After teacher Rafe Esquith was suspended from his fifth grade classroom at Hobart Elementary School in Los Angeles, LAUSD leaked that another staff member heard him refer to nudity based on a story in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Then the story was leaked that a man accused Rafe of abusing him 40 years ago, when he was a counselor at a private Jewish camp. Now the district has requested all the financial records of the private, nonprofit group that supports the children who are Hobart Shakespeareans.
Here is a comment that was posted by “melinson” which reads as follows:
“Rafe Esquith worked for me when he was a counselor at Camp Rancho at the Westside Jewish Community Center. I was the camp director. I NEVER heard any accusations against him. As I followed his remarkable career, I reflect on the enthusiastic 18 year old who was admired by the staff and loved by the campers.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
As more time passes, we will see fewer and fewer young people go into this battered profession, let alone a person as fine as Rafe. It is all cruel and very sad.
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I would assume that “melinson” came forward to Cortines, and the powers that be, to refute the trumped up original 40 year old charge that was quickly dropped with the advent of others who knew Rafe as a teen ager. When LAUSD can use the public’s money to endlessly intrude into all teachers lives, this kind of witch hunting will never end. It is up to the LA public, parents, and teachers, to demand a change of administration, including the BoE, at LAUSD.
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“The Hobart Shakespeareans are one of the glories of the Earth,” said someone on another thread…
For further confirmation of this, watch this video trailer / highlights of the longer HOBART SHAKESPEAREANS documentary (directed by Mel Stuart, who also directed WILLY WONKA, the good version with Gene Wilder, not the Johnny Depp atrocity.).
This includes the segment where Rafe teaches and reads aloud from HUCKLEBERRY FINN, specifically the moment where Huck rejects what society and religion (back then) had been compelling him to do… turn in his best friend, the escaped slave Jim:
(go to… 02:44 – 05:50 …
the HUCK FINN read aloud starts at 04:02
the kids tear up at… 04:20… or so)
When you watch this, contrast it with the idiot Barbara Hayden, one of Rafe’s fellow teachers who overheard then reported Rafe quoting another passage in HUCKLEBERRY FIN that included a mention of nudity… and thereby put this whole McCarthy-ist madness in motion. (She’s since emailed Rafe with good wishes, and hopes for his return, but still… )
Or contrast it with the actions of LAUSD “Student Safety Investigative Team” investigators Virgil County and Ray Johnson, who grilled these same kids (well years later, DIFFERENT kids from the ones in the video, but ones from the same class / w/same teacher) in a private room, two adults-on-one-child… without getting the prior permission, or without even informing those kids’ parents before or after the fact…. and without any adult observer present who could look out for the well-being of those kids… and causing some of them to seek mental health counseling as a result of this harrowing interrogation.
Again, this is all in the lawsuit:
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2111957-la-school-report-21-pra-response-w-docs-2.html
Mr. Esquith’s lawyer, in the court filings, expresses himself eloquently on all of this:
(PAGES 8-9 of the filing)
Mark Geragos, Esq. : “A despicable and shocking investigation took place. Parents of students in Room 56 (Mr. Esquith’s class) confirm that these students were pulled from class, without parental consent, and grilled by adult-male investigators who made derogatory comments about Mr. Esquith.
” … students actually felt threatened by these LAUSD investigators. Parents of those students collectively complained to LAUSD about the harassing conduct at the hands of these LAUSD investigators. Parents complained that their children were removed from the classroom without parental consent. Parents feared for the health and safety of their children based on the investigators’ tactics.
“At least one student’s mental health was seriously, and medically compromised, by the conduct of these LAUSD investigators. The LAUSD investigators asked students, who had never complained about Mr. Esquith, loaded questions such as whether Mr. Esquith had ever done anything ‘bad,’ or anything that the ‘did not like.’ ”
Regarding the treatment and questions asked of Mr. Esquith, Geragos was equally scathing:
(PAGES 11-14)
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2111957-la-school-report-21-pra-response-w-docs-2.html
Mark Geragos, Esq. : “The May 18th Geragos letter also questioned why Mr. Esquith was being directly contacted by LAUSD on substantive matters when Mr. Esquith was known to be represented by attorneys.
“Indeed, directly contacting a represented party on especially significant matters such as this is highly improper, unethical, and anathema to the law. LAUSD was intentionally avoiding proper legal processes.
“… the questions (that were) asked (of) Mr. Esquith followed no interviewing protocol, or any appropriate or logical line of questioning. Counsel for Mr. Esquith took diligent notes of the questions being asked, which included:
“ ‘Do you know of any teachers who might not like you? If so, who are they?’
“ ‘List the women you dated when you were in college.’ (over 40 years ago!!!)
“ ‘Were you ever counseled for pushing someone when you were a camp counselor at the JCC Jewish Center Summer Camp you worked at when you were a teenager 40 years ago?’
“ ‘Why might teacher X or teacher Y not like your teaching style?’
“ ‘Did you ever buy a student a hamburger off school grounds without first getting permission of the student’s parent? Do you know buying students food is against school policy?’
“ ‘Why don’t you have a backup plan for someone else for someone else to put on the annual Shakespeare performance, in case, for example, you have a heart attack, so it doesn’t have to be cancelled again like it was last year?’
“The questions, all of which would have been objectionable and completely out-of-line in any legitimate legal process, made clear that there was no clear or defined scope, or any legitimate purpose behind the LAUSD investigation. Nor did investigators reveal the scope or proffer any foundation for the questioning.
“It was patently obvious that LAUSD had used the initial allegations — which had proved meritless — as a pretext to conduct an open-ended investigation, and engage in scurrilous character assassination of Mr. Esquith, and appointed two full-time investigators for this purpose. This experience is shared by hundreds and thousands of other teachers whom LAUSD wanted to (and have) force(d) out under Superintendent Cortines’ regime.
“During the May 27, 2015 hearing, investigators conceded that the ‘initial investigation’ was based on Ms. Hayden’s report. However, the investigators did not state what the current purpose was.
“When Mr. Esquith responded to questions about teachers who ‘might not like him’, by stating that he is ‘generally supported by tens of millions of teachers throughout the world,’ the investigators responded,
” ‘The purpose of what we do is to find people who do not like you, not talk to your supporters.’ “
————————————————–
If all of this ever comes to a trial broadcast on TV, Mark Geragos’s cross examination of LAUSD investigators Virgil County and Ray Johnson should make for interesting TV viewing—as these men were not acting in any law enforcement capacity, but were merely bureaucrats from LAUSD’s Human Resource Division.
The same goes for the spectacle of Superintendent Ray Cortines, or LAUSD’s top counsel David Holmquist being put on the stand
And here’s a 20-minute segment on Fox News:
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LAUSD leaked that another staff member heard him refer to nudity based on a story in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
I know what part of the book is referred to, and also how it happens to relate to Shakespeare.
Is this now another reason now that grade school students will have not to read Huck Finn? Already some districts/schools seem to be squeamish because the book makes frequent use of the word, “n****r”.
I understand that this book has been one of the more controversial works to include as grade school reading material from the very beginning, for different reasons in different decades.
It would be sad to see it banned more than it might be already. It is such a good book, and has been even more meaningful for me to read as an adult. Our local school district still includes it as reading material for English classes. Nevertheless, I’ve read it to all three of my kids when they got close to the age of Huck Finn.
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Not to worry about fiction.
Between the 100 most challenged/banned about books on the American Library Association’s most recent list,
and the CCSS’s demand for reading informational texts more than literature,
and the American Library Association’s willingness to jump on-board the college and career mantra,
and the total capture of the National Assessment of Educational Progress by the CCSS agenda with Susan Pimentel an officer of the NAEP governing board,
there is not much danger of this generation learning much about literature, least of all “controversial” literature.
According to the American Library Association, challenged and banned books for schools are increasingly those written about the experience of persons who are classified as “minorities” (the new American majority) and by authors from these groups ( such as Toni Morrison).
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Wow. That’s depressing.
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The Bluest Eye, and Sula, great books for high school students to discuss race and morality, gone….Noble Prize professor and author, Toni Morrison, not good enough for David Coleman.
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Many teachers are too young to remember the House Committee on Un-American Activities hearings. “Have you been or ever been a member of the communist party…” Joe McCarthy and all that. History DOES repeat.
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Diane,
I don’t believe LAUDS “leaked” anything to the press. Your terminology is highly inappropriate.
The first time I heard of the allegation was when Esquith lawyer started talking to the LA Times. As for the man claiming to be abused by Esquith many years ago, he was the one that talked with the LA Times. LAUSD didn’t do anything. As a matter of fact, has made everything confidential.
I hope you don’t delete this comment just because it calls you out on it.
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You do not know much of anything, Factless, that you don’t read at LASR it seems. Unless you let us know who you are and who you represent, your comments are worthless.
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Whether or not LAUSD leaked information or not is moot. These large bureaucratic bodies are made up of various people with their own agendas, so one can’t know who or what was leaked. But don’t be naive. Bureaucracies are extremely political with multiple groups working together as well as against one another. One’s position depends on backing the correct party at the correct time and requires deft moves as in any other profession.
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KnowtheFactsFirst
You are right. LA TIMES stated this: “His attorneys said the investigation is related to comments about nudity that he made to students. In addition, they said L.A. Unified also is looking into Esquith’s nonprofit, the Hobart Shakespeareans, a drama group for students.”
I agree that LAUSD did not leak anything to the press.
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Interesting to note that here are both Factless and Raj disputing Diane. Both of the commenters refuse to identify themselves, and I suspect both are plants of either the district, or of CCSA, who continue to try to deconstruct facts on the blog site.
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The first mention of Rafe Esquith in LA Times is on June 17th when his attorney stated the reason of the investigation. Anyone can check this fact. Just because Diane Ravitch states about the leak from LAUSD does not make it so.
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Just to point out, the LA Times was not the first news outlet to report the story.
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Actually, this wasn’t confidential, and it has the earmarks of a “leak.”
The accuser, Marc Bennet, somehow made contact with LOS ANGELES TIMES reporter Zahira Torres the days the first papers on the Rafe’s class action lawsuit against LAUSD were filed. Torres then wrote about it the next day. Intentionally or not, it diverted attention away from the class action lawsuit.
So what happened?
Did LAUSD leak Mr. Bennet’s contact information to Zahira Torres?
Did Mr. Bennet, at the behest of LAUSD, contact Zahira Torres?
How did Zahira Torres come into contact with Marc Bennet?
The timing is really suspicious.
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I believe they are under scrutiny for covering up dirty shirts in their closet– including this one.
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The LA Times itself mentioned “unnamed sources” within LAUSD in regards to Esquith’s case while maintaining a public posture of “no comment.” Just because “KnowtheFactsFirst” is not reading the news does not mean there is no news. And just because this person is ignorant of the facts, does not nullify “the fact” that LAUSD was leaking information. When a paper quotes “unnamed sources within the district”, those are leaks. In fact, that is the definition of the word “leak.”
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To KtFF:
You must be at the stage of a 6 years old child’s mind.
Can you defend the reason that LAUDS never gives Rafe a recognition for his 3 decades devotion and dedication in ameliorating “”disadvantage”” students’ lives to be excellent and productive American citizens?
Your expression is full of ignorance.
You should beg Dr. Ravitch to delete your “”ignorant”” comment. Back2basic
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I have noticed that Dr. Ravitch keeps mentioning Rafe. Rafe Esquith is an amazing teacher! There should be nationwide outrage at what is happening to him. But what do we hear in the media? Just about nothing. He will you tell you himself that teaching is a thankless and lonely profession. I think Rafe is a symbol for all the thousands of outstanding teachers getting destroyed all over the country. All of the good positive work being done in some of the roughest neighborhoods is just getting ripped apart. He will admit that he is not alone. There are many outstanding teachers all over the country who work a thankless job (including me). People think that teachers are fighting reform out of “self interest.” We veteran teachers have grown to see the beauty of teaching and how powerful it is to change a student’s life. We are fighting for the students most of all. As a society, we should be cherishing and rewarding (and listening to) teachers like Rafe and thousands just like him. Think of what you could learn from Rafe and other veteran teachers, people who have spent their whole lives in education. Don’t you think they could have some great ideas of how to make the system better. They won’t listen. Instead they will get rid of him because he spoke out against the insanity that is called “school reform.” It’s outrageous! I would recommend for any teacher to go to YouTube and watch some of Rafe’s excellent talks. His advice just solidifies my own knowledge and experience as a mid-career teacher. We all get better every year. The destruction of a teacher like Rafe Esquith just shows how “vile” and “insane” the entire school reform movement is. It shows us that the entire movement has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with good teaching!
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Steve, Your remarks were wonderful and so well stated. What Rafe is going through clearly shows the demise of our once well respected profession. Teaching has become an exhausting, thankless job where veteran teachers are despised. It is the last thing deformers can get ahold of, make a profit, and destroy. Great comments!!! Thank you!!!
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All the comments here I agree except the ones from ‘Don’t know the facts” and Raf. All I can say now is PUT ESQUITH BACK IN THE CLASSROOM! At a time that the failed union is assembling their conference in LaQuinta, a unionless hotel and conference ctr, I urge all advocates of public education to fight back against charterization and teacher jails everywhere.Repurpose our unions to fight for us instead of big money. We know the way, the deformers can’t see beyond their bottom line, make money.We won’t see beyond our beliefs, educate our students, period.
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