MARK SLAWSON

 There is nothing scarier than a child in undetectable danger. Correspondingly, there is nothing more repulsive than being able to detect a child in danger, and doing nothing to prevent it. It is unknown whether or not Baptist Hill Administration is aware of Mark Slawson’s predatory behavior, but nonetheless, it’s called to attention by the students that he preys upon.

  On multiple accounts, Mr. Slawson stood inside the door of the girl’s locker room while they were changing clothes for gym class. Not only is this wildly inappropriate, but is objectively wrong. It is irrelevant whether or not he had a reason to. If Mr. Slawson felt as though the locker room absolutely needed supervision, it could have been requested for our female RSO, or another adult female who is available to stand in. 

A current student of Mr. Slawson has a stated, in writing, “Slawson is weird. He be touching and hugging on the Hispanic girls in my class.” This student has also expressed a favoritism shown by Slawson, specifically to the girls of the class. Of asking to go to the bathroom and being rejected, but seeing students who show Mr. Slawson physical attention being granted whatever asked. 

This is definitely not a one time occurrence. “Slawson had called me pumpkin since 8th grade and touched my leg.” Endearing nicknames is nothing to frown upon, except when it comes from a disgusting place of malice. Teachers are not supposed to break up fights. It leaves them open to accusations, true or false, and creates an entire mess to be cleaned up. If not even in these extreme circumstances, there is absolutely no reason for a teacher to put their hands on a student. 

Being touched inappropriately is not easy to talk about, especially when it’s by someone you have to see every day of the week. The fact that Mark Slawson is still walking the halls of Baptist Hill shows that either no one has reported his behavior, or Admin has done nothing about it. If the latter is true, that’s a separate issue in itself, but the former shows how the environment in our school doesn’t allow for students to feel comfortable enough to report a potential danger to them. Students telling on students is one thing; no one wants to be called a snitch and outcasted by their peers, but telling on a teacher– an adult is something else entirely. That fear of someone or shame of something happening to you is hard to shake. Despite multiple student surveys over the years, nothing has convinced these students to come forward.

My cousin and I have told our former history teacher, our club advisor, a widely trusted teacher, a self-proclaimed student advocate, and mandated reporter, Mr. Proctor-Floyd about a teacher who, according to him, is under his supervision as the head of the history department, and how uncomfortable he’s made us feel. Mr. Proctor-Floyd expressed how it made him feel and asked us if we were absolutely sure. He then went on to tell us about how cool he thinks this teacher is, about how much this teacher loves his wife, and about the disbelief he felt. While I understand that this is his co-worker, his peer, and possibly his friend, it doesn’t negate his responsibilities as someone who is obligated to report what we had told him. 

          If someone as trusted and loved as Mr. Proctor-Floyd sees a friendship in someone we see a predator in, and for that reason doesn't report him, who is really speaking up for the students? We have to speak up for ourselves. My intent is not to make Baptist Hill look bad, after all this is my school, something I am proud of. I only want to tell the truth, and if the truth makes Baptist Hill look bad, something should be done to change it.

*Mr. Slawson hasn’t been at Baptist Hill since he was reported on Monday, October 28.