UPDATE: McEachern Coach Released on Bond

Laurie Turner June 28, 2012 at 10:28 pm

If he is a current coach at McEachern why not make the large headlines say "McEachern coach has sexual relationship with McEachern student" and leave Campbell out of it! This is how Campbell gets the bad rap. Thanks Patch!!!

Campbell Parent June 28, 2012 at 10:43 pm

Why in the world would you make the headline of the story former Campbell coach? He was never an employee at Campbell, but was a volunteer coach. He has been coaching at McEachern for 4 years. This headline automatically makes it sound like Campbell is somehow to blame or involved. Of course, no problem with including this info in the body of the story, but in the headline?? Typical!

Campbell Parent June 28, 2012 at 10:44 pm

Bravo! We had the same reaction!

Pam J June 28, 2012 at 11:35 pm

I question the part about him having an off-campus relationship with an "adult" student. How old was she? I guess that, when you are talking about a teacher and a student, it's a no-no to have a relationship, but in the real world being an "adult" means you can do what you want. At any rate, he should have known better, if he did it. After all, you are innocent until proven guilty.

Jennifer Smallwood June 29, 2012 at 12:57 am

Campbell's name should be left out of this article!!!

PK June 29, 2012 at 02:27 am

Totally agree - Campbell has nothing to do with this.

Kristen Sudduth June 29, 2012 at 02:02 pm

Sidney, Do you preview your contributors work at all? This is simply NOT OK. I get that your goal is raising your circulation but this is not the way to do it. This school has enough issues to contend with, the last thing it needs is your contributors tossing fuel on the fire. How about instead of trying to tie everything negative in this town to CHS, y'all get over there and catch some of these kids and teachers doing something good for a change? Here are some tips, there are CHS students participating in summer athletic camps and leagues, doing summer reading, volunteering at local VBS programs and teachers taking continuing ed credits in the summer so they are ready for school and coaching and volunteering their time. All of this good being done and you allow someone to come here add one more black eye to this school. There are a lot of really good teachers and students at this school, tell that story to Smyrna for a change, trust me, we want to hear about it

Michelle June 29, 2012 at 02:02 pm

This high school already gets enough bad publicity, twisting it to appear any one associated with it is the main point is just wrong. Michael Stone, you clearly need to revamp this article and the lead in title to FAIRLY reflect the information.

Michelle June 29, 2012 at 02:04 pm

Well said Kristen!!!! The same thing goes for ALL of our schools in Smyrna. :)

Sydney Busby (Editor) June 29, 2012 at 02:17 pm

Hi Kristin,
Smyrna-Vinings Patch covers issues, events and happenings in and pertaining to Smyrna-Vinings. Since this was a newsworthy story about a previous Campbell coach, it is included here on the site, just like other stories about other achievements, success and happenings at Campbell High. Thanks, SYdney Busby

Kristi Seagraves June 29, 2012 at 02:25 pm

Sydney, In all fairness, this man had a bigger connection to McEachern, NOT Campbell. As a current teacher and coach at McEachern, it would have been correct to lead with a headline stating just that, not going for what you think will draw readers in. I have appreciated the Patch for consistently treating the news as just that and not going for the dramatic draw. I do not know who he is and have had kids at Campbell since 2003 and worked there since 2008. In order to continue to have the respect most readers have had for the style of accurate reporting a retraction or change needs to be made.

dave June 29, 2012 at 02:44 pm

It's amateur journalism to make his connection to CHS as part of the headline. He's most associated with another school, so that should be the tag for the story. Sure, you can mention that he worked at CHS, like the ajc did, but to identify him first as a former Campbell teacher is an attempt to scandalize your community school for the sake of attracting a few readers. Having read the weakly written articles here before, I'm not surprised, but to have Sydney defend the action shows no editorial integrity. It's ridiculous, and I will campaign against this patch until I see a change in its direction.

Ms. Massey June 29, 2012 at 02:49 pm

I love the responses from the Campbell supporters. This is the same type of "foolishness" that has been going on in the Osborne school district for years...media tying negativity from outside of the school to the school. How about spending some time highlighting the positive going on with the schools in this area. Patch, an apology is in order for the Campbell students, teachers, staff, alumni and supporters.

Michelle June 29, 2012 at 02:53 pm

Sydney, I know you understand the importance this community is faced with in turning around ALL the negative attention our Smyrna schools have encountered. Please for the sake of the children, the existing staff and the community as a whole, make the necessary changes this particular article needs. If we continue to exaggerate the negative of our schools, then we will never have the opportunity to change the minds and hearts of our families to send there children to these schools and change our community as a whole. Please do the right thing. A simple headline change can make all the difference for our little community and high school. The hill we already need to climb does not need to have unnecessary obstacles. Thank you for your understanding and attention to this issue.

Kristen Sudduth June 29, 2012 at 03:08 pm

Sydney,
With all due respect, your claim of this being relevant to CHS is laughable at best. As others have said, mentioning it is one thing, leading with it is wrong. I am hoping we see a change and an apology issued to the CHS community in short order. Respectfully, Kristen

Sydney Busby (Editor) June 29, 2012 at 03:12 pm

I understand where you all are coming from. Because this is a Smyrna site, we use the Smyrna connection in our headlines. It is in no way any attempt to scandalize anything nor is it amateur journalism. In fact, it's a journalistic rule to put the info relevant to your community in the headline. We made the decision to cover this story like we would any other. The information presented here is factual, accurate and pertinent to Smyrna-Vinings.
I also invite you to read some of the many positive stories about Campbell High School posted on this site since the start of 2012: Putting Faith in Action at Campbell High School: http://patch.com/A-r3Md Campbell High School Ranked 27th in the State: http://patch.com/A-tfbr Campbell's Valedictorian, Salutatorian Embody IB: http://patch.com/A-t8sd Campbell Wrestler Makes School History at State Tournament: http://patch.com/A-t8sd Superintendent Applauds Campbell, Talks NCLB Waiver: http://patch.com/A-r7vw Ceremony Recognizes Accomplishment of JROTC Cadets: http://patch.com/A-s424 CHS Sophomore Wins First Place, Art Scholarship: http://patch.com/A-rPKr Congressman Scott Nominates 23 Students to U.S. Military Academies: http://patch.com/A-q9xy CHS Senior Named Best Female Athlete in Cobb: http://patch.com/A-qC7V

Sydney Busby (Editor) June 29, 2012 at 03:12 pm

Because I do value what you all have to say, please feel free to email at sydney.busby@patch.com or call me at 770-265-5004 with your concerns. Hurtful personal attacks however need not be included.
Thanks, Sydney Busby

dave June 29, 2012 at 03:35 pm

Another journalistic rule is not to mislead the readers, which is precisely what the headline does! Just reading the headline, we are left wondering if the coach is most recently a former CHS employee and if this relationship happened during his tenure at CHS. Maybe it is unintentionally poorly written, which is the problem.

The Sandifers June 29, 2012 at 03:37 pm

As a 10 year employee and coach at Campbell High School, it's ridiculous to me that this paper would even consider someone who was a one year volunteer coach for our middle school programs as someone significant enough to tarnish the Campbell name. Prior to this disappointing attempt at grabbing the attention of readers, we have perceived the Patch as a welcome and positive addition to our Smyrna community. No one is asking that you report inaccuracies or falsehoods, but to take a minor detail and turn it into a headline is irresponsible and damaging to our community. Negativity like this headline breeds more negativity, and as many others have said, we have enough people contributing to the problem and not enough people willing to show Smyrna as the rich, vibrant, diverse community we all know it is.

Lissa K. June 29, 2012 at 03:58 pm

Unless he wasn't a former Campbell coach then there's nothing wrong with the headline. The article wasn't misleading, poorly written, denigrating Smyrna, or amateurish. Smyrnans are the most defensive people. They deny anything could possibly be wrong in their city. He was at Campbell and Campbell is in Smyrna. He did something wrong and it was reported.

Smyrna Jonquil June 29, 2012 at 04:18 pm

He was never at Campbell. He was a volunteer associated with a middle school sports program. Several employees (coaches included), and parents have posted in defense of a good school. Some do not live in Smyrna, but work hard for the school. We should not be associated with someone that volunteered at a middle school program for two months.

A.C. E. June 29, 2012 at 04:55 pm

The headline is a "teaser". While not technically incorrect, it IS misleading in the fact that this person has not been associated with Campbell in years and according to another post was only briefly associated. I certainly don't think that only "good" news should be reported, but a headline used for sensational purposes should maybe be rethought.

Smyrna Jonquil June 29, 2012 at 05:01 pm

ACE--very well said.

Michelle June 30, 2012 at 01:09 am

Thank you Michael Stone for making the adjustment with the updated information title. For all of those that spoke out...it's great to see others so passionate about changing the reputation and negative publicity our area schools continually get. To Sydney, thank you for reminding us of the numerous articles that have been posted in favor of our schools.....hopefully there will be even more. :)

Smyrna Jonquil June 30, 2012 at 01:35 am

I'm sure there will! I hope our community will realize what a great school and great people we have!

Smyrnan June 30, 2012 at 03:04 pm

Now you'll understand the bullying Smyrnans can inflict on SV Patch commenters - commenters who don't buy into "Smyrna is a wonderful place with no problems".

PK June 30, 2012 at 03:24 pm

Interesting...I didn't read any of these comments as a "hurtful personal attack". Funny how the same words, depending on the reader's mindset, can be interpreted so differently. I think there was just a request to modify the headline, which you did.

Pam J June 30, 2012 at 03:28 pm

I think it's interesting that this man was accused to having a sexual relationship with a student and the only thing that people are commenting on is the title of the article. Isn't anybody concerned that maybe it happened?

Michelle June 30, 2012 at 09:45 pm

Great point and an excellent validation to why the original title was probably not the best way to present the information. The original subject material was lost due to the confusion of the actual affiliation to Campbell High School. You raised questions in your previous thread pertaining to the age of the "adult female student", I had the same thoughts after reading the article, but there still has not been any more information provided other than he turned himself in. I know, I do not feel comfortable making a comment until there is more information provided as to the situation between these two individuals, to include ages, etc. It would probably be wiser to comment when more facts are presented than to spend time speculating.....especially on such a sensitive subject matter. I know I am concerned given the access to children, but I would also like more information that is missing in this article. I am sure we will be provided that when it is made available to the writer.