Asshats of the Week.

Shame On You, Dallas Morning News. And Your Anonymous, Slut-Shaming Source, Too.

Dear Dallas Morning News and the Parent Who Complained to the Dallas Morning News About Their Child's Teacher Having Been in Playboy,

How are you doing today, anonymous parent that complained to the Morning News about Cristy Deweese (presumably your child's Spanish teacher) and her having appeared on Playboy's website three years ago? We'd imagine you're pretty proud of yourself, considering the internationalmediashitstorm you've kicked up. That's cool, we guess — y'know, if you're into calling out someone for something they did when they were 18, not to mention something that wasn't even wrong in the first place.

We're a little curious about a couple of things, though. For instance, how exactly did you find out about Deweese's photos? Did you catch your kid looking at them? If so, what kind of a parent are you, allowing your teenager unfettered internet access? If not, did you see them yourself, and were feeling a little nervous about having to look Deweese in the eye at parent teacher conferences next week?

You asked the Morning News: “Are her male 16- and 17-year-old students looking at her without picturing her nude?”

What? First off, how about teaching your kids that it's not cool to view people as objects, sexual or otherwise. And, second, even if they are — and we get it, teenagers are totally gross and icky like that — who really cares? Newsflash: They're probably picturing their non-Playboy-posing teachers naked, too.

Worst part is, that wasn't even the most troubling thing you said. You also asked the Morning News another question: “And for the female students, is this someone they can respect as an educator, someone that they can look up to?” Seriously? You don't want female students to look up to someone who, at 21, is doing genuine good in the world, teaching at an inner-city high school for gifted kids? Deweese is an awesome role model, regardless of your pearl-clutching, slut-shaming.

And you, the Dallas Morning News: You didn't really help matters, did you? Without your publicity, this story wouldn't be anywhere near what it is. You took the holier-than-thou complaints of one parent — anonymously, mind you — and spun a story where there really shouldn't be one. C'mon, now. We all know that when you say that “at least one parent” has a problem with Deweese, you mean exactly one obnoxious parent has a problem with Deweese.

At least you tried to get the other side of the story, though, from those who don't, y'know, just want to get rid of an otherwise seemingly good teacher for no reason.

Just kidding! The only balance you even try to provide in the story comes from a YouTube comment attributed to people “calling themselves Deweese's students” and a single anonymous tweet.

We're all better than this, you guys. Let's worry about the real problems DISD faces, like the massive increase in student suspensions or the troubling number of ninth-graders who struggle with reading and writing.

Oh, and as for you, Ms. Deweese? We heard you weren't in class Monday. We hope you get back as soon as you can. Your students clearly need all the help they can get.

Signed,
Stephen Young and the rest of the Central Track staff.

(Cover photo via Playboy.)