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The conversaion as recounted was that the child asked additional questions, I think the next was "why, are you too young?"  The teacher answered that he would like to marry a man, but that was illegal.  The child replied  something like Oh, you like to hang out with guys, huh? and that was the end of the conversation. 

This was related by the student teacher's lawyer (sorry if I got any details wrong, but several people are assuming that the the only questions asked was if he was married)

posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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I think that the fact that protocols were not followed by either school in how the handled the situation is very telling.  I completed an intenship in counseling last year, and part of the point was to learn.  Self-disclosure is very tricky in my profession, and I would guess for teachers as well.   The fact that this was not seized upon as a learning/teaching moment for staff to talk about how a minority can talk to the children about his life, even if it brings up a topic that can be very fraught with emotions.  Discussion that listened to and validated all the sides of this issue could have led to understanding  and expecations could have been clarified to this young teacher.

My personal view is that Seth answered honestly, directly and succintly.  I hope he wins his case on the merit that this issue was handled outside of established channels.

posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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