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Isabelle Jackson Elementary is in the news these days, but not for academic achievement. Unfortunately it is in the news now because of the Crystal Defanti Video. Defanti, a fifth grade teacher at the school, decided that it would be a good idea to give the students and end of the year DVD which outlined the memories of the year. Sounds like a good idea right? Well, it would have been if there hadn’t been a six second clip of Defanti having sex mixed into the video.
It is highly unlikely that Defanti will be charged with a crime, and although she will most likely be disciplined by the school district she will probably keep her job. See video of the story below.
For prosecutors to prove that Defanti committed a crime they would have to prove intent, and that would be very difficult to prove. I don’t think she should be charged with a crime, and I don’t even think she should lose her job over this one incident. By all accounts Defanti is a good teacher who cares about her students. This is not a case where a teacher has had inappropriate relations with one of her students. She tried to do a nice thing for her students, didn’t check over the video she made before she sent it out, and as soon as she found out about the mistake she took steps to correct the mistake. This is a case where I believe the school district should administer any punishment they see fit, but if she’s never had any related problems then I don’t think she should lose her job.
A link to the CBS Channel 13 news report is found here.
Another news clip is below.
Teacher gives Sex Tape Clip to Students
I will admit that in the Channel 13 clip it appears that the parent who is interviewed is looking for some cash from the school. I don’t think I’d be asking for counselling from the school if something like this happened, but it sounds like he’s setting himself up to make some sort of claim and sue the school, or the district, for some sort of settlement. I hope he doesn’t get anything. Would I be upset if my child came home with something like this? Sure, but that doesn’t mean I expect a payday out of it. I get upset all the time, but that doesn’t justify suing anyone and everyone who makes me upset. If that was the case we’d all be spending our lives inside a courtroom.
What do you think? Should Isabelle Jackson Elementary teacher Crystal Defanti lose her job over what appears to be nothing more than an honest mistake? The Crystal Defanti video was a mistake that she tried to correct. Next time I’m sure she’ll follow the advice most teachers give to students which is to “check your work” before you turn it in.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:28 am
[...] Isabelle Jackson Elementary: Crystal Defanti Video – Right JurisUnfortunately it is in the news now because of the Crystal Defanti Video. Defanti, a fifth grade teacher at the school, decided that it would be a good idea …. [...]
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I do think she should lose her job. Though not perfect myself, I don’t want immoral people around my children/grandchildren. Sometimes I have a say,others I don’t. This female exposed kids to sex,and regardless of it being a mistake, it shows mew she has no scruples or morals. She should find a job doing something political.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
joanne - how is having consensual sex immoral? how do you know it was not with her husband? exposing sex to her students was an accident; she wasn’t engaging in this behavior in public. though not perfect myself I don’t want IGNORANT or immoral people around my children. so I will be sure to keep them away from you.
July 4th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Wow JoAnne, that is pretty judgmental IMHO!
1) Why is a sexual act ‘immoral’? You must have had sex to have children.
2) Her having a recording of herself, for adult consumption, does not make her have ‘no scruples or morals’.
Onto the incident itself. She should not lose her job, it was a genuine mistake. I agree it is not something I would want such young children to look at, but it isn’t the end of the world, they wont be traumatized or injured, more likely just puzzled!
July 5th, 2009 at 10:57 am
There is nothing immoral about having consensual sex, nor is there anything wrong with enjoying videotaping of your sexual activity (as long as that is also consensual). My wife and I enjoyed poloroid cameras 50 years ago, and would have loved digital cameras and videos. Should the woman be fired? She’s humiliated, and this may hinder her ability to teach. It is a pity her name got out into the Internet. As a pastor and counselor, I’d tell my child that it was a private moment that was accidentally shared, and I would talk about the embarrassment her teacher felt and how the teacher needs our support.
July 6th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
where is the un-cut video
July 9th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I agree with JoAnne. A lot of people are twisting her words. She never said that sex is immoral or that filming yourself having sex is immoral, she said that letting kids see that film of you having sex is immoral, whether it was a mistake or not.
And yes, she should get fired, because 1) seeing a sex tape of your teacher at that age CAN traumatize you, 2) it being a mistake doesn’t absolve her of guilt (I mean, you don’t go unpunished when you accidentally run someone over with your car, right?), and 3) if it was a male teacher everyone would want him fired. People are just going easy on her because she’s a woman.
My guess is that the school district will pretend to support her until the media coverage dies down, then quietly fire her in a couple months before the next school year starts.