Letters

Homestead doesn't seem to be a safe place

As a parent in the Fremont Union School District, I am appalled with the testimony and support given by some of the teachers from Homestead High School for Jeff Lamson.

If my children were students at Homestead High School, I would remove them from the school. It doesn't seem to be a safe environment.

I feel that teachers have the same responsibility as doctors: "First, do no harm." These teachers are sending a message to the students that teachers have no accountability for their actions. Children are most influenced by their peers first then parents and teachers. We have an obligation to set the best example we can and protect them to the best of our ability.

Dismissal of the teachers may not be viable, but administrators should monitor their actions, not only in the classroom, but also during any outside activity involving individual students.

I have sympathy for the Lamson family, but the good that Jeff Lamson did does not outweigh the irreparable harm he has caused the two young women involved in his criminal case.

Marianne Duffy
Sunnyvale

Homestead should educate staff

After almost 20 years of therapy due to being sexually molested as a girl, I'm responding to Maggie Benson's Feb. 3 editorial "Judge's words ring true."

It is sad, and also frightening to me that staff members at Homestead High School could be ignorant about the possible effects of sexual molestation of a student by a teacher or other authority figure in their life. I am thankful that the judge protected the young people even though those school staff members have not.

Liz Williams and the other supporters of Jeff Lamson should receive education on behavioral patterns related to child molestation and the effects children can suffer when the abuse is rationalized as being "not that bad."

Williams saying "he never compromised the good of the student" is appalling--the men who sexually molested me as a girl were also charismatic, unique and fun, and both could be described as "a kid magnet."

Many perpetrators share those personality traits, that's part of how vulnerable young people come to be victimized by the offenders.

Homestead High School owes it to the students to educate the adults responsible for their safety.

Cheryl Reed
Sunnyvale

Why did teachers support Lamson?

As I read the story on the sentencing of Homestead High School's coach Jeff Lamson, the backing he received from his fellow teachers and the harassment the victim has endured--it made me wonder about the integrity of the staff, what they are teaching their students and how many other victims are out there that are afraid to come forward.

He may have been charismatic (that's obvious), and supposedly helped many kids, but he is a sick animal. The people who support him have their priorities mixed up. They should be supporting the victims; they have to live with this the rest of their lives. To the teacher with three children, if it had been one of your children he molested, would you have been so quick to support this animal?

Parents of the community should think about allowing their children to attend a school where teachers backed a man who mistreated innocent children.

The letter Lamson wrote to one of his victims shows us he has no remorse, the only reason he cried in court was because he got caught.

We entrust our children to the schools and teachers. Parents and teachers that support Lamson are just as sick and guilty as he is. It is expected that his family would support him, but the others--how sick is this society?

Say it like it is: He took advantage of his position, some children's lives and all the while had people believing he was and is a wonderful person.

He should be locked away for a lot longer than he got.

Betty Loya
Sunnyvale

Three cheers for Baldocchi and Cordell

The Sun's article on Jeff Lamson was an eye opener. The teacher support of this sexual predator is appalling. The most dangerous pedophile is one who can not only garner the trust of the victim but also the adults around him. How can teachers not protect students?

These teachers have empathy for the perpetrator's feelings; perhaps their next in-service day should be spent with survivors of sexual assault. Are we sure these were the only two victims? They will be the only ones we ever hear from if they continue to be victimized by a society that should be protecting and supporting them.

Lamson's supporters should ask how they would feel about him if it was their daughter who was violated. The truth of Lamson's behavior was not enough to tarnish his reputation in the eyes of some; this is frightening. Could these teachers' true fear be they now doubt their own judgment? Are they asking themselves: If Jeff could do this, who can we trust?

I've taught my daughters that strangers aren't always creepy or scary-looking. Perpetrators can look "normal," be heroes, priests and now math teachers or coaches.

Delayed teacher contract negotiations, "the house" experiment, loosing a coach (for being arrested and found guilty of sexual crimes against two students), loss of funding grants and a principal who quit have collectively tarnished the school's reputation. Let us gather together and support these children. If you can't get behind these girls then get out and let the rest of us create a better community!

Three cheers for Judge La Doris Cordell and deputy district attorney Debbie Baldocchi! All survivors of injustice should have such wonderful defenders.

Was David Payne, the former principal, ever held accountable for his lack of action in the Lamson case?

Lisa Glaser
Sunnyvale

Lamson: 'This is real scary stuff'

As a parent of two young children, I am appalled at the support given to Jeff Lawson by his peers after he has admitted to molesting his young students. This is real scary stuff. I wonder if these supporters would be so adamant in backing Mr. Lawson if it had been their daughters he had molested?

J. Hornsey
Sunnyvale

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