‘Safe School Czar’ Ignored Statutory Rape

[jack sommerset]

Way to protect the kids.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...nion_headlines

A teacher was told by a 15-year-old high school sop re that he was having sexual sex with an "older man." At the very least, statutory rape occurred. Fox News reported that the teacher violated a state law requiring that he report the abuse. That former teacher, Kevin Jennings, is President Obama's "safe school czar." It's getting hard to keep track of all of this president's problematic appointments. Clearly, the process for vetting White House employees has broken down.

In this one case in which Mr. Jennings had a real chance to protect a young boy from a sexual predator, he not only failed to do what the law required but actually encouraged the relationship.

According to Mr. Jennings' own description in a new audiotape discovered by Fox News, the 15-year-old boy met the "older man" in a "bus station bathroom" and was taken to the older man's home that night. When some details about the case became public, Mr. Jennings threatened to sue another teacher who called his failure to report the statutory rape "unethical." Mr. Jennings' defenders asserted that there was no evidence that he was aware the student had sex with the older man.

However, the new audiotape contradicts this claim. In 2000, Mr. Jennings gave a talk to the Iowa chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, an advocacy group that promotes sexuality in schools. On the tape, Mr. Jennings recollected that he told the student to make sure "to use a condom" when he was with the older man. That he actively encouraged the relationship is reinforced by Mr. Jennings' own description in his 1994 book, "One Teacher in 10." In that account, the teacher boasts how he allayed the student's concerns about the relationship to such a degree that the 15-year-old "left my office with a smile on his face that I would see every time I saw him on the campus for the next two years, until he graduated."

Mr. Jennings' denials about these events reveal a lack of remorse. He has not admitted that he made mistakes in this case, and he now refuses to answer any questions about the scandal. Don't forget, this is a presidential appointee we're talking about. Mr. Obama should make clear what his standards are for public servants serving at the pleasure of the president. Encouraging and covering up man-boy sexual activity are serious offenses. The White House should force Mr. Jennings to come clean.

Mr. Jennings has made extremely radical statements promoting sexuality in schools and about his utter contempt for religion that render him unsuitable for a prestigious White House appointment. His job in the Obama administration is to ensure student safety, and this scandal directly calls into question his ability to perform that job. Mr. Jennings and Obama administration officials refuse to answer any questions about this newly discovered evidence. A lot of Americans want answers about this guy and how he was approved for a job in the White House.

[LnGrrrR]

Mr. Jennings has made extremely radical statements promoting sexuality in schools and about his utter contempt for religion that render him unsuitable for a prestigious White House appointment.

Wow... that's a loaded statement. Unless he's actively promoting sexuality over/instead of heterosexuality, I can't see how radical it could be. And contempt for religion means you can't be in the White House? I wonder who wrote the article.

I haven't read the rest of the story, but assuming it's true, it was definitely a poor decision on his part. I just thought that one part of the story stood out.

[The Reckoning]

js, the dobie in your sig =

[LnGrrrR]

Oh, here's some more info:

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_N...f_Age_in_1987/

However, the driver's license shows that the student was 16 in 1987 -- therefore he was of the legal age of consent in Massachusetts, with his birthday occurring at least a month before Jennings had started teaching at his school that fall.

Changes the story slightly, hm?

[LnGrrrR]

The student also doesn't seem too scarred by the ordeal...

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200910020029

Since I was of legal consent at the time, the fifteen-minute conversation I had with Mr. Jennings twenty-one years ago is of nobody's concern but his and mine. However, since the Republican noise machine is so concerned about my "well-being" and that of America's students, they'll be relieved to know that I was not "inducted" into sexuality, assaulted, raped, or sold into sexual slavery.
In 1988, I had taken a bus home for the weekend, and on the return trip met someone who was also gay. The next day, I had a conversation with Mr. Jennings about it. I had no sexual contact with anybody at the time, though I was entirely legally free to do so. I was a sixteen year-old going through something most of us have experienced: adolescence. I find it regrettable that the people who have the compassion and integrity to protect our nation's students are themselves in need of protection from phobic smear attacks. Were it not for Mr. Jennings' courage and concern for my well-being at that time in my life, I doubt I'd be the proud gay man that I am today.
- Brewster

[George Gervin's Afro]

another non issue ....

[clambake]

[jack sommerset]

Oh, here's some more info:

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_N...f_Age_in_1987/



Changes the story slightly, hm?

Jennings said he was 15 so no. It's about his judgement. Now he is the CZAR for safe schools. I have to read more up on this too. But this alone makes me sick.

[clambake]

was it a black kid?

[jack sommerset]

was it a black kid?

No clue.

[ChumpDumper]

Jennings said he was 15 so no.

Where? There's no such quote in the OP.

[LnGrrrR]

Jennings said he was 15 so no. It's about his judgement. Now he is the CZAR for safe schools. I have to read more up on this too. But this alone makes me sick.

Except... the links I have show that he was 16, which was of legal age. And the kid said so himself. So... *shrug*

What makes you sick? The fact that he was sexual? Or the fact that he was having consentual sex and asked an administrator about it, who asked him to use protection if he was going to have sex?

[clambake]

we have to find out if it was a black kid.

that would make me sick.

[George Gervin's Afro]

Except... the links I have show that he was 16, which was of legal age. And the kid said so himself. So... *shrug*

What makes you sick? The fact that he was sexual? Or the fact that he was having consentual sex and asked an administrator about it, who asked him to use protection if he was going to have sex?

well actually conservatives don't condone safe sex so jack probably has multiple problems with this story..

[jack sommerset]

Except... the links I have show that he was 16, which was of legal age. And the kid said so himself. So... *shrug*

What makes you sick? The fact that he was sexual? Or the fact that he was having consentual sex and asked an administrator about it, who asked him to use protection if he was going to have sex?

Except what? Jennings thought he was 15.(The kid might be lying now) He should have went to the authorities if he thought the boy was 15. I will have to look it up but by law Jennings might have had to report the rape. Again in Jennings mind the boy was 15. I don't want him as a CZAR for safe schools. What good parent would?

"Oh you met a 26-27-28 year old man in a bus stop and had sex with him? Make sure you use a condom." That is what makes me sick. If it was a 15 year old girl and her guidance counselor said the samething it would make me sick too.

[boutons_deux]

Hannity is trying to match Beckkk and bag himself a czar.

Moonie's WashingtonTimes?

[ChumpDumper]

Except what? Jennings thought he was 15.(The kid might be lying now) He should have went to the authorities if he thought the boy was 15.

You'll have to link that for us.

[jack sommerset]

Where? There's no such quote in the OP.

Another link.

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/fischer/091004

Jennings apparently learned from his mentor. He repeatedly tells a story (also included in his memoirs) that he counseled a 15-year-old student who came to him for help after the boy had been preyed on by an older man in a bus station bathroom. Rather than report this instance of statutory rape, as he was required to by law, Jennings advice was that next time the boy should be sure to "use a condom."

[ChumpDumper]

Another link.

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/fischer/091004

Jennings apparently learned from his mentor. He repeatedly tells a story (also included in his memoirs) that he counseled a 15-year-old student who came to him for help after the boy had been preyed on by an older man in a bus station bathroom. Rather than report this instance of statutory rape, as he was required to by law, Jennings advice was that next time the boy should be sure to "use a condom."

So if it's in his memoir, why doesn't anyone quote the passage?

Could it be that 20 years later, his memory was off by one year?

Do you consider that to be a possibility?

The student's recollection points to just that.

[hater]

damn what a pathetic effort

[antimvp]

thats how s are made.

[PEP]

Wow, weird, so why did this kid go to this guy in first place to tell him about the relationship? Just for s and giggles?

So all you guys think that just because he was 16 it was alright to have a relationship with an adult? If the age of consent is 16 there's nothing wrong with it?

Would you condone your 16 year old doing that?

I wouldnt want this man in charge of my kids school district. What does a safe school czar do anyways?

[ChumpDumper]

Wow, weird, so why did this kid go to this guy in first place to tell him about the relationship? Just for s and giggles?

So all you guys think that just because he was 16 it was alright to have a relationship with an adult? If the age of consent is 16 there's nothing wrong with it?

Legally, no. That's what consent means.

Would you condone your 16 year old doing that?

Not at issue.

I wouldnt want this man in charge of my kids school district. What does a safe school czar do anyways?

Ask Bush. He created this czar position.

[hope4dopes]

Hannity is trying to match Beckkk and bag himself a czar.

Moonie's WashingtonTimes?

I wish him good hunting then.

[hope4dopes]

So if it's in his memoir, why doesn't anyone quote the passage?

Could it be that 20 years later, his memory was off by one year?

Do you consider that to be a possibility?

The student's recollection points to just that.

Did you consider the kid changed his story in order not to embarass the whitehouse and Mr. Jennings.