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2A Daily News – Wednesday, August 17, 2011 Community people&events Male teachers wary of hugging students SACRAMENTO (MCT) — Kindergarten teacher Paul Ferreter knows he is putting his credential on the line each time he opens his arms to hug one of his students. While more and more teachers, especially male educa- tors, are putting up barriers to protect themselves from false allegations, Ferreter said he can't bring himself to forgo hugs. But his hugs have been modified. He calls them "side- ways hugs." "Our teachers union has told us we shouldn't pat the kids on the shoulder, there should be no touching," said Ferreter, who teaches at Golden Empire Elementary School in Rose- mont, Calif. "I'm taking that risk because I think it's impor- tant." In the last decade, the number of male teachers has held steady in California making up 27 percent of the teacher workforce in kindergarten through 12th grade. Sexual alle- gations against teachers, however, are most commonly levied against men in the profession. Last month, a private school in Citrus Heights, Calif., was closed amid molestation allegations against the male principal. Teachers and parents at the school, Creative Fron- tiers, said they feel the allegations are the result of perverse minds misconstruing an educator's affection toward stu- dents. Citrus Heights police and the state Department of Social Services insist they have evidence that Robert Adams molested at least 10 children. Adams, who denies the alle- gations, has not been arrested or charged in the case. Innocent or guilty, some male teachers say those kinds of allegations and headlines in other cases in the country are influencing how they physically interact with students. "High-profile cases of teachers being accused make peo- ple hypersensitive," said Carlos Rico, a fifth-grade teacher at Ethel Phillips Elementary School in south Sacramento, Calif. "When I was growing up, I'd hug teachers. The rule of thumb now is not to even touch students." Rico said a fellow male teacher found himself accused of inappropriate behavior when the teacher told a female stu- dent to turn in a cellphone she had in her back pocket. "A parent accused him of looking at the student's bot- tom," Rico said. Rico and other male teachers offered these guidelines: • Always leave a door open. • Never meet alone with a student. • Delegate to female teachers any discussion of dress code violations with female students. SECRET WITNESS 529-1268 A program of Tehama County Neighborhood Watch Program, Inc. Setting it straight –––––––– It is the policy of the Daily News to correct as quickly as possible all errors in fact that have been published in the newspaper. If you feel a factual error has been made in a news story, call the news department at 527-2153. Tombstones and stepping stones We have all had experiences in our lives that have felt like a death sentence. One circum- stance that we thought sealed our fate, ended our reputation or ruined our life; an illness, an embarrassment, a failure, a fore- closure, a firing, a loss so great that it seemed insurmountable. With head hung low and all cop- ing skills gone, we create a tomb- stone in our mind. Here lies a loser. RIP unforgiven one. When things happen to us that feel totally out of our control, we see them as devastating unwel- come life events. We suffocate under the weight and enormity of the situation. We forecast doom and wait for the shoe to fall, the axe to hit or the end to come. Some things just seem too hard to overcome. Something amazing happens when you endure the worst thing you thought could ever happen to you. You realize that the sun does set, but the sun also rises. Often times a tombstone becomes a stepping stone. Have you spoken to people who have survived the unthink- able, the tragic or the humiliat- ing? Oftentimes these people have the greatest stories of tri- umph, recovery and resilience. From the brink of death, literal and metaphorical, they share their story of loss and recovery. I was watching the biography of Hulk Hogan the other night. Not the one filmed about five years ago. The one filmed in 2010 which spoke to his divorce and the devastating car crash that injured his son who was driving and a passen- ger in the car, resulting in a major civil law suit. He lost nearly his entire life. I was amazed by his state of mind. I was intrigued by his thoughts about the positive things that came from his loss. Ever talk to someone who has lost a child and used the loss to change the world? I have. Have you ever spoken to a survivor of Hurricane Katrina? I have. Have you ever known someone who has been wrongly accused and stripped of their pride, dignity and nearly their entire life? I have. Each of these people has reacted with a changed heart. Not a bitter heart, a better heart. They pushed over their tombstones and made them stepping stones. Every event in our lives simply is until we attach meaning to it. Everything that is said, done or observed is taken in and pings off of our brains until we decide what we think about it. Two people can read the same column and see two different per- spectives. Faydra Rector You Matter It is all based on their predisposition. What events have been in your life that felt like a death sen- tence at first, but ulti- mately became a bless- ing, a starting off point or a way to change the world? We need more people in this world to stand up and share the tragedy in their life and teach others how to heal. We need to stop hiding our shame and teach others the lessons, the benefits and the ways to overcome. Don't die an early death because you don't know how to cope with devastation. There are others who share your same story and have lived to tell it. Find them, ask them and know that you can see the sun rise again. Faydra Rector, MA is a mental health administrator, author, public speaker, educator and life coach who lives in Red Bluff. She can be reached at lifecoach@shasta.com or view her blogs at http://faydraandcompany.blogspot. com/ and http://allaboutdivorce.blogspot.com /. Jaguar journey D NEWSAILY HOW TO REACH US RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY THE VOICE OF TEHAMA COUNTY SINCE 1885 VOLUME 126, NUMBER 230 On the Web: www.redbluffdailynews.com MAIN OFFICE: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Main Phone (530) 527-2151 Outside area 800-479-6397 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080 ______________________ Fax: (530) 527-5774 ______________________ Mail: Red Bluff Daily News P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 CUSTOMER SERVICE: Subscription & delivery Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (530) 527-2151, Ext. 1 subscription rates (All prices include all applicable taxes) Monday through Saturday $9.59 four weeks Rural Rate $10.69 four weeks Business & professional rate $2.21 four weeks, Monday-Friday By mail: In Tehama County $12.29 four weeks All others $16.23 four weeks (USPS 458-200) Published Monday through Saturday except Sunday, by California Newspaper Partnership. Home delivery NEWS News Tip Hotline: 527-2153 FAX: (530) 527-9251 E-mail: clerk@redbluffdailynews.com Daytime: Sports: Obituaries: Tours: (530) 527-2151 Ext. 109 Ext. 103 Ext. 112 After hours:(530) 527-2153 ______________________ ADVERTISING Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Display: 527-2151 Ext. 122 Classified: 527-2151 Ext. 103 Online (530) 527-2151 Ext. 133 FAX: (530) 527-5774 E-mail: advertise@redbluffdailynews.com SPECIAL PAGES ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS Mondays: Kids Corner Tuesdays: Employment Wednesdays: Business Thursdays: Entertainment Fridays: Select TV Saturdays: Farm, Religion Publisher & Advertising Director: Greg Stevens gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Editor: Chip Thompson editor@redbluffdailynews.com Sports Editor: Rich Greene sports@redbluffdailynews.com Circulation Manager: Kathy Hogan khogan@redbluffdailynews.com Production Manager: Sandy Valdivia sandy@redbluffdailynews.com POSTMASTER SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: PO BOX 220, RED BLUFF CA 96080 newspaper of general circulation, County of Tehama, Superior Court Decree 9670, May 25, 1955 © 2011 Daily News Postage Paid Periodicals The Red Bluff Daily News is an adjudicated daily 90 years ago... Lewis Leaves Suddenly After He Offers Large Sums For Farms Here The sudden disappearance of a man giving the name of E. T. Lewis is a mystery to a number of prominent people in Tehama Count, who, from his representations were led to believe a few days ago that he was abut to close some of the largest real estate deals ever recorded in this section of the state. — Aug. 17, 1921 Courtesy photo Thirteen students and five staff members from Jackson Heights Elementary School recently returned from the third annual Jaguar Journey to Lassen Volcanic National Park. While there they hiked, swam, participated in Ranger programs, toured museums and generally had a great time. All thirteen students were able to complete the requirements for their Junior Ranger Badges.The trip was funded through a grant from the Lassen Park Foundation. Care home offering a Full-time or Part-time position As a Direct Support Professional caring for Adults with Developmental Disabilities Experienced preferred, but not mandatory Please contact Autumn Walker at (530) 209-2748 Vendors sought Sacred Heart Parish School is getting ready for its annual Calico Faire, which will be held on Oct. 8. Ven- dor booths will be availible to members of the commu- nity. Those interested should call 527-6727. Volunteer opportunities • The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program at PASSAGES Adult Resource Center has ongoing recruitment for volunteers to be advocates on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. Volunteers help to explain Medicare benefits and serve as advocates to help Medicare patients access the health care benefits. Information and application packets are available at 898-6716. • St. Elizabeth Community Hospital Auxiliary needs volunteers to assist in different areas of the hospital; front information desk, gift shop, and patient services. Information is available from Annemarie at 529-8002. • The Tehama County Team of the Long-Term Care Ombudsmen needs volunteers to become advocates for residents in skilled nursing and residential care facili- ties for the elderly. Training is provided. Information is available at 898-5923. Relax...the rent is on us. Emeritus is offering a chance to win one year's free rent!* Simply tour an Emeritus community and you become eligible to win! Win FREE Rent for a Year! Our Family is Committed to Your.® Emeritus Senior Living Visit us today to learn about the many benefits of living at an Emeritus Senior Living community. 530-529-2900 Lassen House Ends August 31, 2011 705 Luther Rd., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Lic#525002331 LASSEN HOUSE www.Emeritus.con — Assisted Living & Memory Care — *Applies to room and board only and does not include care fees or skilled nursing services