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aka skeoch

june 2023

Hugging can be very dangerous for teachers.

TO WHOM COULD SHE TURN FOR HELP?  ME?  YIKES!

She lingered as the classes changed.   Her boyfriend was there as well but outside my classroom 

door.  She wanted to talk to me alone.  

Alone! Yikes!  Being alone with a female student is not

a good thing under any circumstances.   It is darn dangerous.  Can cost a teacher his job.

  Never be alone with a female student.  Friendly for sure.  Laughing and

teasing but never crossing the line…to be alone with a female student.

But that day she wanted to speak ro me privately…urgently.   I remember her name and her face

clearly now… about 30 years later.  But I did not talk with her alone.  she mumbled something to me…..one clear

wrord was ‘help’.    She was not explicit but it was clear something bad had happened.  Seemed

sexual.   Seemed parent was involved.  But It was not clear.And getting enmeshed in the

situation was  not a good idea.   Her boyfriend was also one of my students.  He remained 

in the hall but clearly  wanted  her to get help from me.  They trusted me.

So I had to do something.  And fast.  She did not want to go home.   I was not sure why

but there were enough hints that i feared sexual abuse.’

“I willl see what I can do?”

And away they went.  What should I do?  What could I do? To whom could Turn

for help?  Te girl should have gone to the guidance department but she did not.

Too embarrassing it seemed.

Then it dawned on me that the school nurse might help.  

“I am not sure but I think one of my students fears sexual abuse.  She asked me to help…sort of

asked me.   Her boyfriend was with her and he seemed worried as well.  Both really nice kids.”

“Leave it to me.” said the nurse and immediately steps were taken.  I never knew

what steps.  The girl was interviewed and I believe she did not go home that night but

instead was taken to a safe place…..a home for women in trouble.  It happened fast.

within an hour or so.   She wagon.

the nurse did not confide in me.  But she knew this kind of trouble could be dangerous

and discretion was necessary.   I am not sure if anyone else knew what happened.

she did not return to my class.  She was gone. I am not sure what had happened…

if anything.  Something did happen .  That was the soft voice saying ‘help’.  She was gone.

Then a long time later, perhaps a year, the girl appeared with her boyfriend at my classroom

door.  Both happy and smiling.  They did not say much  but wanted to express

thanks.   Not sure it they were married by then but suspect marriage was coming

soon.  

I think they  owned a small booth in

one of the malls in Toronto. They were a very happy couple.

WHY WAS I SO CAUTIOUS…SO SECRETIVE?

For good reason.  Teachers are assumed to be guilty until proven

innocent if a student says touching has occurred.  It might be imaginary or real…

like an innocent hug.   The  teacher is sent home until the case

is examined..  That teacher might be quite innocent but will carry a cloud of

suspicion no matter what is determined.   So most of my teacher friends keep 

their distance.  As do I.

Innocent until proven guilty no longer seems to apply.

alan

alan skeoch

June 2023

In 1963, Jameson Avenue was lined with tall elm trees…very dark at night.  The boys in the picture are not the boys who mouthed off to me, but look like them.

My first high school dance.   The first dance i was the teacher in charge.

Tihisdid not go well.   A bunch of older boys arrived and lit up cigarettes in the

hall of Parkdale C.I.  A challenge.

“Get rid of those cigarettes.,” I said loudly but nervously.

“Why?”

“No smoking in the school.”

(mumbling response with the  “f” word used liberallly or so I thought.)

“OK boys, get out of here. You are not Parkdale students.”

“We would like to see you make us leave….paid our money.”

“Get out.”

“Big tough teacher.  All talk.”

“Out you go!”  

(This was my first school dance.   My first year teaching.  I was not much

older than the boys who were joking and mouthing  off to me.”

“Think you are a tough guy, don’t you.”

“Get out!”

“Bet you haven’t got the guts to come out with us to Jameson Avenue.”

That was where I made a big mistake.  I escorted the tough guys out 

to the dark street where they began to encircle me.   This spelled trouble.

I was about to get mugged and could do nothing about it. The encircling

was nearly complete when a wonderful thing happened.

“Having any trouble Mr Skeoch?”, came the voice of Ted Spencer who knew

I was in over my head.  He had a couple of other big guys with him.

They were prepared to back me up should push come to punch.

Rescuers.

The tough guys melted into the darkness of Jameson Avenue.  I have never

forgotten that evening.

Another new teacher, Alison Petrie, and my wife Marjorie were also present

and had their own kind of trouble.

Two boys struck up a conversation.  “So Miss Petrie, you came to Ontario from

New Brunswick…how do you like teaching?”

While one boy talked the other stood behind Alison and slowly un zipped her dress.

Not completely unzipped but down enough to see her brassiere straps.  She was

scared but remained calm.   These boys were just kidding around but it

seemed far worse to Alison and Marjorie.

Hard to forget that first night dance in October 1963.

alan skeoch

Ted Spencer was a member of Parkdale football team in 1963.

alan skeoch

June 2023

Back around 1990 I authored a book on the social sciences.  The publisher wanted a

flashy cover and sent a photographer over to Parkdale for that purpose.  A flashy cover

entailed getting the students involved.  So i was permitted to make an announcement over

the PA the day before the photographer arrived.

“Tomorrow a publisher is sending a camera person to our school in

order to design a hard cover for a book.  The book is about you.  So it seems 

only fitting that you become the cover.  I don’t know which picture will be

selected … but some of you will be on that cover.  Meet me outside the school

tomorrow at 3.30l

One of our students knew how to become the cover girl.  She got all dressed up…wore a ice dress with polka dots.

And sure enough she became the dominating figure on the book cover.

Amusing?   It certainly was amusing to the staff and students.  Why?  Because she never

wore a dress to school except on that day.

alan skeoch

Alan skeoch

june 2023

There was a bi-election in the Parkdale riding around 1990.   I forget the exact year but that is

not really the important part of the story.  I was teaching Civics to my Grade Ten class and 

casually mentioned that it was possible to get a visit from the Prime Minister.

“Would you like to meet Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in person?”

“Us?”

“yes, there is a chance our Prime Minister would come to meet each of you peronsally.”

“Not likely, sir. “

“You might be right but Itink you are wrong.”

“Why?”

“I think if you…all of you…write a letter to Mr. Trudeau ….a letter inviting hime to our school.

I think he might come to see you”  Worth a try anyway.   Let’s compose a letter.”

And we did.  I made sure the letter was written by the class and not by me or any teacher 

at Parkdale.  Maybe left in a couple of spelling mistakes just to prove the letter was authentic.

And Presto!  next week we got a letter from Ottawa or perhaps it was a phone call.  Trudeau was

coming to see and talk to my Grade Ten class.   The school went berserk.   Trudeau would meet

all  of our students in the auditorium.   He would maKe a speech to them. Answer questions. It was made clear

that the prime minister wanted to meet the students…not the teachers…not the adults.  he liked

young people.  Loved the give and take in conversation with kids.

This visit became a big deal.   Everyone was excited.

The search dogs came the day before.   Officers searched every croner of the

school to make sure there was no danger.  No bomb. Plain clothes men were present…anonymous

in part.  Then Trudeau arrived in a bit of a motorcade up Jameson Avenue.   He was encircled

by security people lest something untoward happen.  He was safe.

Or so everyone thought.   But he was not safe.  Suddenly a girl dashed from the crowd of

students greeting Trudeau and the motorcade.  She rushed the Trudeau car in a sudden

burts of energy….by passed the security detail and planted a big kiss on Trudeau who

grinned and marched into the school.

The first thing he asked was where is the washroom.  He had to take a leak.  Then he

proceeded to the auditorium where he spoke for a few minutes and then asked for

questions.  

My Grade Ten class was forgotten in he visit.  Questions were asked but they 

were as bland as porridge.  A teacher committee tried to keep hostile questions

from being asked.   The visit was nice but rather bland.

I wished he had come up to Room 225 to really meet my class.  They were the 

reason he visited Parkdale but that was lost in the jumble.   All the same our 

school was flattered.   Our students felt important…all of them.

And one girl out smarted the whole security detail as she rushed to be cradled

in the arms of our Prime Minister.

alan skeoch

June 2023

EPISODE 830     MY LAST CLASS AT PARKDALE C. I.  and THE BOY WHO STOLE CARS

alan skeoch

June 11, 2023

This was my last class at Parkdale Collegiate institute, 209 Jameson Ave., Toronto.  A wonderful class as diverse as

Toronto has become.  When I look at their faces today, June 2023 I cannot help but feel our country is in good hands.’Take a close 

look yourself.  I just love this picture.  

NICE THINGS DO HAPPEN

Some readers may wonder why I reported the story about Leila Buckler.  My propose was 

to let me tell short story about a boy belonging to a gang who stole cars.   It’s a story of 

which I am proud.  I did something that changed someone’s life big time.   To tell the story

is to brag.   So it needs to be put in perspective.  My action was a small thing  Leila did

bigger things.   She rescued many more kids than I would ever know.  And she did it

quietly.   So please do not see me as a person with an inflated ego.   

THE BOY WHO STOLE CARS

I still remember where he sat in my class. Halfway down the row next to the window

which faced Jameson Avenue.  He was a typical kid…a student.   The only difference

was that he joined my class midway through the fall term.  Our principal or guidance

office asked if I would take this boy mid term.   Or maybe the did not ask.  No matter,

he was nice little kid who actually did some of the homework assignments and

put his hand up tentatively to help me develop a lesson.   He became part of the

class quickly …and shyly.

I mentioned him in some of the staff room babble.   The conversation went

something like this.

“Did any of you get that new student…put in our classes mid term?”

“Yes…but he won’t be there long.”

“Why not?”

“He stole cars…part of a car theft ring.”

“You must be kidding”

“No.  I think he is being held in a group home until the trial.”

’Such  a nice kid.   Seems that way to me.”

“That may be so but car theft is a serious offence.  “

“How serious?”

“Judge will decide.  Car theft penalty is Eighteen months to 10 years in the slammer.”

“He will likely get two years less a day owing to his age.    But that is

hard time for a young kid.”

I was startled.  Teachers are not told much about their students.  That is policy.

Protects kids really, especially those with tough stories.  Like Leila Buckler , one

of our cheerleaders.  I had not idea she and her dad were living in a flop house

hotel…room for five bucks a night with a bathroom down the hall.  Dangerous place

where her dad had to escort her to the wash room. I never knew that. Leila was 

just another face in the class.  Kids do not want to be centred out.

CONVERSATION  CONTINUED SOMETHING LKE THIS

“Jail is no place for this kid.”

“Well, he’s been caught stealing cars…thousands of dollars in property theft.”

“Guilty!  Must pay the price in hard time.””

“What happens to kids put in prison?”

“Stories are terrifying.   Some become hardened criminals.  Kids like him could

also face sexual abuse.”

“does he have anyone to speak for him?”

“We don’t know.  Must be social workers…lawyers…”

“What about his parents?”

“Seems they are not in te picture. “

And so the conversation continued.  Meanwhile the boy seemed to be enjoying

our high school,  Parkdale Collegiate institute…a downtown core high school with

lots of kids in difficulty,   And most kids thriving.

The boy preyed upon my mind.  Was there anything I could do?

Somehow I became aware of his trial date.   I decided to write a letter to

the judge with my positive comments about the boy.  Maybe that would help

a bit.  Maybe not.

“Your honour, I would like to say that the boy seems to have been led

into criminal activity.  He does not seem to be a criminal. I enjoy him As a student in my 

class and worry that jail would do permanent harm to him.”  (something like that) 

Then a month or so later I got a call from the judge.  Imagine that!

She said  “without your letter I would have been forced to put

the boy in jail.  That would not be be the best thing for the boy

Your letter allowed a group home alternative.   Thank you

That phone call made me feel really good.  I never saw the boy again.

Alan skeoch

 

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