Substitute teacher busted for viewing porn on school computer

Friday, February 02, 2007

Laura Whitley
More: Bio, News Team

By Laura Whitley

(2/02/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- A substitute teacher was turned in by his own students after they spotted him breaking the rules in a big way.

Parents rely on teachers to help children learn and to teach them right from wrong. In this case sixth graders were the ones sharing the most important lessons.

"I'm shocked," said parent Clyde Scales. "I'm really shocked."

That was a common reaction from parents as they learned the details of a substitute teacher's dismissal.

"We escorted him off campus by police escort," explained HISD spokesperson Terry Abbott.

It was decisive action from HISD. It came after students caught a substitute science teacher at Johnston Middle School looking at porn. He was using a school computer.

"It concerns us a great deal because the adult is the one who's supposed to be the adult in the classroom." said Abbott. "You can't sit there and look at pornography on the computer. You can cause all kinds of damage to children that way."

The 53-year-old started subbing here at the school in 2005 and like all district employees, he passed annual background checks.

"I think that's kind of bad, though," said parent Clyde Scales. "Man, you got to watch yourself."

While parents react with concern, many also feel encouraged that the students who caught the teacher had enough courage to report it.

"He wants the kids to have a real positive feel for the faculty and administration to go to them if they see a problem," said parent Kelly Bachas.

Bachas is thrilled with the way the school principal handled the situation. He sent home a note the same day he discovered the problem.

"It happened around 2:00, and by 3:52, every student had a letter in their hand," she told us.

HISD computers are equipped with filters but the filters obviously do not stop everything. School district police and the district attorney's office are still investigating to see if the substitute will face any charges.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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