I would like to make some general statements and highlight some facts regarding the Jeff Lamson case. School officials and teachers find inappropriate sexual behavior between a teacher and a student just as reprehensible and abhorrent as do parents and members of the community.
Jeff Lamson's victims are first and foremost the girls and their families, but also include the students and staff at Homestead High School. As a district, we fully support laws relating to inappropriate contact between employees and students. The faculty and students at Homestead High School should not be judged by the handful of teachers and students who testified or wrote letters on his behalf.
Homestead and the district's other high schools continue to be among the safest schools in the county. We hold our staff to a high standard of behavior. When Jane Doe No. 2's mother came to the district with suspicions about Jeff Lamson's inappropriate involvement with her daughter, it was the district that immediately contacted the authorities. The district aggressively assisted the police with their investigation, placed Mr. Lamson on administrative leave away from student contact, pursued his separation from the district, and contacted the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing to seek the revocation of his credential. The district and school administration, along with the mother of the victim, worked out a plan to protect Jane Doe No. 2 from harassment. The district does carry out a staff in-service and information program regarding child abuse prevention, reporting, and appropriate behavior by staff. I personally meet with new teachers to discuss appropriate teacher-student interactions. As superintendent, I will continue to uphold the district's responsibility to make the safety of students our highest priority. I can assure you that the staff at Homestead High School has the same commitment.
Joe Hamilton,
Superintendent Fremont Union High School District
Separate Homestead and the Lamson case
In response to the many letters written about the Jeff Lamson ordeal and Homestead High School, I would like to propose that it is time to permanently separate the two. As a parent of two children, one who is a current student and one that is a recent graduate of Homestead High, I would like to express my personal opinion that Homestead is an excellent school with numerous outstanding teachers and administrators. I would encourage any parent to enroll their child at Homestead because of the fine education the students receive. I have every confidence in the new and improved administration with the current principal, Eric Paulson, as its leader. With total support from the staff, parents and students, he will hopefully be able to overcome these current headlines.
I do agree that the sexual misconduct and molestation that occurred was appalling. Despite Lamson's energetic personality, his contributions to the Homestead athletic program and his respected family name, this man permanently altered the lives of two young women. The way this case was allegedly handled by the previous principal, David Payne, was inexcusable. The fact that three teachers came forward to express their support for Lamson on a professional level was most disappointing, knowing the crimes that had been committed. Any of those teachers could have had a daughter near the age of Lamson's most recent victim, and I don't think they would have been quite so forgiving had the situation been reversed. To these teachers and all the other Lamson supporters I cannot understand how you can disregard the detriment that Lamson has inflicted on his victims lives and still remain steadfast supporters of this convicted child molester. I applaud the other numerous community members and parents for speaking out on behalf of the young women whose lives were ravaged by Lamson and his supporters.
It is now time for the Homestead community to learn from this tragedy, focus its attention on the education of its students, and strive to re-establish Homestead's stellar reputation as a California Distinguished School.
Cathy Nieto
Homestead Parent
Lamson editorial was appalling: How about a little forgiveness?
I was appalled, offended, and saddened by Maggie Benson's editorial on the Jeff Lamson sentencing in the Feb. 3 issue of The Courier.
I feel strongly that it is presumptuous for Judge Cordell and editorialist Benson, who seconded the judge's opinion, and all The Courier letter-writers to condemn the people who supported Jeff Lamson.
Certainly, some Lamson supporters might not "get" it, but I can't presume to read their minds. However, I do know my own mind: I can have compassion for--though not understand, as no man can--the pain and suffering these young women must be undergoing, and I certainly believe society must support victims of sex crimes. To categorize Lamson support--which seemed for compassion and mercy, certainly not of his actions--as being callously indifferent to this problem is quite insulting and rigid.
What happened here is tragic, clearly wrong, and should have been punished. But I can empathize with Lamson: He is a sinner, a public and foolish sinner. It is possible to have compassion for this man and still feel for the suffering of the victims.
Our society, which talks of love and compassion, acts out the Rule of Hammurabi: an eye for an eye. When the Bible says, "Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us," where is that forgiveness in the angry courtroom and letters and editorials?
How can the victims move from a place of pain and suffering and fear to self-reliance and independence if their lives are caught up in vengeance and hatred? Can they ever forgive Jeff Lamson? I hope so, if only for closure on their part, for independence from the past, for new lives capable of joy.
Are we all so hardened, so angry with this heinous deed that we cannot see a sinner who has tortured his victims, yes, but also himself, his family, his friends, a man who needs forgiveness? Not only justice but forgiveness.
Judge Cordell (and Ms. Benson) can judge our outside, our actions--but only God can judge what is inside a soul, whether in the defendant's docket or on the defendant's side of the courtroom. No one can assume there is (or is not) compassion in a heart--or forgiveness.
Greg Plant
Sunnyvale, CA
Don't blame victims
I write to you from the perspective of one who was sexually abused by several men as a child. Two of my abusers were "upstanding men in the community, leaders, and well-respected." If people in those towns knew today what those men did to me, there would be shock and disbelief as in the Lamson case. They would question whether I was telling the truth because it's so hard to believe that someone who is so good in so many things can have such a dark side to them, victimizing children and teens.
The young ladies abused by Jeff Lamson are not to blame in any way. It is very confusing to confront the truth that someone you trusted used you. This is especially true when it becomes a criminal matter. The shame, defilement, the betrayal--so much for a child or teenager to confront. It is always the responsibility of the adult to look out for the welfare of those they teach. They must be mature enough to satisfy their adult needs outside of their professional responsibilities. they must never gratify their needs for lust, power or affirmation by preying sexually on the vulnerable who admire them. This is the greatest abuse of power and authority.
Mr. Lamson and others who violate children will never know the price these ladies will pay because of their abuse. Abuse deeply damages the ability of the victim to trust other authority figures in the future. Their ability to experience intimacy, both emotional and sexual is greatly undermined by such abuse. Their husbands and counselors will hear the anger and see the tears. The damage done in a few moments causes years of suffering (and thousands of dollars).
Victims can experience deep healing. Healing has come for me through a supportive and kind husband, wonderful friends, counselors and pastors. The Lord has helped me, transforming and healing me in ways I could not do myself. We are not left hopeless in the hands of evil people who scar us. After we work through the pain, we can forgive, and be understanding and compassionate with others who have suffered.
W. Viola
Cupertino
The young women had courage to step forward
Congratulations to Judge LaDoris Cordell for doing her job in an even-handed and intelligent fashion. It was neither the accused's personality nor his ability as a teacher which were in question at the trial of Jeff Lamson, but the fact that he was an admitted child molester. Judge Cordell's refusal to consider extraneous facts when sentencing him was fair and just.
Congratulations also to the young women in the case and Jane Doe No. 2's parents, who had the courage to press charges. Letters on their behalf probably were not written because the outcome of the case appeared to be obvious.
As the parent of a former and current Homestead student (both young women), I was appalled that teachers and students would speak out publicly on behalf of Mr. Lamson, who had already confessed to his crimes. At best, Lamson's public support from teachers and former administrators demonstrates poor taste; at worst, it indicates an absence of moral judgment. As Judge Cordell so aptly phrased it, they "just don't get it."
A school is, above all, a place where students should feel safe in every sense of the word. For any faculty or student to support the perpetrator of so heinous a crime was an affront to the community. Instead of asking young people to speak on behalf of a confessed sexual offender, parents or some responsible adult should have pointed out the lessons which are the true legacy of this sordid case, for instance, people should think before they act. Failing that, everyone must take responsibility for his own actions and then suffer the consequences that ensue.
Elizabeth Archambeault
Sunnyvale
Cupertino, California Since 1947
