White Gets Dozen Years in McLean

"If I only knew then, what I know now."

Let me first preface this by saying I did not have a child in any of White's classes. I do not think I know of anyone who has either. But I do know that I live in the neighborhood that White lived in here in Normal. When they first moved in, they seemed like any other normal people who moved in and out of the neighborhood. We knew the previous owners of the home and we had an occasion to see them one day when we were out shopping. We got the 'lowdown' on our new neighbors as many people may try to do. The ex-owners told us that the White's were teachers somewhere at Unit 5. They didn't know much more about them other than that. We had a chance to meet our new neighbors one day. White told us that he had just been laid off from Unit 5 and was looking for a teaching job elsewhere, specifically Champaign/Urbana. It struck us funny that they weren't very friendly being teachers and all, but we didn't think that much about it. They went about their business and we went about ours. When the news first broke of what White was accused of doing, we were taken aback like I am sure many other people were. A lot of us in the neighborhood changed the way we in which we would let our children play outside knowing he was out of jail and free on bond. I am a firm believer in our laws and constitution, so it was an easy decision for me to let the legal system run its course and see what unfolds. I believe in innocent until proven guilty. However, we were still cautious in keeping an eye on our children. It was still a little unnerving knowing that someone in our neighborhood could be accused of such an awful crime, much less a teacher.

I couldn't even imagine what these children and parents have gone through and will continue to go through every day. Even though I suppose justice has been served against White, can it ever be enough to erase from memory what kind of an emotional and mental impact his gross behavior against these children have had or will have on them for the rest of their lives? How about their parents? I could not imagine the guilt and/or shame they are feeling. What about the responsibility of the School Districts? What they knew, didn't know, etc. How can a Principal give such a great letter of recommendation for this man for another teaching position in another district? What about what this has done to his family? After all, we should assume that they knew nothing of White's deviant behavior patterns. How can one man destroy so many lives with such a position of authority without first being enabled to do so, in not only one school district, but two? There are a ton of questions I am sure many people will have for some time to come. I for one will not wish him any ill will while serving his sentence. I will not have any positive, jump for joy reaction if ill will does happen to come to him while he is in prison. I will not feel any pity on him either. He committed the crime and was sentenced, and now he must do the time. White must answer to a higher power someday and while he is in prison, I hope he thinks about it every day. I will feel for all of the victims in all of this sordid mess and hope by some grace they will be able to deal with what has happened and hopefully someday put it all behind them and know that this isn't the way things are supposed to happen to them as they grow up and go through life. My thoughts and prayers go out to each one of them. This whole thing, from beginning to end has been a very sad ordeal indeed.