A Modern Woman's Perspective On The Kingdom of God on Earth


August 21, 2013

Protect Our Children

     I ran across this story earlier in the week and could not believe what I was reading.  The Janczewski family of Rose, Michigan is losing their faith in God.  It's not because John's wife, Lori, has cancer, or that he is suffering from multiple sclerosis.  No, it's because their 8th-grade son was horrifically molested by a male teacher.  But that's not the end of the story --- or the worst part.
     John and Lori were made aware of the molestation when someone anonymously posted information and pictures to an online porn site.  Now they had an explanation for their son's troublesome behavior.  But their relief at having an answer turned to pain as they realized that the teacher had manipulated the young boy into a twisted relationship that lasted from 2006 to 2009. The victim frequently lashed out at his father and the tension tore their family apart.   Naturally, the family sought legal action, trusting that they would find justice for their son.  What they didn't expect was the backlash they are receiving post-trial.
     While Neal Erickson, the middle school teacher who molested their son, was sentenced to 15-30 years in prison for his crime, it seems that six teachers and one School Board member thought the whole matter was a little overblown.  When the Janczewskis showed up for the sentencing phase of the trial, they were astounded to find that the teachers and Board member were supporting Erickson.  There were also 10 letters written to the Judge in favor of Erickson; some by current teachers.
     According to a local newspaper and the Education Action Group Foundation, who obtained the contents of the letters through the Freedom of Information Act, there were several who sought to downplay the actions of the offending teacher:
     “Neal made a mistake,” wrote one fellow teacher. “He allowed a mutual friendship to develop into much more. He realized his mistake and ended it years before someone anonymously sent something to the authorities which began this legal process.”
     Another said,  "I am asking that Neal be given the absolute minimum sentence, considering all the circumstances surrounding this case .... My advice would be to use him! He is a certified teacher and could be used for tutoring in the jail, running a GED program, or assisting in whatever education related programs there is need for. Allow him to share his knowledge and skills in a useful, viable, and meaningful way.”
     Still another wrote, “Neal has plead (sic) guilty for his one criminal offense but he is not a predator.  This was an isolated incident. He understands the severity of his action and is sincere in his desire to make amends. He has been candid and conveyed his action to his family, friends and co-workers.”
     To all of these "bleeding hearts", I would ask this:  Do you think it is appropriate for a teacher to have such a "friendship", regardless of whether he realizes his mistake or not?  And "Use him!"  You make him sound like some Teacher of the Year candidate!  And I hate to tell you this, but child molesters are not highly valued in the prison system.  And finally, how can you know it was an isolated  incident?  That's what Jerry Sandusky of Penn State would like you to believe, too.
     To his credit, the Judge admonished those who stood behind the convicted molester.  "I’m appalled and ashamed that the community could rally around, in this case, you,” he said.  “What you did was a jab in the eye with a sharp stick to every parent who trusts a teacher,” he added.
     As if the public display of support for the teacher, rather than the child victim, wasn't enough, the Janczewski family has recently been harassed with threatening phone calls, intimidating graffiti spray-painted on their house, and someone went as far as to attempt to burn their house down in the middle of the night ... with the family asleep inside.   To add insult to injury, a church in the family's neighborhood posted bail for the child molester.  We are all called to forgive, just as God forgives us.  But that does not mean we excuse our own, or another's transgression, or expect to suffer no consequences.
     The controversy has divided the community, although Mr. Jancewski says his family has received support from the majority of their fellow citizens.  But he states that the message the teachers and the School Board member are sending has shaken his faith in the safety of the community's children.  He and his family want the six teachers fired and the Board member removed from his position.
     I have to admit that I cannot understand the logic behind anyone supporting a man who betrayed the trust of the community and admitted to raping an innocent child.  And I don't care if it is his "one criminal offense".  This one is one too many.  He will have to gain his forgiveness from God, because it would be hard for me to excuse his actions and ever believe he could deny himself again.
     And what about the consciences of those teachers?  Have they been so "unionized" that they see themselves separate from the children that are entrusted to them daily?  I come from a long line of teachers in my family, and I daresay they all saw their role as bigger than Educator;  there was a time when teachers felt their job description included "protector" and "guardian" of the children in their care.    What a sad commentary on the state of our culture when one of our most honored professions can be drug through the mud with vile accusations, and there are those who will stand by the accused and defend him.

UPDATE:  On Monday night the West Branch-Rose City School Board voted not to fire the group of teachers who supported their pedophile colleague.  Citing the First Amendment, the Board revealed the real reason for their decision:  fear of costly civil suits by the teachers and their union.  The mother of the victim said she could overlook the teachers' conduct if it hadn't been for the addendum they added to their letters in support of Neal Erickson.  They wrote "that no harm had been done to my son since he was a straight-A student.  How dare they?  They have no idea of the hell we lived in while my son was going through these years of molestation."  For a more complete report on the aftermath of this decision, you can click here.  

Luke 17:2     "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin."

12 comments:

  1. Thank God the judge was not part of it. There are towns where the judicial system, child protection services, adoption agencies, law enforcement and politicians are all part of it. From preschool to graduate school, all business as usual. All I can say, if you find yourself in one of those places, run, and never look back.

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    1. I tend to agree. I don't think I could stay in that community if I was the Janczewski family. This is a travesty against their son, all children in that educational system, and most of all, to our Lord who abhors this abomination against innocent children.

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  2. Every now and then I will come across an article where the liberal left is trying to decriminalize pedophilia. Where do we draw the line for sexual orientation? We have been "re-educated" regarding homosexuality is pedophilia next?

    JM

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    1. I remember nearly 15 years ago when Dr. Laura was at the height of her popularity and she was warning about NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) and what it's agenda was for normalizing pedophilia. People thought she was crazy, but she was exactly right! I am ashamed at what our society is doing to our children. May God protect them!

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  3. Disgust , disgust, disgust ! What a terrible message we are sending our God when we silently accept this kind of trash. If it bankrupts the district to manage a suit brought on by the " enlightened ones " - so be it. It really does make sense to cauterize a wound to allow healing to occur. Perhaps two schools will rise in its place - choose one - as it has been said, regarding life and death in the scriptures. And this is somewhat what it is about anyway.
    RB

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    1. I like your analogy of cauterizing the wound. Because what this school system has done is allowed the wound to fester and it will eventually result in an infection that will render the patient (the community) dead. God can use this for His good purpose,or He can use it to render His judgment. You are absolutely right ... the end result will either be life unto Him or death unto themselves.

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  4. The devil is alive and well in the USA right now. I feel like the country I was raised in has been taken over by evil. Hold your children close and watch like a hawk.

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    1. Yes, the days of counting on our schools to be a safe haven of education for our children are gone. They are now the devil's playground where teachers are supported after molesting children. This was unimaginable during my childhood!

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  5. What used to be bad is now considered good, and what is good and decent is now bad. I think before it's all over the folks who wrote the dictionary are going to have to change the definition of those two words, bad and good. I find this totally disgusting and I include those who backed and stood behind this child predator. They're NOT any better than the person who committed this! My brother who was a detective for years, dealt with many criminal cases involving children who were molested, murdered,tortured and he always said in cases like this, these kids were always or most likely, as he referred to the word..."Groomed". This doesn't happen over night, they work these kids for sometime to get them or try to convince them into situations like this or threatened them. This is the end result. If I were standing in that family's shoes, I'd be heading out of that town and area and get a clean start somewhere else. That will always be in the back of their minds living there and will always be a reminder and their son has his life ruined at this point and it's going to take a long time to heal. With God's help I hope that he and his family can recover from this. As far as that town and the school and all those teachers and anyone else who may be involved and backed this guy, I think they better get down on their knees because judgment is coming for accepting this and making out like this guy did nothing really and we should all let this fly. I would certainly be asking myself if I lived there, what else has gone on and what has been swept under the table. After this and seeing all those who stood behind this teacher, I'd like to ask them how they would feel having this guy being their children's teacher??? Geeezzz....just how comfortable would I be to even let my child sit in this guys class or any of the other teachers who backed him! Makes one wonder now doesn't it. I don't mind saying this statement....I would bet this boy isn't the first that has been preyed on or will be the last. Once a child molester, always a molester. That's pretty much fact. It's just finding the right child and the right place and time. If this guy had gone to prison, those boys would have just made him feel right at home! I am truly sorrowful for this young man and his family. I say shame on this school, this town and all those involved. YOU ARE A DISGRACE and that town should be marked as a "PERVERT" town! Maybe their city Chamber of Commerce should make brochures up to give to those new folks moving into their town, all the wonderful adventures that their children could be involved in at their new school! This town makes me think of a particular city in the Bible and I know you all know what I'm talking about. I think someone should throw all of them to the curb, that is.... inside of a prison set up for the predators they are. Their day is coming. If they think they won some big battle and got noticed, yep, they did, good for them. They can be really proud of themselves, huh. They're in for a big surprise, now aren't they. I hope God's hand comes down hard on ALL of them...It's no wonder this world we live in is in the state it's in. When you've got "thinkers and doers" of this kind, I guess we can expect this for our children's future, but only if we allow it. Why can't people make a stand? What's wrong with us, what happened to us? How can so many be deceived and not see it???? What have we got to lose...everything...our children and our souls if we don't! I ask myself daily, what does our Heavenly Father think of us and how his heart must break when he sees what His children have become. It's just good to know there still is "His Flock" waiting and I'm one of His and ready for Him to return and that can't come too soon for me. All I can say, thank goodness I'm wasn't the judge.

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    1. I agree with you! This child was groomed and encouraged to rebel against his parents, and when he showed any signs of discomfort with what this teacher was doing to him, it was threatened that his mother would lose her job. (His father was out of work at the time, and the mother was the sole provider). No wonder the kid was made to hate his father! And the fact that this teacher preyed on this child for THREE LONG YEARS should give us insight to just how committed he was to "this one offense", as another teacher stated.

      God is not pleased! As he states in His Word, Matthew 18:6, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." Now, I don't know if this child believes in God or not, but this teacher sinned against God's righteousness and harmed this child forever. That will not go unpunished!

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  6. These are the scum listed by name in the linked article: school board member Mike Eagan,; teachers Amy Huber Eagan (wife of Mike Eagan), Sally Campbell, Harriett Coe, Toni Erickson, Carol Rau, Marilyn Glover, Sandi Lee, Kathryn Weber, Kathleen Sheel and Kathleen Palmer.
    They have exercised and kept their jobs because of the First Amendment.
    Now we can exercise ours.
    Everytime one of these individuals shows themselves in public, a good citizen of Rose, Michigan, should ask them loudly, "Hey, aren't you one of the people who said a pedophile teacher only made a 'mistake'? Are you protecting other pedophile teachers in our school district?"
    Name them. Shame them. Do not tolerate them.

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    1. Yes! We have become a PC culture who shy away from proclaiming Evil when we see it. It is time to stand up and call it out. I do believe our God is coming soon with a vengeance and these people don't want to be in His line of sight!

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