Apparently, when one is a school teacher, they are not allowed to be anything but paragons of virtue 24/7. Despite 25 years experience as an English teacher, Judy B. (leaving the full name out of this blog post out of respect, but she is known under the pen name as author Judy Mays) was publicly “outed” by a parent because she writes for Ellora’s Cave romance on her own time.
Aside from veiled allegations of pedophilia (WAIT, WAT, EXCUSE ME), this quote in particular really got under my skin:
“…(she needs to) make a decision as to what she wants to do. Either be a school teacher or author.”
Read the article here.
This was not one of the students finding out. This was a parent finding out and then making it public — not only releasing the identity of the author (which she clearly would not have wanted, considering she uses a pen name and PO Box for her correspondence), but then going on to chastise her for her after hours activities in the media. Shame on Wendy Apple for making such a big deal out of what was obviously meant to be this woman’s PRIVATE second source of income, which she was doing on her own time, not while teaching those students, and shame on the WNEP reporter for then using one-sided quotes and vague accusations and inflammatory statements to make the author out to be something terrible simply because she writes racy romance novels in her off time.
Excuse me, but can someone please explain how it is newsworthy that a teacher is writing sexy-time romance novels under a pen name when she isn’t teaching kids? If she wasn’t bringing it up at school or around the kids, why exactly is this a problem? Was this really worth exposing someone’s private life?
As Yasmine Galenorn said about this on Twitter:
“We don’t live in Pleasantville, people. Your kids’ teachers have genitals and use them.”
If you are as cheesed off about this article as I am, you may express your displeasure (in a respectful manner, please!) by commenting on the article linked above, to the news station WNEP by phone: 570-346-7474, telling the reporter Kena Vernon how you feel by emailing her at Kena.Vernon@wnep.com, or by leaving a comment on WNEP’s Facebook page.
What would happen if a male teacher was writing action/adventure novels under a pen name that features big guns, fast broads and shagging the carpet every other chapter? Would there be an outcry by an angry parent? A formal investigation by the school board?
I doubt it.
I heard on the radio about two recent cases with identical circumstances but different results in the Silicon Valley area. A female teacher started dating a 18-year-old boy who graduated from the high school that she taught at. The school district launched a formal investigation and found nothing inappropriate. A male teacher and a 18-year-old girl who graduated from the high school he taught at moved in together. Raised eyebrows, yes, but no formal investigation by the school district.
Once upon a time, I wanted to be a teacher. I was encouraged to be a teacher to be a male role model to all those young boys being raised in single-parent households with no fathers. After attending an orientation seminar at the university, I didn’t want to be a teacher anymore. Too many hoops to jump through and prevalent double standard made a career in teaching kids unappealing.
It is ridiculous, I agree. The double-standard is disgusting. I really hope the poor woman doesn’t lose her job over this.
What’s even worse? I discovered later, after I posted this, that WNEP has been deleting the Facebook comments in support of Judy. How’s that for journalistic integrity? Getting ready to prepare torches and pitchforks. Angry mob, incoming. Grrrr….
-J
Pingback: S. V. Rowle» Blog Archive » Local News Outs Erotic Romance Writer As English Teacher; Predictable Response Ensues
That is absolutely ridiculous! I don’t even know where to begin on how wrong that is. A lot of good points are already being made that this is what the woman does on her own time and it doesn’t effect her teaching or anything like that. It’s two separate jobs. Maybe she does need the second income and that witch of a person who said she needed to choose a job!? That’s what really irks me. Some people do have to work 2 jobs!
And to me it almost seems kind of pathetic on the parent’s part that they had to go digging for this info? Where’s their job? Shouldn’t they be working? If the high school kids didn’t even know about it, why bring it up? No one’s in any danger or anything.
That is really just a desperate attempt for the news reporter to get HER name in the paper I think.
I think you’re right. Doesn’t it make you wonder how the parent found out to begin with? Was she shopping those books or reading blogs and happened to recognize the author’s photo or something? Seems unbelievably crass that she took it to the media instead of bringing up her concerns PRIVATELY with the school.
What’s next: teachers getting bashed on when they don’t have a ‘proper’ family situation and being forced to find a partner or get kids to set a ‘good’ example?
Pingback: Keeping A Secret Writing Identity In Silicon Valley | A Silicon Valley Writer
Pingback: Updates, Link Roundup on the WNEP Judy Mays Outing Story | S. V. Rowle