A very drunk teacher gets by because of “omerta”–the code of silence–and endangers scores of students.
Story from “This is True” by Randy Cassingham, with his “tagline:”
“ANIMAL HOUSE: Sheriff’s deputies responded to an out-of-control house party in Valley Center, Calif., and found ‘at least 100, mostly inebriated, teenagers’ inside. ‘Every room was trashed,’ said Sgt. Bob Bishop. ‘Booze bottles and beer cans were laying all over the place.’ In one room, four girls were playing strip poker while boys took pictures. Deputies finally found the hostess: Nancy Jean Hildebrand, 56, who was allegedly throwing the party as a graduation present for her daughter. ‘My name is Nancy, I’m [daughter’s] mom,’ her name tag read. Hildebrand was ‘drinking with everybody else, and handing out beers to kids,’ Bishop said. She tried to get officers to leave on the old ‘you don’t have a warrant’ gambit, but she was arrested and charged with providing alcohol to minors, among other violations. Hildebrand is a teacher at Valley Center Middle School. District officials refused to comment on the case. (RC/San Diego Union-Tribune) …Maybe the entire district runs under omerta.”
“Omerta” is a code of silence. While we decry this code among criminals, popular culture teaches us to show respect for those refusing to “rat out” friends and associates. However, silence results in the perpetuation of bad behaviors because it helps to ensure that addicts, who commit most criminal and unethical acts, don’t experience the pain from consequences they so desperately need to inspire in them a need to get and stay sober. As a result, ultimately, tragedy happens. These outcomes are especially tragic when the victims are children and teenagers. Note that Ms. Hildebrand is 56 and has, therefore, probably engaged in reprehensible behaviors hundreds of times. Her teachers’ union, along with well-meaning friends and family likely protected her from the logical consequences of those behaviors almost every time. Such enabling harms perpetrator and victim alike.
(Story and tagline from “This is True,” copyright 2011 by Randy Cassingham, used with permission. If you haven”t already subscribed to his newsletter—the free one at least, or the paid one I get, with more than twice the stories—I highly recommend it: www.ThisIsTrue.com.)
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