Zeeland music teacher investigated for inappropriate contact

I know my sons were in his class and they said he would drink and say things he should have not said i think Zeeland East Should let him go.IT'S TIME FOR A GOOD CHANGE!!!

Mr. Oonk always seemed to stare or pay more attention to the females in my choir class i no longer go to that school but i will always remember him as a odd/creepy person, i have several friends that felt the same way.

You (and Channel 8) are too anxious to
vilify Mr. Oonk. The authorities have
not filed charges, yet you find him
guilty. This is not a legal issue, and
is not a story. A better story would be
if you found the other TV station
guilty for overdoing it. And vice versa.

The world is becoming numb to murders and rapist its getting bad i think they should fire him someone needs to start doing whats right and stop letting "little things" like this go by unpunished
its unacceptable

Patrick wrote:

The world is becoming numb to murders and rapist its getting bad i think they should fire him someone needs to start doing whats right and stop letting "little things" like this go by unpunished
its unacceptable

Whew, what a lengthy report. I admit that I skimmed the second half, but found consistency in the hug matter. In most means Mr. Oonk should not have done so.

I hope any in appropriate behavior is minor enough for some counseling to remedy. A hug may have seemed like the right thing to do for an upset teenager, but teachers and students shouldn’t have that kind of physical contact. I hope everything works out for all involved.

So, what else do you think Patrick AND Cindy? Should we hang him from the highest tree?

i just think he should be suspended from the job or something like that i know he only hugged her but i think that is going a little to far. mustangdan2112? don't you think what you said is a little inappropriate? "Should we hang him from the highest tree?" Thats just a little but far he didn't kill anyone or rape any one.

I'm a piano teacher, and some of my students have told me they had male teachers in the past who were always hugging them and a little too hands on. I never hug my students but once in a while a younger student will initiate a hug when they are with their parents and see me somewhere. I always encourage the parents to stay for the lesson and relax if they want. I never touch any part of the students but wrists and hands for postioning. I'm wondering if it is common for voice teachers to place their hand on a students abdomen? I do know using the word "boobs" is TOTALLY not necessary. After browsing the report, it seems like he was trying too hard to be the cool teacher. I have some really good conversations with my teenage students, but try to be careful about wording I use. I'm also thankful I'm female - I think male teachers have to much more careful.

As a former student I can say this....he was always a bit odd....and I'll leave it at that.

Patrick wrote:

i just think he should be suspended from the job or something like that i know he only hugged her but i think that is going a little to far. mustangdan2112? don't you think what you said is a little inappropriate? "Should we hang him from the highest tree?" Thats just a little but far he didn't kill anyone or rape any one.

I just read a bit more. I suppose the comments between the teacher and student could have been coached. There does seem to be some weirdness. I guess his supervisors can decide what’s best. It sounds like his wife has already decided.

"There were also reported instances where Oonk touched his students on their abdomens and backs during private voice lessons."
In regards to this statement in the article, I took lessons with Oonk and its obvious that this article is spinning this section off as innapropriate. But anyone who's taken lessons with Oonk knows for a FACT that whenever he does anything like that he states "if this makes you uncomfortable, I won't do it".
ANY STUDENT WHO TAKES PRIVATE LESSONS WITH HIM KNOWS THAT IF YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ANYTHING HE'S DOING, HE WILL STOP.
It is the student's right to not allow him to touch their stomach. He never forcibly does it, or does it without permission. This fact, therefore, is COMPLETELY unrelated to the main issue.

"I'm wondering if it is common for voice teachers to place their hand on a students abdomen? I do know using the word "boobs" is TOTALLY not necessary."

In regards to this, Miss Meow, it is very common for voice teachers to place their hands on a students abdomen. Good breath support comes from pushing the diaphragm down, and the only way you can see it, is to feel it happening. You can't see with your eyes the diaphragm going down, but you can feel it. I was a private voice student with Oonk, and as I mentioned in my previous post, he always told you what he was going to do. If you didn't want him to put his hands on your abdomen, you didn't have to. ANY studnet held the right to not allow it, and he was completely fine about it.

Also, the reason he did voice lessons at his house was because it would be illegal to do them at the school. He's no longer my teacher, but he still is my private voice teacher. Students can chose to take lessons with him or not. So why are students complaining that they felt uncomfortable at private voice lessons? If they did, then why would they pay to have them?

As another former Zeeland student, I can honestly say that this issue is a bit over-dramatized as it is stated here. I was in Oonk's choir classes for four years, and although he seemed friendly with female students, there were male students that he was close with, too. After four years of classes with one teacher, a longer period than most teacher-student relationships, you get to know eachother quite well, especially when you are in multiple classes, musical productions, choir trips, etc. In my time at Zeeland, Mr. Oonk was a dedicated director who led the Zeeland choirs to numerous national honors and awards -- he loves Zeeland High and he cares deeply for his students and their continued success. He spoke openly in class about everything from funny things his kids did, to how proud he was of alumni who were doing big things, to the loss of a fellow faculty member. We were like one big family. But, I can see where a young female student could translate that into an uncomfortable relationship when one-on-one.

I'm glad that Zeeland administrators are keeping close watch on this, but I don't think it needs to be big news until some sign of criminal actions has been found, if ever. I'm not justifying his actions, but I do think that it's all too easy to read too far into this story if you haven't actually met the guy. I don't think he deserves to be fire, but that all this is enough of a warning to him to keep in mind that people are taking note of his actions, and that his passionate musician personality may be translated differently to different students.

He needs to be Hung-out to dry...
A. ALCOHOLIC
B. BOOBS
C. CHILDREN
D. DECEPTION
E. EXTRA-MARITABLE AFFAIR/EX-STUDENT
F. FIRED!!!

It is always nice to see that the lil things male teachers do seem to be considered morally unacceptable and label these guys as sexual predators but when a female teacher does the same lil things she is considered caring and a good role model for the school. If this werea female teacher hugging a male student or paying more attention to male students would this even be here as newsworthy? I think not. I mean I have been to school with my kids and the way some of these female teachers and they way they dress while not like risque certainly is not conservative either. It is about time we as adults quit putting this double standard on our teachers that females can get away with far more than males in this profession without the worry that your career and reputation will be tarnished forever. Just look at some of the cases inwhich male teachers have been rightly accused and found guilty of inappropriate behavior and then look at the same cases where the gender roles are reversed and if you cannot see the difference in punishment then you are blind or just plain ignorant. I for one would never be a teacher in todays world if I were male, just doing so could cost you a marriage your relationship with your kids and community as well as your profession for something as little as a voice coach touching a students stomach. Get real torch carrying villagers and realize thatif it is not sexual and we all know sexual then do not ruin someones life just because you have the "Dirty Minds"

Besides the 'Love' comment, depending on the context. It all sound plutonic. I think these girls are out to ruin this guy due as a revenge or dare tactic.

I never had Mr Oonk for a teacher but have had many friends (male and female) who loved Mr oonk as a teacher. He values his job as a great Teacher. After 19 years in the district it is Sad how we treat teachers due to Students dont have any good things to do with there lives. I feel Sad for Mr oonk and his family. I think even if he goes back to Zeeland to work - it will never be the same after a case against him like this. I wish Mr oonk the besk of luck trying to find a job.

And for this we pay him 65K for 177 day contract???

I am a 1999 Zeeland alumni and had Mr. Oonk as a choir teacher. He is a great man and is misunderstood. My question is where are the parents of these children!!!!! I have had voice lessons as a child from a female teacher and she touched my abdomen to see if I was breathing properly, is there a case against her? NOPE!! That is society these days. I agree that the text messages are way weird, I don't think that should have happened, but once again where are the parents???? Mr. Oonk alway asked permission to touch his students. So I am kind of stuck in the middle on how I feel about this whole situation. But I believe it stems on parenting!!!!!

I just read a lot of rock throwing without a lot of substantial evidence. My concern is that this man may be innocent and his life is destroyed by the article and the rocks. The media puts this story out there and now innocent or guilty his life is changed. Shame on Channel 13, and all of us that rush to judgment on others without more proof of guilt.

I had Mr. Oonk as a choir teacher in school (not private lessons)for 3 years and I agree with Peep. To learn the breathing techniques, we would lay on the floor as a class (both boys and girls) and he would go around and touch everyone's abdomen to make sure we got it.
I also agree with Wondering, this is being blown out of proportion. Now, Mr Oonk is labeled as "that guy" just because of the media. I still think that he is a great teacher regardless of his personal life.