I am in need of help due to a situation at my school. I am a student at Charleston County School of the Arts in South Carolina and also in the drama department. .I saw my teacher (Michael Wood) touching one of his students (Aaron Wireman, eight grade) inappropriately the other day…and that’s not an OK kind of thing to do. I mean, Mr. Wood was touching him down the front of his pants... for a long time. I was really too embarrassed to tell anybody and Aaron doesn’t want anyone to know…I don’t know why; I didn’t ask Aaron why (he seemed scared), but I think someone needs to know…even though I wouldn’t be surprised if he denied it if someone asked him about it. I’m just worried because Mr. Wood kept touching him down there and he also has touched him inappropriately on other occasions when no one else is around. Please…something needs to be done and I don't know what to do because I'm afraid no one would believe me since people think I'm a problem student...

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2003

Answers

It's highly inapropriate for you to name those people.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2003

There's some controversy in sex abuse survivor circles about whether to "name names."

On the one hand, it opens the poster to a defamation suit. Certainly false allegations can be very harmful.

On the other hand, sexual abuse is a "secret" and the perp has a vested interest in keeping it that way. One way to stop sexual abuse is for the perp -- and other perps -- to realize that his or her "secret" may not be a secret, that it will come into the light of the day.

The more that people are willing to talk about their abuse, the more others are encouraged. They don't feel "alone." They may be encouraged to tell others, at least to recognize it and talk it out. They may be encvouraged to get the help and support they need.

Being able to name the perpetrator is sometimes an important step in healing.

One thing I am *not* comfortable with, at all, is to use the name ov the *victim* without his or her permission.

Bert

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2003

I would just like to comment to the person who wrote in. I am also a student at School of the Arts and I don't know a teacher with the name you stated (I won't name names). I think that you need to get your facts straight before you go on the internet with peoples names. Quite frankly, I know the student that you are talking about very well and I think that I would be able to notice a change in him if this was true, which I totally don't believe it is. I have studied signs of abuse and have known people who have been abused. It's not okay to just say that someone is being abused when THEY ARE NOT! You definitely should use more discretion when you make accusations that are as serious as what you did on this web site.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2003

First of all, there are not ANY telltale signs that a person has been abused. Some people may become quiet and withdrawn, while others simply don't. Although I fully agree that the person who started this thread should not name names, his statement should not be totally disregarded simply because some people can't believe that could happen at their school. To Andrew - You need to go talk to another teacher who you trust, your parents, or another trusted adult. They can better advise you what to do from there. If this teacher is abusing a current student, chances are he has abused others in the past and will continue to abuse in the future. This isn't something that can be ignored - it can totally ruin somebody's emotional wellbeing.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2003

go to that gay teacher and say OH YOU BENT BASTARD

-- Anonymous, May 07, 2003