June 3, 2008
Hot-for-Student Teacher Could be Fired
"My feelings for him are so strong, and I can't say or do anything. Today he was standing behind me so close I could feel the heat from his body radiate to me. I wanted to just let myself go, lean backwards and sink into him."
- A 2005 excerpt from Colleen McGraham's Xanga blog
A judge decided that the city can attempt to fire a Staten Island teacher who documented her crush on a student on her blog. According to the Staten Island Advance, New Dorp High school teacher Colleen McGraham "hounded the 11th-grader through instant messages and e-mails in 2005, when she was 36 and the student 15." She also visited his blog frequently.
McGraham also lent the student that May-December (of next year) classic, Harold & Maude, which he and his girlfriend watched uncomfortably. The student finally told another teacher, who then told school officials. When investigators spoke to McGraham, she said, "I don't want to hurt [the student] but I just fell for him and I know it's wrong. I don't know what happened."
Previously, an arbitrator suggested that 39-year-old Colleen McGraham would just serve 90-day unpaid suspension, but a State Supreme Court Justice found that decision "irrational" and contrary to the policy of protecting students. McGraham has been out of the schools since 2005, but on the payroll since then. The Daily News has an editorial questioning the difficulty the Department of Education has in firing employees.
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I think the real issue here is whether or not she's hot. Let aesthetics decide her fate!
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there's some sort of a double standard with this type of thing. if a man did this to a high school girl (and it has happened before) his balls would be cut off and shoved down his throat—even if it was the alleged "consensual"... When a woman does it it's perceived as far less severe and the media doesn't dig their teeth into it.
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^ That's because its way harder for a woman to rape a man. The sense of threat is not there (as much..), not to mention the whole "we must protect our virginal daughters" vs "all the guys gotta get laid" mentality.
Not that I agree with it, both should be prosecuted the same.
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We should all know love so passionately. Haha.
I sure hope she's an English teacher with all this blogging.
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Although there is mos def a double standard in existence, there is nothing about this story that mandates prosecution of the teacher. Fire her and be done with it. And make sure she signs something to the effect of "I did it and I'm sorry and I won't sue the school system for firing me because I deserved it" because you know some lawyer is going to try and talk her into litigation.
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I mean was it really that hard to find a man that she had to crush all over a 15 year old kid? That's really quite sad.
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@bjorn
my sentiments exactly! i can't find a picture of her anywhere. funny that it was honestly the first question in my head. like somehow it's less of an indiscretion if she's hot. hah
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Out of the school since 2005, but on the payroll since then? She gives new meaning to the term "Rubber Room"
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bjornsaucey, you nailed it. if she's some obese rhino, then the student would have been deeply traumatized. if average, then probably just annoyed. if she's hot, it's almost like the kid's got a problem.
plk777 has a point too. double standard or no, kids don't need to be chased around by freaks of either sex, hot or not.
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www.myspace.com/224834827
good chance this is her.
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Wow, that's one stupid teacher. Harrassed the kid & then blogged about it? It's like she was crying out to get caught!
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she looks like bud cort
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http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155304/
Nice!
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Everyone wants to bang 15-year old boys. That's why there's a LAW.
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robingee, that statement is awesome.
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Shouldn't these kids be allowed to take a five year 'puberty break' and then return to their studies when they're finally ready to get fucked by their teacher?