Drevets, T. (1992, April). "Somebody had to stop him." Good Housekeeping, pp. 103, 244-46
OVERVIEW
Marsha Anderson-Niazmand brought Chicago’s public-school sex scandal to light. She challenged the powerful Dr. James Moffat, Principal of Kelvyn Park High, and the Chicago school system to bring justice to the man who had shamefully abused the trust of many students.
Anderson-Niazm, a school social worker involved in counseling, first learned of Moffat’s indecent behavior when a girl named Debbie told her that her principal called her into his office and told her he would help her get into nursing school—her dream. All she had to do was go to bed with him. This was the last Friday in November of 1988. Three weeks later, Debbie was back in Anderson-Niazm’s office. Shocked, she told Anderson-Niazm that Moffat tried to kiss her and touch her breasts, and attempted to unfasten her bra.
Anderson-Niazm described Debbie’s charges in general terms to some people within the school system. But she was deterred from moving ahead with the accusations—most thought that Dr. Moffat had too much power and that no action could be taken against him. Anderson-Niazm knew that the administrators believed her story, but they were convinced that Moffat would win any argument. When Moffat found out about the brewing accusations, he relocated Anderson-Niazm to elementary schools, a huge professional and personal blow to Anderson-Niazm.
Meanwhile, Anderson-Niazm consulted a lawyer. Debbie, on the other hand, recanted her statements against Moffat. Debbie’s mom, employed at Moffat’s high school, worried about her own job and retaliation against her daughter; she persuaded Debbie to withdraw her charges. By early March, Anderson-Niazm and her lawyer found other students who had been harassed by Dr. Moffat. One girl, Linda, was promised to be "protected" from fights with other students in return for sexual favors. Over the next few months, 17 students revealed that they had experienced some kind of sexual contact with Moffat in his office. Some of the victims were male athletes who had been promised passing grades in exchange for sexual favors. A pattern emerged: all of the youngsters involved were from shattered families; these students had few strong, supportive relatives who could solve their problems in the ways Moffat had promised. Moffat preyed on frightened kids who desired a caregiver and protector. He intimidated these boys and girls into sexual compliance and often recanted his promises to them.
When Moffat was assigned to a district office, half the teachers signed a petition for his reinstatement. Later, the teachers said they were coerced by their colleagues or feared that Moffat would return as principal and punish them. Anderson-Niazm eventually discovered that a male teacher had taken photographs of boys engaging in sexual activities with the principal. After these photographs were submitted to the state attorney’s office, Dr. Moffat was indicted on October 7, 1989 on 10 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and 27 counts of official misconduct.
On April 22, 1991, a district judge sentenced Moffat to 15 years in prison and forbade him from being an educator or administrator again. This case set a precedent for future sexual abuse cases. Illinois state law now requires the Department of Children and Family Services to investigate charges involving educators. The Chicago Board of Education now conducts investigations of abuse through an outside agency and school employees who learn of allegations are required to notify both the DCFS and the police. However, at the time of this writing, Anderson-Niazm had not reacquired her high school position and is still working in elementary schools.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
- What does it take for a person such as Marsha Anderson-Niazm to risk her job and well-being by confronting with a powerful person?
- List some ways to help a child, friend, or co-worker fight sexual harassment, especially by a person in power.
IMPLICATIONS
- Going against someone in authority can be daunting. There are support organizations to help victims pursue justice.
- Knowing how to use the systems in society can lead to positive outcomes for victims.
Tim S. Ou cCYS
RSS |
Share
| privacy |
site map |
help |
feedback |
about|
donate
