| Author | Message | ||
     breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 910 Registered: 6-2002 |
The Trias case appears to be resolved. In a plea agreement, Mr. Trias acknowledged having sex with a 16 year old student at CHS. He will be sentenced to three years in prison. This is terribly sad. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1149139821306060.xml& coll=1 | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1715 Registered: 2-2005 |
I doubt this thread will be here for much longer, given its reference to CHS... but the guy could have at least sprung for a hotel room, right? | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave  Post Number: 9672 Registered: 4-1997  |
Case is over. Just leave student names out of posts, please. | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1717 Registered: 2-2005 |
I'm over? Banned? I'm not surprised, but somehow I always thought it would come in Technology, not Soapbox. Damn... now I need a new IP address and a new user name. I wonder if those anonymous browser redirect sites are still expensive? | ||
| Wendy Supporter Username: Wendy Post Number: 2531 Registered: 5-2001 |
You beat me to it Case. But I was going to ask when the memorial service was since Case is over. I suppose Dave would have said Case is over and out if he was talking about your banning. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 3280 Registered: 5-2004  |
How many of us knew that 16 was the age of consent in NJ? | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 1032 Registered: 7-2005  |
I'd say his wife was the only victim here. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 911 Registered: 6-2002 |
You know, a good in-service or teacher training program for CHS teachers would be a review of laws and regs regarding what constitutes sexual assault and professional misconduct, and a review of what happens to you if you violate these laws/regs. Bottom line: There is no such thing as consensual sex between a high school student and teacher. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 912 Registered: 6-2002 |
I regard the student as a victim. He did wrong. But three years in prison, if he does get that, seems a very harsh penalty. In another thread, I asked what a person has to do to get some jail time in Essex County. Now I know. | ||
| C Bataille Citizen Username: Nakaille Post Number: 2639 Registered: 5-2001 |
Exactly, Breal, on all counts. (Nice to find myself in total agreement with you, btw.) Glock, it may look like harmless sex to you but the power differntial between a student and a teacher makes real consent impossible in addition to it simply being illegal. I have been amazed where I work that there was no requirement for professional development around child abuse/neglect and only cursory mention of sexual harassment issues. If I'm still here next year I'm going to organize a child abuse/neglect seminar for my colleagues toward the beginning of the year. There's a lot of misinformation out there! | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 3281 Registered: 5-2004 |
breal, I agree with your statement that it would be useful to have training so that teachers know what constitutes misconduct. However a teacher with common sense should know that having sex with a student in a school closet is not just illegal, but is not the wisest career move, either. I wonder what will happen with his suspension from CHS. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 913 Registered: 6-2002 |
C.Bataille--You should develop the in-service program we're talking about and offer it as a consultant. You have the counselling qualifications. There is a huge need. Districts will hire you because they need to protect their students (and their money). Unions will hire you because they need to clue their members in. You should do this. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 914 Registered: 6-2002 |
Rastro--They know it's wrong. But they don't know: 3 years jail time, possible inclusion on Megan's Law sex offender website, permanent loss of teaching license, vulnerability to civil suit, life in ashes. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 1034 Registered: 7-2005 |
The girl did something wrong. (regardless of the law, 16 is old enough to know what you're doing. Additionally she got what she wanted) Trias did something wrong. (Should have known better than to do what he did...as a moral issue..not a legal one.) I still say the only real victim here is his wife. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5215 Registered: 1-2004  |
Rastro- While 16 is the age of consent in NJ, it is considered RAPE if the other person is in the position of authority, as a teacher is. breal- The teacher got what he deserved. He should have known better... | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 3282 Registered: 5-2004 |
JTA< I wasn't commenting on whether or not this was rape. I was commenting that I did not know, prior to reading the article, that 16 was the age of consent in NJ. As for, he got what he deserved, would you think 10 years was "what he deserved"? 1 year? Glock, the issue is not specifically her age, but that Trias was in a position of authority over her. It's not a question of whether she knew what she was doing, but whether he took advantage of the situation. I don't consider her to be a true victim, however that does not make his actions legal. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 915 Registered: 6-2002 |
All her wrongs, if there were any, don't make him right. Repeat after me: There is no such thing as consensual sex between a high school student and teacher. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 1036 Registered: 7-2005 |
I understand that what he did was wrong. But also..nevermind. None of you went to school with the girl (to the best of my knowledge) and I'm not about to get into it. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 916 Registered: 6-2002 |
Teachers are supposed to help students. Even students who need help. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 6407 Registered: 12-2001  |
Glock that none of us went to school with the student involved has absolutely nothing to do with the issue. Sounds like you were about to say something about bars,pool tables... and....oh nevermind. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5217 Registered: 1-2004 |
Rastro- Sorry. I thought you meant since 16 is the age of consent in NJ it could have been consensual. Something else people might not know. Although the age of consent is 16, if the other person has turned 18, it's considered rape as well. I'm not sure how much jail time he should have been given. None of us really knows what happened. Even if the young lady consented, he should have known better. Teachers are warned all the time not to get involved with students. If he didn't like the plea deal he could have taken his chances with a trail. I'm sure in the eyes of the young lady he wasn't given enough time. When you think about it, I don't think I remember reading anything saying the teacher claimed it was even consensual. I thought he denied it completely. There had to have been some kind of evidence to back up the young lady's claim that was presented to the teacher and the Grand Jury. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 1040 Registered: 7-2005 |
I'm off this thread. Game. Set. Match. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2366 Registered: 7-2003 |
OK I’m not an expert on the age of consent in NJ but, well, um, my cousin may be, she’s 17. NJ law says that the age of consent is 16 but there is a 4 year threshold. So a 13 year old can have sex with a 16 year old, and once you hit 16 you can have sex with any one you choose. A teacher falls under some of the other definitions of rape, because as people have said here they are an authority figure. And until you are 18, your parents can consider it rape, because they in effect make your decisions for you. http://www.ageofconsent.com/newjersey.htm | ||
| mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 1156 Registered: 10-2004 |
jta, as quoted in the paper a while back, even the prosecutor never claimed there was coercion, therefore I guess it would have been consensual, if not for the circumstance of Mr. Trias' being a teacher and therefore in authority. IMO, a crying shame on many accounts. Obviously, he was the adult and was obliged to behave accordingly. It's too bad, though, because he was an outstanding teacher who will now not be able to be of help to who knows how many kids might have benefited in the future, not to mention the blows to his and his family's lives, and probably the student's too. | ||
| Alleygater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 2165 Registered: 10-2004 |
Glock the mere fact that you backed down from this fight actually for the first time makes me think that you don't just post to get people's goat. I honestly never really took you seriously because I always thought that you were just trying to piss people off to entertain yourself. I'm actually genuinely surprised. | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 411 Registered: 2-2006 |
CASE...what happened to Case ...that's what I want to know... | ||
| will not provide Citizen Username: Chsteacher Post Number: 15 Registered: 1-2006 |
CHS did conduct a professional development session on sexual harassment this year. I think someone suggested such a thing ealy on in the post, just wanted to clarify that it was done several months ago. | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1721 Registered: 2-2005 |
Nothing - it was just a play on words (I assume) | ||
| enigmabomb Citizen Username: Enigmabomb Post Number: 327 Registered: 7-2001 |
I'm really pissed they used my poem out of context. Sigh. The line about a student being overtly sexual was in reference to a very, proud lesbian chick we had in our class. She leveraged her views to try and make everyone very uncomfortable on occasion. She was *really* graphic at times too. A lot of teachers used to get into huge fights with her. Trias messed up really bad. Alas, he still was one of a handful of people who helped me graduate high school. I wont take that away from him. Just a bummer he made some poor decisions. I hate to even weigh in on this situation, but it just goes to show the double standard in our society. If I were 16 and this happened to me with one of my female teachers, I'd consider it an unbelievable stroke of luck. | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 3870 Registered: 12-2004  |
Nevertheless, it would still be against the law and the female teacher would still go to jail. Remember Mary Kay LaTourneau? Matter of fact, I think she may have gotten a few more than 3 years. More of that double standard you were referring to? | ||
| enigmabomb Citizen Username: Enigmabomb Post Number: 328 Registered: 7-2001 |
That kid was 13 though. Josh | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 9685 Registered: 4-1997 |
Here's my issue. It took me all of 2 minutes to find the poem from the article and e-mail Josh so he could check it out. (His email address is on the site). Why couldn't the reporter (or, more to the point, the editor) take on that rather minimal responsibility? | ||
| Peter G. Magic Citizen Username: Pmagic Post Number: 123 Registered: 10-2005 |
I agree with Glock that the wife is the victim. High school students who set out to seduce teachers make it very hard for the teachers. But someone who succumbs, obviously, shouldn't be in a teaching position. Unless the parents get her psychological help this will probably not be the only older man that the young lady will approach and get involved with. I certainly wouldn't excuse her behavior nor his. I would have more sympathy for her if she were below the age of consent. As for the teacher, I believe anyone who has been a former student must be at least 21 years of age before sex is legal. | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1723 Registered: 2-2005 |
I'm not saying it. Will anyone else? | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2398 Registered: 7-2003 |
I will. PL me, cause I'm not sure what you want me to say. | ||
| Peter G. Magic Citizen Username: Pmagic Post Number: 124 Registered: 10-2005 |
Say what Case? The legal case is over so we can talk about it as long as we don't mention the name of the minor. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 1701 Registered: 9-2004  |
Nevertheless, it would still be against the law and the female teacher would still go to jail. Remember Mary Kay LaTourneau? Matter of fact, I think she may have gotten a few more than 3 years. More of that double standard you were referring to? MeAndTheBoys, I think there is a double standard when it comes to women. LaTourneau received 7 years AFTER she VIOLATED the kid a SECOND time after being released from jail and on parole. The kid was only 12 during the first encounter and I believe she spent LESS than 3 years for the first infraction. Remember he was 12, she…34! Another? Debra Lafave, a 24 year-old middle-School teacher, is currently serving 3 years under HOUSE arrest for having sex with one of her 14 year old male student. If its a male teacher violating a underage female student or female teacher violating an underage male student, justice should be given across the board. | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2288 Registered: 8-2003  |
" High school students who set out to seduce teachers make it very hard for the teachers...Unless the parents get her psychological help this will probably not be the only older man that the young lady will approach and get involved with. " Is it a fact that the student seduced the teacher? Is this an assumption? | ||
| ROGER Citizen Username: Roger Post Number: 92 Registered: 2-2005  |
He gets 3 years. I call that total crap. He got out very easy in my opinion. At the very least I hope he goes down on the sex offender list. I don't care if she tried to seduce him or not. Yes the girl is a victim, but how about the parents with kids who had attended one of his classes at CHS? We entrust our children to our teachers on a daily basis. Teachers are supposed to care and be role models. Consensual, not consensual, who cares? I can't even believe that some people on this thread are suggesting that there should be a review for teachers of laws and regs regarding what constitutes sexual assault and professional misconduct and what happens if they violate them. If a teacher has no common sense when it comes to this, then they should not be teaching in the first place. This animal is 43 years old and had been teaching for some time - he should know what professional misconduct is and what happens if you have sex with a student. For all we know, this was not the first time that he had sex with a student. What this jerk did is completely despicable - in the school grounds? In a closet? COME ON! | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2289 Registered: 8-2003 |
FWIW - I completely agree with Roger. There is NO excuse in the world that justifies his actions. |
