Colo. Springs church school at center of sex abuse case closed last year due to enrollment

http://www.kdvr.com/news/sns-ap-co--churchschool-sexabuse,0,3070163.story ^ | 11/19/2011 | AP

[Morgana]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The church school in Colorado Springs at the center of a sex abuse case is no longer in operation.

The Hilltop Baptist School closed last year after enrollment dropped from about 200 to 130 students.

A teacher at the former school, 32-year-old Terah Allyn Rawlings, is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old boy during the 2007-2008 school year and the following summer. She was indicted this week along with two pastors and a former principal who allegedly failed to report the abuse.

One of the pastors is her father and the other is an uncle.

[Morgana]

"The Hilltop Baptist School closed last year after enrollment dropped from about 200 to 130 students."

OUCH!

[MrEdd]

May Ped State see a similar drop in enrollment.

[GeronL]

Too bad public schools don’t close down when things like this happen.

[bigbob]

[GladesGuru]

“Too bad public schools don’t close down when things like this happen.”

That can’t happen until funding is attached to the student, thus allowing the parents to choose where their child is educated.

Public schools are operated for the benefit of the teachers and their unions.

Private/religious schools have to operate for the benefit of the students.

[Morgana]

From what I read this woman’s family was involved in the school as well. Not sure why that would make a difference in kids leaving but for some reason parents lost faith because of all the family members running the show.

[GeronL]

very true

[Judith Anne]

Was she arrested? Sued for damages? Is the student getting counseling? Was his life ruined?

[hinckley buzzard]

If those Baptists would only allow their preachers to marry, this sort of thing wouldn't happen.

[momtothree]

The article certainly lacks detail. Seems that this woman and her family members hid the relationship. Perhaps the families felt that if one 15 year old boy could have an ongoing relationship and pastors/staff knew about it and hid it... what else could be going on as well? Whatever went on... the families seem to have lost faith in the people running the school. IMHO.

[Infralutheran]

Although I am very Protestant and not Catholic, that was a very funny reply!

[Infralutheran]

Although I am very Protestant and not Catholic, that was a very funny reply!

[LouAvul]

Although I am very Protestant and not Catholic, that was a very funny reply!

You can say that again. Wait, you already did!

[RegulatorCountry]

Well, clearly she was indicted. What does not appear to have happened would be the spectre of faculty and parents fanning out across the internet to condemn all the "anti-Baptists" who dared to question the matter.

[TaMoDee]

I say Nolo Contendere. But might be Not Guilty when not under a lot of stress.

[Morgana]

There is always one stand up comedian on free republic.

[Judith Anne]

There’s a lot that hasn’t happened, yet.

[RegulatorCountry]

There was a moral failing involving a minor that was also a crime, and the leadership of the institution became complicit when they attempted to conceal it. The parents entrusted their children to this school in order to avoid this sort of immoral behavior.

As a direct result, enrollment was shunned by a substantial enough number to have forced the closure of the offending institution, a very Baptist thing to have done, and appropriate given the circumstance.

[Judith Anne]

Okay....

[JSteff]

First, don't ONLY catholic priests go after children? Second, why did it take so long to report this?

Homosexuals (and YES most child abusers are HOMOSEXUALS) can not be trusted in positions involving close contact with children. They are a danger to the kids well being. And they want the right to adopt children? How f-ing sick can you be to condemn a child to a life time of abuse?

Anyone who dares to ask for equal rights for gays are just stupid or downright evil. They are not scientifically HOMOSEXUALS so that excuse should NEVER be used.

Homosexuality is just a choice. They do those acts by choice only, so end that excuse now. Gays are not "gay" or happy in any long term way, but are at their core just evil.