Alleged Melinda Dennehy Photos Highlight Difficulty of Disciplining Bad Teachers
Presumption of Innocence Vs. Sexual Misconduct Allegations Made by a Child
Naked Melinda Dennehy Photos (allegedly)
The arrest warrant affidavit accuses Dennehy of "indecent exposure and lewdness." It asserts that 41-year old Melinda Dennehy, an English teacher at the Londonderry High School, sent a photo of herself - with "genitals exposed" - to a 15-year old child. It is noteworthy that the alleged Melinda Dennehy photo, which is in the possession of the police department, was supposedly positively identified by her co-workers.
Victim allegations reveal that a total of four Melinda Dennehy pictures made it to the juvenile's Hotmail account. Not surprisingly, the pics soon made the rounds among the child's friends. Text messages sent to the child by the teacher apparently also offered to perform a sex act. Just as damning is the accusation that she kissed the juvenile on two separate occasions in a classroom at Londonderry High School.
Supposed Melinda Dennehy Pictures Lead to Tepid Official Response
A March 5th press release by School Superintendent Nate Greenberg - and published by the Londonderry Hometown Online News - promises that schools officials will conduct their own investigation. Melinda Dennehy is currently on "administrative leave with pay." A press release issued by Chief of Police Bill Hart advises that Ms. Dennehy has been released on bail and will be arraigned on April 30th.
What Happens to Bad Teachers?
If the Los Angeles Unified School District is any indication, there is not a lot that happens to bad teachers. An eye-opening investigation by the L.A. Weekly reveals that firing bad teachers - even when parents and school administrators are on board with the idea - can be denied by an overseeing arbitration panel. According to the Los Angeles Times, bad teachers with tenure can take up to five years to remove from the payroll.
It is noteworthy that - much like in the case of the supposed nude Melinda Dennehy pictures purportedly sent to a minor - sexual misconduct and illegal activities are among the firing offenses that nevertheless take years to lead to an actual dismissal. The teachers' union fires back and warns that easing the process could get "outspoken teachers" to become "victimized." Then there is the legal (and moral) presumption of innocence.
Does the presence of naughty photos entitle a teacher to a presumption of innocence with continued professional access to children? Should the testimony of minors be sufficient to oust an instructor from the school and payroll? Is it possible that children will fabricate allegations of a sexual nature - complete with doctored text messages and photo proof - to get rid of an "outspoken" or otherwise unpopular teacher?
Sources
Londonderry Images. "Supporting Affidavit for Request for Issue Arrest Warrant" (accessed March 6, 2010)
Londonderry Hometown Online News. "Londonderry Teacher Charged with Indecent Exposure and Lewdness" (accessed March 6, 2010)
L.A. Weekly. "LAUSD's Dance of the Lemons" (accessed March 6, 2010)
Los Angeles Times. "Firing teachers can be a costly and tortuous task" (accessed March 6, 2010)
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- Naked Melinda Dennehy Photos (allegedly)
- Supposed Melinda Dennehy Pictures Lead to Tepid Official Response
- What Happens to Bad Teachers?
10 Comments
Post a CommentHere is a thought, someone downloaded the pics of her and showed them at school.
When did it become legal to show nude pics at school?
If an adult had done this it would have been pornographic and illegal.
Maybe Dennehy was a good teacher, but if she indeed sent nude photos of herself to a student, she is guilty of engaging in bad conduct and should be reprimanded accordingly. I think when schools dismiss a teacher "with pay," they assume her innocence until proven guilty despite the "obvious" though alleged "proof" of guilt. I also think the outrage would have been stronger if the teacher had been male and the student had been female.
As to your follow up message: Please note that my sources are fully cited; there is no guessing involved here - just like there is also no rush to judgment. As to the unrelated content, please note that this article talks about "disciplining bad teachers" for which the Dennehy allegations and LAUSD revelations provide the backdrop.
Ah! I see what you're saying now. Please note that the use of "alleged" and its synonyms is necessary to "make it clear that an unproved action is not being treated as fact" (Associated Press Stylebook). Since the accused has NOT yet been tried and found guilty, omitting it would be -- in your words - an "inability to report the truth." As to "how does one doctor a text message" ... the Google search "how to fake a text message" offers 1,410,000 results. Do you really need me to go into detail? Also, a more careful reading of the article will show you that I am NOT claiming that it is "likely that the student in question fabricated the story to get rid of this teacher." Instead, I was quoting an LAUSD teacher union official on the dismissal of teachers unrelated to this case. My final questions are general in nature and once again do not call the kids' testimony into question. I can see that this case has your blood boiling, but please don't accuse me of things I never said.
*you're
*And since it's not even remotely likely, how is it in the least bit relevant? Part of the article only guesses at the facts, and the other supplies an opinion that doesn't even apply to the case here.
That, is what I meant.
Your use of "alleged's" and "supposed's" is astounding. If it was uncertain whether or not Dennehy sent photos to the student, why would she turn herself into police on Friday? A fact anyone following this story knows. And furthermore, just the number of times you suppose, allege, or purport something shows how little your sure of what is being written. Enough was released that more can be discerned than "accusations" and "allegations." And how does one doctor a text message? Can you really manipulate a cell phone to show falsified text and still show the originating cell phone number that would identified as hers? I'm so sure that's common knowledge among 15 year old boys.
Oh, and those who bothered to interview students, or at least assess the general opinion, found that Dennehy was in fact very popular with the Londonderry High School Students, most were shocked at the news, so is it really likely that the student in question fabricated the story to get rid of this teacher? And
Thank you all for stopping by and for commenting. @Neila: "Inability to report the truth" ... please explain.
If anything is ridiculous here, it's your inability to report the truth, not the "Sexual Misconduct Allegations Made by a Child." The Londonderry School District and police department is doing the best it can, now if only reporters would as well.
I am honestly perplexed as to why some teachers are drawn to 15 year old boys, infatuated enough to send graphic photos of themselves (and I don't think my opinion is skewed by having raised 3 boys through their teen years). It just seems that every time I turn around, another teacher is having an affair with a teen! Excellent reporting.
wow... great report on a very difficult topic. I can't imagine why the teacher is still getting paid when the proof is there but I guess that is for the courts to decide.