You may have heard the news about William James Vahey who has been making headlines lately as one of the most prolific child predators. Like, ever. He was under investigation by the FBI until he committed suicide last month.
As the FBI conducted their investigation, they discovered that even though he was arrested in 1969 for child molestation, he continued to work in the field of education until March of this year. He did that by obtaining jobs teaching overseas. He worked in nine different countries over the span of 42 years - 10 of which were spent right here in Indonesia, at the biggest and (arguably) most prestigious international school in the country, Jakarta International School (JIS).
This horrifying discovery comes on the back of another. Before the world even found out about William James Vahey, reports were going viral about cleaning staff at JIS sexually assaulting an expatriate Kindergarten student. And more have since stepped forward.
Our school has no ties with JIS. We are not accredited by the same organization. We do not compete against them in sports. Our respective staffs don't attend the same education conferences. No connection. At all.
But what is happening there is directly affecting us.
Because they are an international school. And we are an international school. And now, understandably, everyone suddenly has a million questions and concerns about how we do things at international schools.
We are all now under scrutiny. The police and the government are using microscopes, checking to make sure that we've crossed our Ts and dotted our Is, that we have all of the proper paperwork and permits, that every single staff member has had a thorough background check in every country, that our national workers are all wholesome people with no criminal record, that nobody employed by our school has ever accidentally sneezed and farted at the same time. OK, maybe not that last one. But just about.
And honestly, in a country where we are by and large the minority in almost every way, that makes me nervous. Our staff is great about making sure everything is on the up and up. We have checks and crosschecks and lots of accountability. We have all of our required permits. We've payed all of our required fees. We have all had background checks. And that is great. But if just one person forgot to sign on the dotted line, that could be used against us.
We've been told to expect a "surprise" visit from the minister of education and the press sometime this week. They haven't shown up yet. But they're coming to get statements, to check all of our documentation, and to question our elementary cleaning staff.
Yesterday, all teachers were briefed on the situation and what to do if approached by the press. While we were meeting, the school board also came into town to talk to the entire national staff. I found out later that their meeting was to affirm our faith and trust in them. That no matter how much they are questioned or investigated, we believe in them.
Hearing that made me so happy to work here.
Every morning on my way to school, I walk through the gym. And almost every morning, there are elementary kids in there who come early to play together before class. And almost every morning, Pak Budi, our elementary cleaner, is in there playing with them. He can't even communicate with most of the kids, but he comes early to work to spend time with them, and they love him to pieces.
And I am hoping extra hard right now that nothing changes that.
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