You want an explanation? Here's one...

What happens when you cross a lifetime of closeted homosexuality, coupled with a deep sense of Conservative Christain values borne out of the history of the Black church, and mix it with a lifetime of serving young people in a public school setting?

You get a violatile mix of impulses that eventually you're not able to control, even after losing a year of your life to a trial where you've been charged with ostensibly the same crime but you still somehow managed to get yourself acquitted.

Did I oversimplify? Yes, of course I did! This is a blog comment, not a dissertation on the emotional turmoil faced by a middle-aged man who lost everything dear to him in his life, for a few moments of sexual gratification.

Was it inevitable? Probably not. But is it likely that a person who is concealing a major part of his or her identity would act out inappropriately and irrationally? I think so. See the Catholic Priest scandal. Otherwise nice guys can sometimes do some really nasty shit.

But I don't think the choices for anyone who is gay, religious or not, are to come out or molest kids. I think your choices are: Deal with and learn to accept a deeply ingrained part of your personality, or develop a set of coping mechanisms which may fail you over time leading you to do some pretty bizarre things. I think that's true of people whether we're talking about sexual identity or anything else.

Personally, my experiences with Joe White were all pretty positive, from the first time I got called into his office at 14 (for changing a grade on a biology midterm), to the Saturday morning/afternoon I spent with him after I graduated at his invitation (insistence, really) first at IHOP, then in his office at school and finally at his home, discussing all manner of issues related to THS, from the move to block scheduling, to placing surveillance cameras at the boys bathrooms (but not the girls -- it was b/c of fires being started, not lewdness on his part, but now that I mention it...), to The Record's portrayal of the then recent fight between the THS and Kennedy boys basketball teams.

I liked Mr. White, and I thought he was a principled principal, even when we disagreed, as we did about the cameras at the bathroom entrances. But I'm disgusted by the reaction of so many in the community who supported him and condemned his first accuser, in private conversations and in the press and even now, can't muster any remorse for the kid who was put in the unenviable position of having a much older man offer him oral sex in exchange for a valuable commodity, in this case, a college recommendation.

There are many, many people who would condemn strangers to long prison sentences but when it's their friends or someone they know, they don't think these harsh penalties are justified. I'm sure that's just human nature, but still, I think the hypocrisy needs to be addressed.

Joe White, meet Scooter Libby...too bad the highest ranking former THS student is only Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and not the President of the United States, or maybe you could get a pardon.

Never, ever did I sense anything sketchy.

--you are one person with one person's experience of the man. i'm not saying he did anything on these occasions, but in light of what's happened, many things become suspect.

and i still maintain its sketchy for educators/principles to engage with students so casually outside of school.

if he was having sexual urges for young men, he should've gotten help immediately

no excuse for him to endanger his would-be children and students, and then lie about it, further humiliating the already humiliated

its sad to have a paraphilia like white's, but you have to face and conquer it if you're in charge of kids

the boundaries are just as much to protect auth figures from untrue accusations as to protect the students

"He's a good man; he did something horrible. I no longer think this is a contradiction."

What do you think it is that he did that was "something horrible"? The unwashed masses think "oh, kid toucher" and that indeed is bad, but what I find horrible isn't so much that as I am about the fact that he willingly mislead so many people who trusted him the first time around.

My morality doesn't line up with the typical conservative Chhristian ideals with respect to sexuality, but knowingly misleading people and letting them support you knowing full well that they shouldn't--that makes me hard to accept that he truly was a "good" man. Good men may make mistakes, but a man without integrity is hardly good.

Man ..this is like a greek tragedy..some real learned lessons on human behavior and the flaws of "great" men...Its so hard to figure out how to be in this world..so hard to figure out whats good whats bad whats right and what wrong..I try not to judge anyone because you never truly kno the process that lead to the corruption of a onve pure mind. ..it seems god is the only one thing that will keep you on track. Man o man..Mr. White, I went to church with him. Watchd him ever since I was a little girl sine i was 4 years old... Im 21 now. And there was ALWAYS somthing about him that creepd me out. But I ignored that feeling and pushd it to the side only because he seeemed like a good man. I knew the boy that he took advantage of very well. He had friends he was cute he was smart..yes he had a tough child hood but i knew he wouldn't lie about somthing like that. Its hard for a black man to admitt that another man has sexually abused them that isnt somthing you make up. I KNEW mr white was guilty and the truth would surface in due time. And I HATED the fact that people wrote off the boys crys for lies..and fell into the trick of thinking there was no such thing as an imperfect man..not realizing that sinners go to church too.. the devil is evreywhere and man will get tempted. NO MAN IS PERFECT. I know you feel me on that because we ALL have flaws. And right at this second you kno your flaws. BUt really. thats just the human condition. I cant explain or justify what Mr. White did..it was sick and terrible and apart of me just wants to chop off his dick. For all the boys he scarred and took advantage of. And for wearing such a mask, a perpatrator a sneak and snake!!!!!!!!!! Ahhh so scary. Only person u can really trust is yourself. LIfe is crazy!! wat to do!!...LIve positivly pray prayp pray,,and the best way you kno how..is the only thing i can suggest... Dream but dont sleep. Go hard or go home. life is but a dream so make all your dreams come true paint the picture you want to see. God has so much to offer...if only you could see what i see..i kno most of u do..

Been There, when I was in high school, I didn't know any openly gay teachers, although there were rumors that circulated about a few women. But as an openly gay man who thinks a lot about moving my career into education, I do hope that just being in the school, being a good teacher and being out and proud, will allow me to be a positive role model for any students, gay or straight, who are looking for, or need, one.

Will it be a good career move? I'll let you know if I ever decide to pursue it. Perhaps some of the public school teachers who read this blog can shed some light on that question.

As far as being alone with students but still being available to them, perhaps it's the years I've spent as a camp counselor, but I'm not sure what's so difficult about this? Yes, we live in an overly-litigious, "Cover Your Ass" society, but in a public school setting, it just doesn't strike me as that difficult to never be alone with a student, follow the rule of 3s, keep a door to the classroom open if a student is alone in the room with you, etc.

Finally, I second your thought about kids needing to be around other kids slightly older and younger. Again, as a camp counselor, I've seen that magic work wonders for all parties involved.