, schools also have engaged in "passing the trash," where those accused of misconduct just move on and abuse children again somewhere else. One ofhe important differences between abuse by male teachers and priests is that teachers are typically accused of misconduct with high school girls while priests have more often been accused of misconduct with pre-pubsescent boys. They are both very wrong, but we think about them differently. While there are significant differences between teacher and priest misconduct, what's amazing is that the rate of misconduct appears to be in the same league. Given the disparity in attention, that's surprising. There are important differences between typical sexual misconduct by priests and by teachers, but I don’t think it’s the difference in institutional response that Larry suggests. The point of Scott Reeder’s reporting at http://www.thehiddencostsoftenure.com/ is that it is actually shockingly common for teachers accused of misconduct not to be fired. Even if they are removed from the school it is sometimes under a legal settlement in which the school promises to provide a neutral reference if the teacher applies elsewhere for a teaching job. As the Church has been accused, schools also have engaged in “passing the trash,” where those accused of misconduct just move on and abuse children again somewhere else.

One ofhe important differences between abuse by male teachers and priests is that teachers are typically accused of misconduct with high school girls while priests have more often been accused of misconduct with pre-pubsescent boys. They are both very wrong, but we think about them differently.

While there are significant differences between teacher and priest misconduct, what’s amazing is that the rate of misconduct appears to be in the same league. Given the disparity in attention, that’s surprising.

]]> By: Larry Bernstein http://jaypgreene.com/2008/04/19/priest-and-teacher-sex-scandals-in-perspective/#comment-47 Larry Bernstein Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:09:00 +0000 http://jaypgreene.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-47 I think the real issue is how does an institution deal with sexual misconduct. I assume that public schools terminate teachers that commit sexual abuse, and teachers with a sexual misconduct in their record will have trouble finding work in neighboring school districts. One clearly upsetting aspect of priest sexual misconduct is that the Church did not terminate employment with the perpetrators, and the priests who committed the indiscretions were able to find other suitable employment within the Church that allowed for additional sexual crimes. Sexual deviancy is part of the human condition. How institutions deal with the sexual misconduct and how institutions try to minimize inappropriate behavior is the point. I think the real issue is how does an institution deal with sexual misconduct. I assume that public schools terminate teachers that commit sexual abuse, and teachers with a sexual misconduct in their record will have trouble finding work in neighboring school districts.

One clearly upsetting aspect of priest sexual misconduct is that the Church did not terminate employment with the perpetrators, and the priests who committed the indiscretions were able to find other suitable employment within the Church that allowed for additional sexual crimes.

Sexual deviancy is part of the human condition. How institutions deal with the sexual misconduct and how institutions try to minimize inappropriate behavior is the point.

]]> By: Greg Forster http://jaypgreene.com/2008/04/19/priest-and-teacher-sex-scandals-in-perspective/#comment-23 Greg Forster Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:31:57 +0000 http://jaypgreene.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-23 Another place to look on the issue of staff misconduct in public schools is, ahem, the study I conducted last year, which found that staff misconduct (including sexual misconduct) was more frequently reported in public schools than it was in private schools: http://www.friedmanfoundation.org/friedman/research/ShowResearchItem.do?id=10080 That’s OK, Jay, I’m sure you’ll remember to plug me next time. :) Another place to look on the issue of staff misconduct in public schools is, ahem, the study I conducted last year, which found that staff misconduct (including sexual misconduct) was more frequently reported in public schools than it was in private schools:

http://www.friedmanfoundation.org/friedman/research/ShowResearchItem.do?id=10080

That’s OK, Jay, I’m sure you’ll remember to plug me next time. :)

]]> By: Corey http://jaypgreene.com/2008/04/19/priest-and-teacher-sex-scandals-in-perspective/#comment-15 Corey Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:24:40 +0000 http://jaypgreene.wordpress.com/?p=11#comment-15 Seems like it would be more useful to figure out how to prevent abuse than to calculate which profession is more evil. Besides, since we have no idea what percentage of abuses are reported in either field I'm unconvinced that a comparison has much utility. Seems like it would be more useful to figure out how to prevent abuse than to calculate which profession is more evil.

Besides, since we have no idea what percentage of abuses are reported in either field I’m unconvinced that a comparison has much utility.

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