July 23, 2007 - The Record editorializes about the guilty plea of Joseph White.
What a terrible way for children to find out that a trusted adult who had a central role in their lives was the polar opposite of what he appeared to be.And
In fact, children at the high school were in danger from their own principal. He betrayed them. And he betrayed all the parents and community members who trusted him with their children and with the leadership of the township's high school.
That trust was so strong that it survived White's first arrest for the alleged sexual abuse of a teenager five years ago. The teen was a Teaneck High School student whom White was about to adopt. Loyal friends and co-workers often filled the courtroom at his trial on those charges. White was acquitted with his reputation intact -- his supporters gave him a standing ovation after the verdict was read -- and he returned to his job as principal.
In that case, it was a respected principal's word against that of the teenager, who was vilified by White's lawyer in court. In the more recent case, the teenager in question was wearing a concealed microphone and the evidence was on tape.
It is heartbreaking to explain to children that they must be on guard against even the people they are supposed to trust. No parent wants to destroy a child's faith in the world.TT - It is a special betrayal for a teacher to abuse a child because students frequently spend more time with a teacher than they do their own parents. Children are expected to learn more from a teacher. Parents trust and respect teachers and through them, they try to instill respect for adults in their children.
But the truth is that sexual predators are rarely frightening or repulsive. They are more often popular and charming and supportive. They know how to get children's attention and win their friendship. They work at it.
The pity, the absolute pity, is that it is a profession that is proving itself less and less worthy of that admiration.
