Another Reason to Fear School

A new report shows that [school investigators accused New York City teachers, principals and other school workers of more crimes in 2006] than in any other recent year. Special schools investigator Richard Condon made 259 allegations last year, 101 of which were turned over to federal and state prosecutors for potential criminal probes. In 2005, only 60 cases were referred up the legal ladder. This year, a whopping 86 school employees were accused of some sort of sexual crime—ranging from rape to sexual harassment to tawdry relationships with students. Some such alleged offenses include a middle school math teacher accused of having sex with a 14-year-old student and an elementary school teacher who purportedly groped a 10-year-old. Maybe we should give the kids back their cell phones.