By:Jason Scheer and Christopher Boire
Then, two weeks ago, Baldwin High School choir teacher Anthony Marshall was arrested and charged with molesting three young boys.
The district also got some bad news when its lackluster fourth- and eighth-grade test scores were reported.
Despite these events, most district students say that nothing has changed. One Baldwin High junior said that after Marshall was arrested, students and teachers had no choice but to talk about the incident because of the unending inquiries from reporters. Since then, though, he said, "Nothing has changed, really. It was one day that people were talking about it, but that's it. It's forgotten about."
A senior at the high school said that people are still talking about the incident involving Marshall, but that the talk hasn't created a distraction. "I know there has been a lot of talk about him, but it's just talk," he said. "It's a weird situation, but it's not a distraction."
According to police, one of Marshall's reported victims contacted police in July, alleging that the teacher had touched him inappropriately. As a result, Marshall was placed on special assignment by Baldwin Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathy Weiss and is not in the high school this year.
The senior said that while he wasn't a student of Marshall's, he knew of him through his participation in New York State School Music AssociationBy Jason Scheer and Christopher Boire
The embarrassment and intrigue in the Baldwin School District has been impossible to ignore in recent months. Over the summer, three former employees brought lawsuits against the district, alleging, among other things, sexual harassment, racial discrimination and that the district systematically withheld proper care for students with special needs.
Then, two weeks ago, Baldwin High School choir teacher Anthony Marshall was arrested and charged with molesting three young boys.
The district also got some bad news when its lackluster fourth- and eighth-grade test scores were reported.
Despite these events, most district students say that nothing has changed. One Baldwin High junior said that after Marshall was arrested, students and teachers had no choice but to talk about the incident because of the unending inquiries from reporters. Since then, though, he said, "Nothing has changed, really. It was one day that people were talking about it, but that's it. It's forgotten about."
A senior at the high school said that people are still talking about the incident involving Marshall, but that the talk hasn't created a distraction. "I know there has been a lot of talk about him, but it's just talk," he said. "It's a weird situation, but it's not a distraction."
According to police, one of Marshall's reported victims contacted police in July, alleging that the teacher had touched him inappropriately. As a result, Marshall was placed on special assignment by Baldwin Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathy Weiss and is not in the high school this year.
The senior said that while he wasn't a student of Marshall's, he knew of him through his participation in New York State School Music Association competitions. He said that students began speculating about Marshall's "disappearance" when he wasn't present at the beginning of the school year. "We all kind of thought he just vanished off the face of the earth," he said.
Students come forward for teacher
Despite the charges being brought against him, Marshall's students still hold a positive view of their former choir teacher. Another senior, a member of the school's concert choir, which Marshall directed, defended his character and said the hoopla surrounding the arrest was unwarranted. "It's very upsetting, the charges," she said. "I thought the media was very out of hand with how they approached the whole issue.
"I thought he was a fabulous teacher - he was the best teacher I've ever had," she continued. "I miss him a lot. But you can never be sure, so I guess I'll have to wait and see what happens."
Another student, a senior who knew Marshall through her experiences in musicals and private choral groups, said he was a good person. "He was a kind, caring, considerate man who was always there for us," she said. "He told us what to do and what not to do, and he taught us so much more than a teacher has to. He taught us about life and how to care."
She said she feels hurt that people are speaking negatively about Marshall. "Honestly, when people say things, I just get so upset, because you know what? We knew him for who he was. Others didn't," she said.
A sophomore who worked with Marshall for a year said he doesn't believe the charges are true. "I feel that the charges are false, and I don't believe he would do something like that, because he was very respectful to his students and he was very helpful," the student said. "I really don't think he would do something like that, as far as going over the line and disrespecting his students and community like that."
Another senior, a bass in the choir, believes Marshall is innocent. "I feel it's very upsetting for the students that he had, and I don't feel that the accusations are true," the senior said. "He was a very good teacher, and he helped us in a lot of things between personal life and school life. Music-wise, he taught us things that I thought I could never learn before."
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