YOUR COMMENTS

What are are you going to do, call DCYF on me because I feel a need to protect my child from outside evils of the public school? They already know I am keeping her home from school and not providing her with an adequate education. Thank gosh I can still do this because NOT providing an adequate education for kids is NOT a concern of DCYF. I have every right to keep her home where I can keep an eye on her.
- k, hillsboro

um.. "and she is released from her room for an hour a day to enjoy the social contact of the outside world. " ?!?!?!?

Does anyone else find this EXTREMELY disturbing.. do you lock her in there or does she know to stay in HER ROOM all day but that one hour to socialize...?

As for homeschooling - It goes both ways some kids hit college and go crazy because it is the first time they were on their own and made their own choices and had peers to influence them. On the other hand I have also had friends that were homeschooled and a lot more mature than their peers and did well in college. It depends the amount of socialization their parents allowed them growing up (NOTE: allowing them to leave their room for an hour a day to talk with the rest of the family does not count as socialization)
- SMC, Henniker, Nh

Melvin,
Great question about the criminal background check. The problem is that the schools can only check certain records for criminal activity. If there is no criminal record, there is really nothing more schools can do, is there? Not all pedophiles have criminal records, therefore background checks can only work to prevent those who have been caught from victimizing another child.
I wonder what else you think schools should be doing?
- Melanie, Seabrook, NH

K in Hillsboro, you are abusing your kid if she can only leave her room for an hour a day!! She will be socially inept and unable to handle society when she is old enough to leave your grasp. I am afrraid of those who "shelter" their kids from the problems of society, only to find out that you really don't want them to know that there are options and they could actually have their own opinion different than yours whether it be religious preference or your political opinion. I bet you don't even let your kid use the internet supervised or otherwise - watch TV?? God forbid they develop as a normal citizen and learn how to behave in society. You are the type of parent that scares the hell out of me. What are you doing to your kid that they cannot tell another adult about. Are you credentialed in math, science, ligterature, arts & music?? I highly doubt it. What SAT scores would your kid get if you are so close-minded to society and only teach one side of any story- your side and your opinion. I hope your kid runs like hell as soon as they can get out or your grasp and cultic mindset.
- p l, weare, weare

John R, Keene
I do agree that children are more likely to be abused by family members than in the school. Up untill last year I did think that schools were safe places for all children. But now I do see things differently. Some staff members should not be in the educational business.
Homeschooling has everything to do with this article because it is a way to keep kids safe from issues that can happen in the schools.

Anthony, manch. I do wonder about the parents because I have had issues with staff that cross boundaries and want to befriend my children and show a little more interest than I think is necessary. I firmly believe that staff/student interaction should be limited to only education and discipline.If there are other issues, parents should be notified. I understand that the modern school is in the business of raising children, as well as educating them, and that is probably why the parents thought it appropriate for the boys to interact with their coach so closely, but I am one of the few parents who feel that there should be more boundaries.
This is why homeschooling is needed. If the schools will not respect parents and treat all students as if the students belong to the school and not parents then homeschooling is necessary.

Dessaline...I do not even know what to think of your comment. Are you implying that homeschooling parents keeptheir kids home to keep them quiet?

BTW, homeschooled kids are let out of their home, on occasion, to socialize with others.
- k, hillsboro

My comment about him reading the English Class stories was meant to make light of a horrible situation, not meant to be taken literally. I agree with the critiques of my bad joke.

However, I wasn't joking when I said this was a good reason to home school. I don't know why people would trust their most important job as parents to strangers who don't share their beliefs.
- Jack, Concord

I think those who are willing to wait until all the evidence is presented are right and smart to do so. Anyone can make accusations of just about anything and those who judge only knowing one side and making up their minds are in my view dangerous people. But if found guilty the courts will put him back out in five years any how.

As for those who question his choice of boys and wonder why some compare him with gays it should be pretty obvious simply by his choice. He obviously if guilty likes the same sex which is what being gay is. But like anyone else in society the gay community must stand against such people rather than take offense and defend themselves. Simply say he may be a gay pedophile and you want him off the streets the same as a heterosexual predator. But lets wait to see if the charges are true. It’s not like some would never make up something because they don’t like someone.
- Deb, Derry

Looks like all the posters have covered the pros and cons of our excellent public school system and its open curriculum, so I'll just ask one question: What happened to the criminal record and background check on this alleged pervert? Do the schools just run a record check and not look any further? If these allegations are true, he didn't just decide to do this over night.

Are the police looking into what happened that allowed him to be hired?
- Melvin, Keene

Anthony,
The UL does not provide sufficient information to make any conclusions on the parenting of these two or more kids that were allegedly molested.
- Dessaline, Weare

Home schooling is a social injustice and should be outlawed.
- Dessaline, Weare

Home schooling does not prevent kids from getting sexually molested. There are many cases where the parent or parents are the ones doing the molesting. Moreover, it may be more difficult for kids that are home school to report sexual molestation by a parent, parents, or other family members. Therefore, the problem goes on unidentified by the authorities.
- Dessaline, Wear

Tom... Really gay marriage???
Others... Home schooling???
Here's one for all of you to chew on... Now this may be a stretch...
How about PARENTING!!! Why was this guy in these homes alone with kids???
2 kids= 2 families...
Just throwing it out there... What about PARENTING???
Lets keep perspective people!!! Don't intermingle subjects... Clearly people will get them confused... Pedophilia, Home Schooling and Gay Marriage... Clearly all different subjects... NOT CONNECTED!!! Weird...
- Anthony, Manchester

To James in Epping:

Pedophilia specifically refers to pre-pubescent children. This man is allegedly a statutory rapist and/or a person who abused their position of authority over students.

Jack is however, falling into the typical moralist trap of knowledge of a subject equals condoning that subject. Case in point, I can learn about Hitler without killing Jews.

Homeschooling has positives and negatives. That can be debated elsewhere and has little to do with this subject.

I would like to point out to K in Hillsboro that far more children are abused by family members than anyone else so keeping kids out of schools wouldn't address the reality of abuse.

You are more likely to be killed by your spouse than anyone else and you are more likely to be molested by a close, trusted relative. That is the sad reality.
- John R, Keene

I know this man and he is a good man. Let's not rush to judgement until he has his day in court. I am gay and havne't touch children, so I not sure where there is a link between both???
- Jeff Barry, Manchester

Mr Palmer was not arrested at 3545 Parkhill Rd, that's a Therapeutic riding facillity for mentally and physically challenged children. He was called by detectives and told them to pick him at Lowes parking lot. He has been fully cooperative at all times.
- Rev Louis Pearce, Wichita Falls TX

Wow that headline is a little biased, don't you think? If what this guy is accused of is true, he deserves swift and just punishment. But, in the country I live in, a person is innocent until proven guilty.
- Jessica, Manchester

chris i agree with you. ive met many home schooled kids and it always seems like their not always there. very unsocial kids.
- bruno, manch

Will the coach's husband [ homosexual marriage is legal in NH ] stand by his man? But there is noooo problem with homosexual behavior.. oh noooo..
- tom, manchester,nh

Chris from Bedford is the one under lock and key and has absolutely no idea about home education.

We know nearly 75 perhaps even a 100home educated kids (plus our 4 kids) and they are well socialized...they just are not socialized with certain groups of kids or people.

The parent(s) are home so their coach won't have a chance to molest them.

By the way home educated kids have a better chance getting into ivy league schools because of their academics and work ethic. I can go on about this. I see it all the time (not too mention read about how well home educated kids do).
- Todd, Andover, NH

Why do people always assume homeschooled children are not allowed to mingle with the public?

This article is a good reason to homeschool children. It is scary what the public school system can do with the kids that parents "entrust" them with. It is even more concerning when no one cares enough to do anything about the misconduct that goes on in these schools until it is too late.

How many times was this man's conduct questioned before someone finally took action? How many other students were invited to spend some time alone with him and no one thought too much of this? But then again no one questions the motive of the well caring school staff at these public schools. The staff can spend extra time with certain students because they care so much, no questions asked.

Unfortunately some parents like it when these schools care so much and help raise their kids.

There really should be more boundaries between student/staff interactions. I understand that parents "entrust" their kids to the schools, but it is just to teach academics, nothing more. As long as the schools are permitted to do more than teach then kids are not going to be safe from these sort of issues.

I will say that the majority of the teachers in this district are professionals, are there to teach, and do an excellent job in doing so. But as a parent I have and will question a staff member that I think may cross the professional student/staff line. All parents should question anything that may seem out of the norm as far as adult/child interaction goes. My guess is that this coach did not always maintain this professionalism. But there really is nothing in the policies or laws that protects the child in a school setting or other when it comes to a public school staff unless they do something criminal. My guess is that this guy did spend alot of time getting to know certain students over a period of time before the contact took place. There were, more than likely, signs leading to the actual things in which he was charged with.

As far as homeschooling, I do homeschool one of my children, and she is released from her room for an hour a day to enjoy the social contact of the outside world. Right now she is just a kid, when she goes to college she will be an adult. There is a difference.
- k, hillsboro

So sad. May the legal system and legal aid system address the sexual deviant behavior as a crime and provide the children with recovering counseling. Home schooling does not cause children to go wild or wayward in College--facts show just the opposite. Schools should not be presumed to be the better then a truly wholesome loving home environment. Statistics have shown home schoolers are more grounded in the business and other ares of life, e.g. military service as well. Check the facts.
- Jan, Londonderry, NH

Jack- so glad you finally cleared up the connection between pedophilia and homosexuality. I always wondered if they were connected. You're a great help! (Not really-please move to Antarctica)
- James, Epping

Sure, home schooling is the answer. Keep the kids under wrap and key. Then, when the get to college, those are the ones who lose it because they've been sheltered all their lives. See it all the time.
- Chris, Bedford

Perhaps he was reading the stories from English class.

Anyway, another reason to home school.
- Jack, Concord