D&D has threatened my job!

[d20fool]

I'm a teacher, I teach fifth grade communication arts (English) and science in a small town here in Missouri. In general, I've really liked living here.

Recently I began to allow high school students at my gaming table. It's been too hard to keep a group of 20+ year old players in such a small town. Currently, about one-third of my players are in their late teens.

Today, my principal, who is a good guy, calls me in to tell me he has had three phone calls about me "luring high school boys" into Dungeons and Dragons, which the callers seemed to think was a bad thing. (I think kids spending social time that does not include drinking, smoking, using drugs, car racing, burglary, shoplifting, vandalism, or unprotected sex is a good thing, but that's me.)

He told that that he was not concerned, but to be careful about what I do. In particular, he thought I should play the game someplace public like in a library. Finally, he said if an accusation came up my job would be over, at least in this district. As a teacher, I know this is true. Simple accusations are devastating.

I responded that I wasn't doing anything wrong, I had considered exactly this scenario but thought that I should not live in fear. Further, that high schoolers made up at most one-third of my group. He simply cautioned me again to "be careful."

As for the source of this rumor recently I had a friend of one of my high school players turn up at my table (I did not "lure" him.) He enjoyed the game throughly, but then had a row with his mother and she forbade him from playing further. She said that it was "weird" that I would want to play with "kids" and that some of the other teachers had called me "weird" as well. Well, I'll admit to being "weird" but being a nerd is not a crime. Regardless, this woman is probably the spearhead of the whisper campaign against me.

Any help here folks? What should my course of action be? Any lawyers in the house have advice for me?

Thank you,

 

[Dark Jezter]

Just to be on the safe side, I wouldn't let any of your players name their rogue "Black Leaf."

 

[Mark]

I'm no lawyer but I don't think it is wise, as an adult, to game with minors (who are not your own children) in anything other than a public setting. Further, I would not do so without the knowledge and consent of the parents of those minors, and third party witnessing of that consent (others at the gamestore, library, etc. being around when you asked if it is all right for them to play).

 

[Vrecknidj]

First, get a lawyer--I can't help in that department. Second, I'm a teacher; and I've been a gamer since 1980. Third, I've lived in a small town my whole life.

Okay, that said, I haven't done what you're doing--my groups are always private groups that play in someone's home (except for Cons). But, I often game with a bunch of 15-year olds (I'm 36) and I suppose it could look pretty weird were it not for the fact that one of them is my son. So, I cannot speak to your experiences directly, but at least mine are a little bit similar.

Hopefully a bit of research will, I suppose, generate some documentation of the academic and social benefits of gaming. I think I've seen some floating around the 'net before.

When I was a kid, several of us played at a local church--a youth counselor was the DM, and he did a good job helping folks get beyond the "D&D is a bad influence" garbage. So, you might want to see if there are any kids in your group that have church groups, and then see if you can talk sense with any of the leaders of that church. In a political fight, it's good to have allies, and if you're going up against a public entity like a school, it's good to have a similarly large ally like a church. As a matter of fact, if you could get permission to use a recreation room in a church to play, that would help.

I happen to work for a private military school, so the rules we follow are distinctly different from the rules that another school will follow. But, this place happens to be a military school, and I know that there are many, many members of the military who play D&D and other RPGs. (There's a letter to the editor in a recent Dragon magazine about this as well.) If you could get some documentation of D&D as a positive influence in the military, that could go a long way toward easing the concerns of some of the folks in your town (especially if they tend toward the parochial in the secular sense).

In any case, I wouldn't confront the woman you suspect of being the leader of the rumors against you. Maybe later, if things go well, it'll be okay, but I'd certainly leave that unexploded powder keg in its unexploded state.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[Tuzenbach]

I'm afraid the age-old "Business and Pleasure" adage must apply here. Mix the two, lose both.

 

[Serps]

Sounds like your Principal, while not exactly backing you up, at least gave you the opportunity to CYA. You know how insular small towns are; you need to convince at least some of the parents of the kids you game with that it's an acceptable pastime. You won't be able to convince them all, but it's better to get it resolved now than to court suspicion among naturally-suspicious townsfolk.

I suggest having a private talk with the parents of each kid, explaining just what it is you do at a gaming session, and inviting them to ask questions. Start with the ones you think would be the most open-minded, to stop bad rumours being spread to the others. At the end of each talk, invite them to sit in on a game so they can see for themselves.

As I said, there will be some parents that will pull their kids out. That's their decision (well, at least until the kids are legally adults), so you'll have to abide by it. Hopefully, giving insight into what RPGing is about will diffuse the inevitable rumours.

If not, screw it and move away. Life's too short to be surrounded by intolerant pricks.

 

[dvvega]

I can give you the perspective from the Australian Education Department. My wife is a primary school teacher, and I teach at a technical college (caters for 16+). I've also tutored privately for finals (HSC here in New South Wales). As a teacher there are a lot more issues than just having "kids" at the gaming table. A games shop owner does not go under as much scrutiny as a teacher. This is of course stupid, but it is society's way. Especially with all these news items about teachers seducing young boys/girls etc. The teacher is in contact with the children 5 out of 7 days a week normally, and then the children want to spend MORE time with a teacher. It will come under scrutiny.

The laws here in Australia are extremely clear, strict, and open to abuse by people wanting to cause trouble. The safest things are as follows:

1) Actually ask the parents permission to allow their children to play. Until they are of legal age (age of consent is a valid mark here even though you're not up to anything) the parents are responsible, and hence you will become the scapegoat. Invite them to watch a session or two (not all at once, but one set of parents at a time). This will give them the feeling that they may monitor you and the game. You might even set up a "coffee room" for parents who wish to come and watch. That way they can talk to each other, spend social time together, and their children will be in the next room.

2) Disallow under aged people at your table. This is unfair of course, but as a teacher you need to ensure you do not cross any lines (imaginary or real). Here in Australia a comforting hug from a teacher could lead to accusations of attempted abuse and it has happened at my wife's school. Even though it was cleared up, the teacher in question has a permanent record entry indicated a case was brought against her. It's gotten so bad now that shouting is not allowed here in Australia.

3) Play in a public place as your headmaster suggested. Even better use the school's library, or school grounds. This gives the impression of legitimacy, support from your own school. Roleplaying is great to spark the imagination, learn more language concepts than a lot of English courses. Or in combination with (1) move the game from house to house on a regular schedule.

4) Start a gaming club in the community, and try to get the school to provide space. Charge a small fee which will go to the school or some charity. Participate in the community itself and show that the roleplaying is a valid activity for youths.

Hmmm I've waffled ... may have wandered - hope it helps.

 

[Sado]

Just to be on the safe side, I wouldn't let any of your players name their rogue "Black Leaf."

Anyone know where I can find a copy of that old religious tract? Haven't seen it in years, should be good for a laugh.

 

[Laelithar_Starbourne]

I kinde have a weird perspective on this because growing up I was the kid at the table of adults. That was because my father was the DM though. One thing he did when playing the game with minors was to make sure to discuss it with all of the parents of the children before hand. If you can get their consent then things should cool down. Also be very carefull about which minors you let into the game. You are in a unique position to possibly enlighten some skeptics about the concept of role playing, use it to show the them the true beauty and recreational enjoyment of the game.

 

[Sketchpad]

The gaming club idea is a great thing ... run an after-school gaming club in your class Just hand out permission slips and offer parents to stop by and see what it's all about ... never know, you may get a few more players that way. Do any of the kids have their own books? Have they discussed things with their parents? I know when I was a kid (I'm in my mid-30s now), I sat down with my Mom and Dad and had them play a quick game because they were concearned on the impact that gaming had on me (They were afraid that I was going to go psycho on them). After playing a short session, they said: "That's it?! That's all you do?!" and it was never a problem after that. In my senior year, I joined up in a group that was primarily people in their late 20s/early 30s ... one of which, the GM, was a teacher. I found that my parents trusted my decisions, but they also felt comfortable when we gamed at my house for a bit ... it gave them a chance to know more about the older group and confirmed that they could trust me ... Maybe try something like that? Hope it helps and good luck