It seems to be a slow news day for for WNEP, Channel 16 out of Snyder Counter, Pennsylvania.
Parents are in an uproar over an English teacher in Snyder County with 25 years of experience who's also a published author of romance. The author is Erotic Romance novelist, Judy Mays, who writes for Ellora's Cave and Changeling Press.
Why do I automatically think of the Salem Witch Trials in regards to this?
And can you believe these quotes given for the article?
Parent Deanna Stepp said the evidence is clear. "She is teaching children that are under the age of 18 and definitely the books that she is writing are adult books. I think she needs to make a decision as to what she wants to do. Either be a school teacher or author," Stepp said.
"I was shocked. If you are a teacher you shouldn't be doing that," said former student Shanette Apple.
"I was sort of shocked.Sitting in her class I had no idea. She is a good teacher but I had no idea what was going on behind the scenes," said former student Drew Hollenbach.
Question, how does WNEP know that Judy writes "racy novels"? Did they read any of her books?And also a book being considered "racy" is subjective. What level of raciness are we talking here?
Judy has kept her job as an author separate from her job as a teacher, and I can pretty much assume she wasn't reading passages of her books to students during class.
What's the big deal? And why are parents in an uproar? They treat this as if Judy had a side job as a stripper or worked for an escort service. What if this was a male teacher who wrote horror books about serial killers or gruesome murders? Would the parents be upset then?
If you were a parent and found out your child's teacher wrote what some considered to be "racy" novels, would you be upset?
I think we have more important hings to worry about such as bullying in high school trying to get teens to read than putting an educator like Judy on trial over something so silly as writing romance and making a second income.
Why not lend your support for Judy and leave a comment on WNEP's Facebook page?
20 comments:
I could not care less. It's not like she is writing kiddie porn! I'm pretty sure her books are not the "required summer reading list" or anything like that. I am a mother with these books around my kids, does that make me an unfit mother?
Let's be angry about the low rate of pay teachers get. How about taking that angle? Maybe if she was paid more as teacher she wouldn't have to peddle smut to deviants like us.
And did any of these parents read one of her books and made an informed decision? I bet you they didn't.
I can't even believe this is getting press. Unfortunately, I'm not surprised that people will be hateful and small minded, but why would a paper bother to pick up such a non story?
No crimes are being committed here. She's not exposing children to pornography. She writes under a pen name. In fact, it seems like the only reason any kids know (although you can bet that by now they ALL have heard) about her scandalous double life is because that nosy Apple woman is evidently telling anyone who will listen.
Just for the record, I don't think it's anyone's business even if she were stripping. If she's a good teacher and follows the rules while at school, her free time isn't up for evaluation if it's within the bounds of the law.
Honestly, if my kids were being taught by a novelist -- even a "racy" one -- I'd be fine with it. With the percentage of high school graduates who are barely literate, it'd be nice to have someone teaching who has a lot of respect for literature and writing.
C'mon, people. Unless she's reading the book for storytime, what's the big deal? And is she even *writing* under the same name under which she's *teaching?*
Yeah, totally not a big deal to me -- in fact, I raised my eyebrows sky-high while reading your post! Why in the world are people upset about this? As you mentioned, it's not like she's distributing the novels to her students.
And I agree with wrenemerson above -- what she does during her time away from school is her business. If it's not hurting her ability to do her job or damaging anyone else (which, you know, it's not), what difference does it make if she's writing racy books under a pen name?
I have a teenager and I couldn't care less what they do outside of the class as long as it doesn't affect their job inside the class. I'd much rather have my daughter have a dedicated teacher who loves teaching and is able to reach kids who works as a prostitute after hours and weekends, than someone who teaches Sunday school and ministers to the poor but hates their job and can't be bothered to do more than the bare minimum to get through the class.
Unless they are going to start reading excerpts in class who the hell cares. Former students said she "shouldn't do that"? Why? I'll be it they asked the second question, "why not?" They've have no answer because it's a stupid response in the first place.
I feel really bad for this school teacher.I think someone had to really not like her at all to have the small town news paper do this.I at one time lived in a very small town in PA.You could not do anything that was not mayberry or you were a sinner.If any one saw you reading a book thats was not not a bible look out.I had to hide my reading all the time made me very mad and upset someone could think to tell me I was going to hell for it.This is small town small minds thinking.What she does after hours in her home should be not be open to the public. She was writting a book,not hanging out on a street corner. But I came from PA and also some areas you live are all about reading gods work.I just wonder about the former student she should not be doing that what age is she sounds like my grandmother.I think this out come will be very sad I mean she isnt passing and signing her books in class.Why just why who ever did this your just as bad for doing this to another human who bet never did anthing to you.
I'm not sure what the goal of these people actually was, but Judy Mays just sold another book- to me.
This is absolutely ridiculous. What a teacher (or any other professional) does on their own time is their business. If she isn't breaking the rules at school, then everyone needs to leave her alone and let her do her job. Now I'm off to buy a new book. *wink*
I thought the person writing the article would benefit from one of Judy's classes. Yikes
I wrote a comment on their FB page, but they keep deleting it. Oh, joy....FB message bomb time :)I will now make sure that the person who monitors their FB page has some actual work to do. At some point his/her little fingers have to get tired and my comment might actually show up for more than a minute. We shall see, we shall see :)
Here in Chesterfield County they have this moral clause, which basically says you're suppose to put on a good face for the students. TOTAL BS. What a teacher does in their spare time is their business. Unless they get arrested or are caught on tape drunk and exhibiting poor judgement what does it matter. The next thing you know they'll be asking what political party they belong too.
As for the parents, WTF are you complaining about. We have too FEW really good teachers in this country. You're going to burn one at the stake because of what she does on her own time. What about the bullying, the poor academic ratios. Our kids are graduating without strong skills and you're worried that a teacher is writing racy books. *banging head on desk* God was on vacation when these people were given a brain and born
So focking ridiculous! They act like she's a terrorist or something. The fact that is an experienced, well-liked teacher is even more ugly. She's done her job well and this is how you treat her? ASSHATS!
And I know a few of those mothers have her novels stashed in their basements. For shame!
If I had teens and I caught them reading "racy" material, hell I'd probably ask to borrow it.
I started reading some of the most "raciest" books at 14 by the time I was a freshman in high school. Because of that I was always first to finish a reading assignment and go on to read other books such as Jane Eyre, Once and Future King and I even read The Hunchback of Notre Dame on my own three times!
I only wish the least of our worries are children read questionable books.
I think the appropriate quote to use on this issue is:
Let ye who is without sin cast the first stone.
But then this wasn't even a sin. It was someone expressing their opinion and doing it by writing. Isn't that freedom in the constitution and/or an ammendment?
I'm sitting here with my mouth wide open. I don't know what to say. How can those people be upset about what Judy Mays is writing? What difference does it make? People really need to get over themselves. I have to share this:
Robert Munsch writes books for young children. He is loved beyond belief. This man came forward and admitted to being bi-polar, obsessive-compulsive, manic-depressive and is also a recovering cocaine-addict and alcoholic. This was only a year or so ago. He came forward before the tabloids could do so. Yes, there were a few assholes that had issues with it but for the most part, all of us stand behind him. His books are priceless and have wonderful life lessons for children. Was I supposed to prevent my kiddies from reading his books because of his personal struggles? Hell no! One has nothing to do with the other.
I'm totally on Judy Mays' side with this.
Dumb. Very dumb. How did they find out she wrote "racy novels"? It's not like she's writing incest or child pron... which would be a problem.
Who reported on this story and why? Is it someone that wants to cause her trouble? I am going to look up some of her books and if interested I will buy one or two or... No wonder authors dont want people to know about their personal lives. I know of one author who will not let you take her pic so people living in her town won't know she writes erotic books...now I dont' blame her
Dee: I know an author like that. She won't have any pictures taken of her because she comes from a small community and has little children. As if a teen reads an erotic centric novel, they'll become sex crazed maniacs. O.o
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