American ALT teacher fired from high school after exposing genitals

incredibly & surprisingly detailed article for Japan

I've heard some crazy stories but boy this one beats them all.

Accidentally showing pictures of male and female genitals on cellphone, dropping shorts with no underwear!!!!!! There's no way such a person should be working in a school!!!

Perhaps he was interested in teaching biology?

All this was forbidden in my JET contract. Must be a private dispatch ALT.

On Aug 21, during the school’s summer vacation period, a female student was studying with a fellow female student in a classroom when the ALT walked in.

The very fact that the ALT was in school during the vacation is a warning sign in its own. Why? You'd never have seen me anywhere near the school in the vacation in the summer back when I was doing the job.

For that matter, what was the student doing there?

@RickyC

This article is incredibly detailed as you mentioned. It was as if they contrived the entire situation. There are a few things that doesn't add up in the article.

@Ulysses

I don't think anyone would be foolish enough to put themselves in that same situation twice. Furthermore, foolish enough to end up alone with the same girl that he got in trouble with a few short days ago.

Worked 3 years at the school and 2 years without incident then suddenly these incidents start happening. There is a lot more I would like to know before passing any judgement.

Um....OK.

Gonna be in for a lot of awkward conversations when he gets back to the US and everyone asks what teaching in Japan was like.

Well, it ain't like the bar is set very high for getting these jobs! Where I live, all the ALTs are from countries where English isn't even the first or second language!

the teacher entered the room and struck up a casual conversation.

Do you like sports?

Yes....

I bet you do, I bet you do! Nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more!

Where I live, all the ALTs are from countries where English isn't even the first or second language!

Given that this article involved an American casually showing porn to students, then dropping his pants twice in front of them, I'd hardly say that being from a country where English is the primary language is in itself a guarantee of quality.

Speed - All this was forbidden in my JET contract. Must be a private dispatch ALT.

I’m quite sure it ya forbidden under any kind of contract.

While it may very well be possible the events were accidental, it is still extremely inappropriate behavior.

Just to be clear, assistant language teachers working in the public school system are forbidden to be in a classroom with students without a Japanese teacher present. If you are working as an ALT and the school is making you teach classes solo you must protest. You are leaving yourself wide open to persecution and prosecution if there is an incident in the classroom.

Private schools are very different.

@Ah_so

Many direct hire ALT contracts require us to be at school during summer holidays even though there are no classes (my contract requires it). Some dispatch companies do too.

Students continue to have club activities during the holidays, so that's why she was there.

Pretty tame though compared to what some of the Japanese staff seem to get up to, if we can believe the press that is.

Why in the world was a HS ALT wearing shorts in school in the first place?

Given that this article involved an American casually showing porn to students, then dropping his pants twice in front of them,

Where in the article did it state he was "casually showing porn" to students? (Hint: NO WHERE)

Indecent exposure and indecent behavior yes, porn no.

I am sure many adults would love the opportunity to teach in Japan. Way to be an @ss and have no idea what your own phone contains.

Rumors say he was a JET, I just hope his misdeeds don't damage the reputation of JET in the prefecture or country and is used as ammo by the bloodsucking dispatchers.

tbh i wonder.... if it he is just a sloppy idiot or had different subtle intentions

He should be not just fired, but charged according to the laws of the land. At the very least he should be charged and deported.

If this was a Japanese male, everyone would shout "lolicon complex, watched too much hentai, typical Japanese society", now a compatriot is involved and everyone here is trying hard to defend him and justify his actions. This is so repugnant and double standard.

Many direct hire ALT contracts require us to be at school during summer holidays even though there are no classes (my contract requires it). Some dispatch companies do too.

Students continue to have club activities during the holidays, so that's why she was there.

I didn't know that direct hire ALT's are required to be there in the holidays. Saying that, I remember some town ALTs needed to go to school during the vacation while the prefectural ALTs lived it up.

My question about a student being at school in the vacation was purely rhetorical - the amount of time that students spend at school is absurd. My niece is at school full-time even in summer with her club.

No, I stand by what I wrote above. No excuses for this jerk, no sympathy, none at all. He deserves whatever they throw at him, whatever the color of his skin; white, you say? At least he did not touch anyone.

Some of the stories we read here about Japanese school staff really do beggar belief, though. I guess I was reacting to Ulysses above who said that 'this story beats them all'. I do not think it does, that's all.

I have heard far worse stories than this about ALTs and eikaiwa teachers. The only thing unusual about this case is that they didn't cover it up and quietly sack him.

Considering the thousands of teachers hired as ALTs, it's not really surprising there are a few pervs among them.

The fact where he was from is a mute point, the act itself is what matters and it happened. How interesting that if the culprits are Americans, or other countries except China JT quickly points it out. The ending bit of the article is pointless and off topic. Yest no editor felt it was to be deleted "Because as we know, there’s already been enough stories of bad teachers in schools recently."

Way to be an @ss and have no idea what your own phone contains.

Not sure whether you're being sarcastic or not but surely the bloke knew what he was doing & what was on his phone (naked pics 'oops sorry - didnt know' & shorts falling down: oldest trick in the book if you ask me, benny hill stuff).

Weirdly written article, probably directly/literally (imo 'too') translated from japanese & too focused on weird details.

Wholly inappropriate behaviour whichever way you look at it.

I don’t see anyone attempting to excuse him for being white, in fact there is nothing in the article to indicate that he is, only that he is a citizen of the USA, which assuredly doesn’t imply any any particular legal of melanin in their skin. Interestingly any comment by Sekkenisgood or quoting them the voting buttons don’t work, but do on all other posts? Very peculiar.

Ok, once again, let’s try this.... The guy has some serious issues, could be a porn addiction or some voyeurism fetish. Either way, the guy shouldn’t be anywhere even remotely close to his school, let alone kids.

Where in the article did it state he was "casually showing porn" to students? (Hint: NO WHERE)

Indecent exposure and indecent behavior yes, porn no.

Er...the two parts in the article describing him showing a phone to students which had photos of female and male genitals on it? I’m not sure that it is too big a leap to refer to naked pics as “porn”, but whatever.

Er...the two parts in the article describing him showing a phone to students which had photos of female and male genitals on it? I’m not sure that it is too big a leap to refer to naked pics as “porn”, but whatever.

Yeah it is a huge leap, unless of course you are one of those prudes that thinks any genitalia show in a picture is "dirty" and disgusting.

So a vagina and a penis are "porn" to you....that is something ever more scary to consider!

I know which company hired this guy.

He's doing a PSA, lol

As stated, this is tame compared to what goes on at eikaiwas etc.

Nothing surprising here.

So a vagina and a penis are "porn" to you....that is something ever more scary to consider!

No, I used “porn” as a shorthand in a quickly composed comment to describe naked pics of genitalia that some creepy guy was showing to high school students on his phone. Its a huge leap on your part to assume anything about me based solely on that and I honestly have no idea why you feel obliged to do so.

That's why ALT ''teachers'' are not necessary any more.

Some human beings are just sick in terms of sexual stuff regardless of their social and occupation status; from big time politicians, teachers, etc. across the world. Anybody following global news can understand what I mean. Its important to monitor and keep them off our children.

That's why ALT ''teachers'' are not necessary any more

Given the absolutely appalling level of English skills in Japan, throwing in the towel on teaching English at school may be a good idea.

Teach about 4 seasons and unique intestines to get Japan ready for a globalized 21st century.

So why is this not in crime?

No, I used “porn” as a shorthand in a quickly composed comment to describe naked pics of genitalia that some creepy guy was showing to high school students on his phone. Its a huge leap on your part to assume anything about me based solely on that and I honestly have no idea why you feel obliged to do so.

You called it porn, not me, and based upon your words I responded.

Anyone who thinks a picture of a penis or vagina is "porn" short hand or otherwise, has some issues.

I also have no idea what "obliges" you to keep digging a deeper hole.

Unfortunately it seems as if these types of cretins are even caught or reported in the first place, they are simply dismissed and free to go elsewhere to practice their perversions.

These people give bad names to foreigners.

Nasty. He should lose more than his job if the reports are true!

He should not teach or be around children.

Anyone who thinks a picture of a penis or vagina is "porn" short hand or otherwise, has some issues.

I didn’t say every picture of a penis or vagina is porn, don’t put words in my mouth. Its called “context”. The images were on the phone of a guy who also exposed himself to a teenage girl. The two other teenagers who saw them obviously were made to feel uncomfortable by them.

But whatever. Since I would like you to stop calling me a prude and telling me I have issues, I guess the only way to do that is to admit fault. Let me therefore apologize here in this public forum for the grievous slander I have made against the entire “naked penis and vagina pics that 29 year old ALTs in Saitama like to show to unsuspecting teenagers”genre by daring to label that eminently respectable body of work “porn”. Clearly it is so much more than that and I have now been schooled in the error of my ways by the above quoted commenter. Hopefully the auteurs whose tireless artistic work produces such images for the Saitama ALT community will accept my heartfelt apology and my insensitivity will not adversely impact their output.

I hope he enjoys flipping burgers for the rest of his life, hopefully in his home country

I don't know why I read this news like it was an episode of South Park.

I didn’t say every picture of a penis or vagina is porn, don’t put words in my mouth. Its called “context”. The images were on the phone of a guy who also exposed himself to a teenage girl. The two other teenagers who saw them obviously were made to feel uncomfortable by them.

Never said you did, but you did reply twice to "defend" your use of the word, and now go deeper into trying to justify what you wrote by obfuscating and deflecting the discussion away from what YOU wrote into the indecent acts committed by this fool! You are a prude and have issues, if you think a picture of a penis or vagina is "porn". Hell I'll bet you cover your eyes looking at a statue of David by Davinci too!

Dude is a arse for having pictures like that on his phone and "forgetting" they were there when showing the kids!

The rest of what you wrote is just a sarcastic commentary that is pure humor as apologies go! But I guess gone are the days of admitting you made a mistake without finding someway to blame someone else for your errors!

Never said you did, but you did reply twice to "defend" your use of the word,

I am not posting to defend my use of the word, I am responding because every post you have made contains a needless personal insult against me. Want to debate what does and does not constitute “porn”? Fine. No need to accuse the person you are discussing it with of having issues or whatever, just make your case.

But I guess gone are the days of admitting you made a mistake without finding someway to blame someone else for your errors!

Who am I blaming for what now? Did I blame you for me writing the word “porn”? No. Did I err in calling the naked pics in question “porn”? Maybe, though looking up the formal definition of the term I still have trouble seeing what the issue is - images designed to elicit sexual arousal. I am not getting what the controversy is, most naked pics do that. Maybe instead of insulting me you could actually just explain the substance of the point you want to make? A lot of naked pics are artistic or exist for other reasons and it would be unfair to call them porn. If that was the case, apologies. But I think my assumption that the type of pics that an ALT in Saitama who exposes himself to teenagers would keep on his phone and then get fired for accidentally showing to students who found them uncomfortable to look at might be called something other than high art is sound. My use of the word “Porn” should not be construed as containing any sort of moral judgment with respect to naked pics in general on my part, as you seem to be inferring.

Deport this clown.

No BusinessOct. 29  03:56 pm JST

Well, it ain't like the bar is set very high for getting these jobs! Where I live, all the ALTs are from countries where English isn't even the first or second language!

" And the teacher is from the US ... meaning the bar was set very very high right ?"

" Ha!!!! Countries where English is not even the first or second language" Making silly complaints rather than speaking about the bad attitude of that so called Teacher from an English speaking country -US".

So sorry for the students who had to put up with this abuse and harassment! Some days I'm embarrassed to be an American. Other days, I feel proud, but today is not one of them.

Replace the dispatch firm, revoke the teacher's visa and have the school officials formally apologize to all students and their parents...this, to me, is the right course of action. All parties are involved - no exemptions.

Wait. I just realized something.

It has not yet been revealed which company or organization was responsible for hiring the ALT

They are claiming he was fired by the board of ed but then they are also implying he worked for a dispatch company. Those two can't go together. He would have to be let go by the dispatch company.

I am not posting to defend my use of the word, I am responding because every post you have made contains a needless personal insult against me. Want to debate what does and does not constitute “porn”? Fine. No need to accuse the person you are discussing it with of having issues or whatever, just make your case.

Personal insult? No, just stating an opinion about people who think that a picture of a penis or vagina is porn!

That, also my opinion here, is scarier than what the guy did here. You need to get a thicker skin if comments on a forum like this bother you so much. Its called; "grow up"!

His actions are those of an indecent plick!

Maybe, though looking up the formal definition of the term I still have trouble seeing what the issue is - images designed to elicit sexual arousal

Funny, again trying to justify your comments! Nowhere did it say anything like this, and once again you are inferring that pictures of a penis and vagina are porn. You are also assuming his intent was something not written in the article.

A lot of naked pics are artistic or exist for other reasons and it would be unfair to call them porn. If that was the case, apologies. But I think my assumption that the type of pics that an ALT in Saitama who exposes himself to teenagers would keep on his phone and then get fired for accidentally showing to students who found them uncomfortable to look at might be called something other than high art is sound. My use of the word “Porn” should not be construed as containing any sort of moral judgment with respect to naked pics in general on my part, as you seem to be inferring.

Codifying your statements again,. Assumptions again.

Not saying "naked pictures" I said vagina and penis, and it seems you have a hard time with that!

That is where the "prude" comments stem from! I'll bet you were raised in a Judeo-Christian society that found anything "related to sex" to be dirty and shameful and "porn", even when it was just a picture!

In his defense, exposing his naughty bits was not covered in the workplace guidelines.

These 'accidents' sound an awful lot like the grooming behavior of a pedophile

Especially since both times it was with the same girl while she was alone.

Why weren't there 'accidents' like this with any other students?

Good they fired this bum.

@ JJ et al - and he was an ALT, not an ALT teacher

Guy was a JET because he was working for the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. They don’t do private hire...

Source: Was a JET in Saitama until recently...

Not saying "naked pictures" I said vagina and penis, and it seems you have a hard time with that!

I have no problem at all with it or anything, its entirely in your own head. Since you seem to be the one with the problems, I'll leave it at that.

I have no problem at all with it or anything, its entirely in your own head. Since you seem to be the one with the problems, I'll leave it at that.

If knowing the differences between porn and pictures of guys penis and some women's vagina is a "problem" I'll take that over being a prude with problems, any day of the week!

I refuse to reveal any private details about myself or said person but I 100% know who it was. Don't make excuses for him. He has a history of manipulation and part of how he does so is abusing people giving him the benefit of the doubt. He's always mostly gotten off clean too, but this isn't even the first time something like this has happened. He might make it seem like an "accident", but that's part of how gaslighting works, isn't it?

If knowing the differences between porn and pictures of guys penis and some women's vagina is a "problem" I'll take that over being a prude with problems, any day of the week!

Worry not, your dedication as a language police enforcer in the narrow realm of what the proper nomenclature is for photos of penises and vaginas is beyond question. Its all the other baggage you seem to be carrying that you should be thinking about.

Not clear from the article if all this was on purpose; maybe he simply is not the brightest candle in the room. In either case, yes firing him seems justified.

I am an ALT in Japan and I cringe every time I hear of reports like this. Sadly, there are many!