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[thaifry]

Oh and for clarification he didnt teach the infants.  He taught primary in a different school building.

[aussimike]

Nip, on 2010-03-22 16:50:03, said:

Jimmu, on 2010-03-22 16:31:55, said:

What happened to innocent until proven guilty?  If he did it then nothing would be too horrible to do to him but so far we don't know!

I doubt the boys in brown would have allowed his name and mug be plastered in public if there was any doubt that he was not guilty or at least had a track record. Hard to believe that a man like this gets to either 51 or is it 57 without arousing suspicions. I would think that perhaps the school removed him from his position for a related reason. If the school was negligent which seems likely they are equally guilty in my eyes of betraying the trust of the family and more importantly the child. I have to say that in the past 12 months there seems to be an influx of scum bags in the Chalong, Kata and Karon areas abusing young women. As the girls are working girls they dont report the crimes which allows the bast*rds to move about freely. That all said I have met quite a few teachers who claimed to have secured their qualifications on the internet.

I would think that perhaps the school removed him from his position for a related reason. If the school was negligent which seems likely they are equally guilty in my eyes
in your eyes really --- back in the old days you would be referred to as a hanging judge - guilty or not just hang um high -- u think - seems odd that u can - how do u know what he was dismissed for - in another post there is a comment the dismissal was performance related - oh we are so quick to judge -- innocent till proven guilty and i just wonder if a 3 + year old boy is a credible witness -- the police have acted because the family of the child have lodged a complaint -4 months or later after the fact -- strange also - lets see it the courts come to the same conclusion as u -- and every person arrested in thailand is has their name and pic plastered all over the tv -- so nothing new there --- perhaps you should sit back and follow this story with great interest seening u have found him guilty already -- u could even go to the court to give evindence about what u think - think u need to get your eyes checked also -- wake up --

[elcent]

parrotfish1, on 2010-03-22 17:38:51, said:

I am assuming that the child's version of events has included that of a sexual nature, and therefore one needs to really question this.  How many 4 year old children do you know that speak of such events?

As far as I know from my experiences with kids they don't have a time/date feeling. They hardly ever know the clock, so how could a 4 year old remember events nearly 4 months ago? They sometime remember things when you think they didn't listen though.

[parrotfish1]

Children remember holidays from when they are 2-3 years old.  Having worked as a paediatric nurse for 17 years, i see children that remember unpleasant events, such as hospital visits from the age of 2!

Edited by parrotfish1, 2010-03-22 17:50:50.

[backsoon]

Enough said by hot-heads. Let's wait and see. Personally, I want to believe the man is innocent. Too many sticky questions can, and must be raised.
boy conducted in the presence of independent child welfare officers and a psychiatrist? Why so late? Is a 4 year old trustworthy? Are the memories of a young child going back for sure? Wouldn't the trauma tell tales right when it happened? What was the formal reason for his dismissal? Is there a battle between the School and the dismissed? Was the boy a successful student or a failure?
And finally, was questioning of the boy conducted in the presence of independent child welfare officers and a qualified independent psychiatrist?
Before all these questions are resolved, hold the execution.

If, I repeat, If the man is proven guilty, hang him high !  But not before...

[elcent]

the case will drag on for 2 - 3 years. If he doesn't get bail he may go for a confession to half the sentence. Hope he fights and that he gets support from his family, friends and a good lawyer.

[mrpositive]

Obvious point.  Charges are alleged.

I have to say I am impressed with the statement released by the school.

My experiences have been less than pleasing.

I once worked at a trilingual school in Samut Prakan - that had a drunk who was fired (he actually would leave mid-class to a can of beer awaiting upstairs), and a pedophile who was later extradited to Canada.  Both former teachers appeared photographed in marketing 'writ large' for the school.  They continued to appear on brochures and website material (possibly still do).  The owner/director of the school refused to pay for new marketing material, and continued to sell the school with happy smiling photos of the former teachers in question.  Astounding.

Sadly at another school,  I observed student behaviour that required investigation. The matter was swept under the carpet for fear of bad press and loss of at least one customer.  Attempts to email the world peak body for child welfare issues, UNICEF, for advice on the matter fell on deaf ears.

At the same school, a teacher telling inappropriate 'jokes' of a sexual nature - regarding his p2 students, after having been warned by his colleagues, met with rough justice by said colleagues (not to condone such things).  Long story short, he didn't finish his probation period.

Further on in my own career, as DOS of another school, a new teacher under my observation and new to Thailand, displayed more than mildly suspicious behaviour.  A little chat over a cigarette outside, revealed that there was enough element of doubt in this individual to cease his employment and provide his name and details to Tourist Police.

So - screening/ reporting?  What to do?

Reporting: Clearly all suspicious behaviour should be reported.  In western countries such as the US, the slightest hint of something inappropriate becomes instantly serious, and is investigated accordingly.  We know how difficult it can be in some countries to be confident of appropriate action being taken, but of course, child welfare is paramount.  If you suspect something, confide in at least one trusted professional colleague.  Preferably one with actual formal education in Early Childhood Studies or Child Psychology.  Consider the possible result of not reporting such an issue.  There is a Division of Children and Women Protection, Royal Police Office, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok.  Enough said.

Screening:  Even the best screening processes worldwide are not 100% effective.  Being 'switched on' to your duty of care to students, and having ownership of a sense of vigilance, is probably the most important tool in safeguarding students.  Professional, discrete discussion with suitable staff regarding these uncomfortable issues, may well be the only defence some young people have against predators that may slip through the net.  

My 2 satang on the issue.

Note to the Moderator:  I am happy to revise any elements of this post, should you feel there is merit in its publication.  Facts verifiable upon request.  Thanks.

[parrotfish1]

elcent, on 2010-03-22 17:46:59, said:

As far as I know from my experiences with kids they don't have a time/date feeling. They hardly ever know the clock, so how could a 4 year old remember events nearly 4 months ago? They sometime remember things when you think they didn't listen though.

Lets also remember that children in the UK start school as young as 4 years old.  Are we suggesting that they won't retain anything taught to them, as they have no concept of time/date??

[elcent]

parrotfish1, on 2010-03-22 17:48:33, said:

Children remember holidays from when they are 2-3 years old.  Having worked as a paediatric nurse for 17 years, i see children that remember unpleasant events, such as hospital visits from the age of 2!

... but then again they don't remember a date or time. They remember events and sometime it's fantasies too, depending on their parents care.

[TonyH]

I expect this whole forum will be people damning this man before anything has been proven, how can they take the word of a 4 year old and say the man is guilty. The boy could have easily been coached by the mother who could stand to gain financially by this perhaps someone found out he was gay and figured he would make a good target?
We don't know until he is proven guilty, and that will be very hard to prove.
After this forum has become out of control and filled up with bigoted slander, abuse and hearsay it will be taken down and none will know the truth as this forum never follows up.

[roietrory]

then not than

Krungbin, on 2010-03-22 16:37:24, said:

Questions to be asked:
"Why was he dismissed for?"
And than:
"Is that little boy - btw... 4 years old now... - the only one?
And than:
"Is the (smiling) accused the only one involved?"
and than... when the truth will be known, and if he is the culprit... I hope they'll keep him in one of their jails for a long long time...

[elcent]

parrotfish1, on 2010-03-22 18:00:33, said:

Lets also remember that children in the UK start school as young as 4 years old.  Are we suggesting that they won't retain anything taught to them, as they have no concept of time/date??

Ask the next kid near you about time and date now and you shall find out.

[bob6023]

Lets make sure the guy is guilty as charged before you hang him high. Some of you characters sound like you're right out of the " Ox Bow Incident " at times.

[ozymandious]

Several Points to make

jamiemac, on 2010-03-22 16:32:39, said:

richwantsin, on 2010-03-22 16:24:27, said:

What kind of screening process do these guys get before landing a teaching job in this country?

The people i know who have gone into this industry tell me they had no screening at all, they were very surprised.

Unfortunately not all schools do it the same way. I know that PIA, like British and many other international schools receive the teaching credentials, a Thai police report and a police report form the teacher's home county for all new teachers.

BKKBrit, on 2010-03-22 16:40:25, said:

He's been arrested. He's denied the charges. He's not been proven guilty.

However, If it's true, absolutely revolting.

What is it about people in positions of trust and kids - clergy, teachers etc.

It's about time that more thorough back-ground checks were made by the appropriate authorities, but especially by these schools that families entrust their children to. And you have to ask yourself - would you entrust your toddlers to a 51 year old man working in a day school - a kindergarden? That would set off an alarm bell immediately in my opinion. This guy is going to teach my toddler nursery rhymes?! I'm sorry, that doesn't compute well.

The school, I hope, is also held responsible if this case is proven in a court of law. It will be a lesson that all schools should be doing more thorough back-ground checks on people they employ to 'teach' children - regardless of their age.

This Teacher was not a teacher for this age group. He was a middle school teacher (think 10-12 yr olds)

Agreed the school needs some investigation into how the teacher had access to the child.

cacruden, on 2010-03-22 16:30:33, said:

I don't know but the majority of those that would "abuse" are not going to be caught by background checks (sorry to say).  I would prefer all those that go after kids (especially teachers, since they are suppose to be held to a higher standard) - be kept in Thai prisons, not transferred back to their home country to serve the sentence.

Cacruden Brings up a very good point Background checks do not uncover every thing, especially if it's a first time.

[ThaiRich]

Lets all remember that Michael Jackson was accused.  Found innocent.  Then the father of the "victim" kills himslef.  The "victim" goes on to say that "he's not sure if anything ever really happened or not, he was listening to what his parents said".  
The boy may have mentioned that he was in the toilet and the teacher came in and used the toilet too. Since the teacher had already been dismissed the child was probably asked questions that he didin't fully understand and the ramifications of his answers.  

BUT AS A TEACHER!!.  I protect myself and all teachers should do the same.  I do not use restrooms that students are allowed to use.   I will walk the 150 meters to where the teachers restroom is AND I never never never allow myself to be left alone in a room with a student with a student there must be 2 or more students.  If I need a student to come to my room and talk with me after school, I instruct them to bring a friend with him/her.  Better safe, than falsely accused.

[crusty]

Well for a start this guy does not look like an Australian. As the Brits discovered it is easy to have your monica changed to an Anglo Saxon name. Whatsa the bet ???

[elcent]

thaifry, on 2010-03-22 17:44:07, said:

Oh and for clarification he didnt teach the infants.  He taught primary in a different school building.

thaifry, you're the mystery man. I think you can tell us more. C'mon, we're all ears.

[thaifry]

The infants toilets at PIA are tiny children toilets that could not be used by an adult.  The infants are always accompanied by a teacher and usually go to the toilet in groups.  If a child needs to go during class, a teacher always accompanies them.  And this teacher was in a different building with nothing to do with the infant classes.

[zakk9]

This one has a very bad smell. He may or may not be guilty, but if he ends up with a long jail term based on the information from the 4 year old boy and noting else, I don't believe this offence is the real reason. As many have stated above: there must be much more to this case; either more evidence or something completely different, like money.

It's important also to remember that children will often tell adults what they expect the adult would like to hear. There was a big case in Norway some 20 years ago, the "Bjugn Incident", where many people, particularly teachers and others children knew about, were sent to jail for child abuse based on testimonies from children. Later, it was dicovered that the testimonies mostly were based on what therapists and police had asked if the children could confirm. The whole thing boiled down to nothing, but many people's lives were destroyed, and life in the little community in Bjugn was changed forever.

Edited by zakk9, 2010-03-22 18:38:01.

[freedom4life]

Jimmu, on 2010-03-22 16:31:55, said:

What happened to innocent until proven guilty?  If he did it then nothing would be too horrible to do to him but so far we don't know!

Your absolutely correct!At least someone thinks in here.

[caf]

MyphuketLife, on 2010-03-22 16:57:41, said:

wow ohh wow...

If he's guilty I hope they fry him,....  But this seems suspect.  

My cynical side finds this whole thing a little odd…

He is let go in DEC,  then 2.5 months later accused of this.  I really wonder if there is more to this story like a contract fight.  I hope that he really is guilty and it’s not him being falsely accused to settle a score or something sinister as such.

The smirk on his face is strange,  guilty or falsely accused,  you would think he would be in a state of panic not smirking?

The "smirk" on his face is from a previous photo, probably a work permit or school id.  are you that naive??

[ozymandious]

The Original Posting on the Phuket Gazette has been removed off their web site

I think that they might have been a little to giving with details as regarding the case.
I'm not saying it's bad journalism but i'm saying some privacy boundaries have been crossed for both parties involved.

[thaifry]

Sorry peeps, i cant say too much.   Dont want anyone suing my butt!!

[elcent]

thaifry, on 2010-03-22 18:24:55, said:

The infants toilets at PIA are tiny children toilets that could not be used by an adult.  The infants are always accompanied by a teacher and usually go to the toilet in groups.  If a child needs to go during class, a teacher always accompanies them.  And this teacher was in a different building with nothing to do with the infant classes.

more ... more, you seem to know more ... pleeeeease

[ozymandious]

caf, on 2010-03-22 18:27:53, said:

The "smirk" on his face is from a previous photo, probably a work permit or school id.  are you that naive??

Dude, i don't know about you but my WP photo didn't involve a height meter behind me and me holding a sign that had my name and DOB on it.