The second squad recently reported the arrest of a health teacher from the Plainview Old Bethpage Middle School on Dec. 16 at 11:45 a.m.
According to detectives, Barry Goodman, 60, of Coram was charged on Dec. 16 with sexual abuse second degree and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly touching one of his students inappropriately.
Several male and female seventh-and eighth-grade students came forward recently to report complaints regarding the defendant’s conduct since September of this school year. These complaints were also made to school officials. The investigation is continuing.
The defendant was released on an appearance ticket returnable in first district court in Hempstead on Dec. 29.
According to a statement released by the school district, “The school district has been cooperating with the police department on this matter. We have also taken the proper internal steps to address the situation, including placing the teacher in question on administrative leave immediately. We also have conducted our own internal investigation of this matter and the teacher has since resigned. The parents of all the students involved in the matter have been notified, and counseling has also been offered to the students involved (and provided for some). It would be inappropriate to comment further while the investigation is still underway.”
January 10, 2007 at 8:12 am
mr. goodman has harassed me over this past summer of 2006 and a detective wants to speak to me about it. I hope the evidence I give the detective helps with this situation. I can only pray that goodman gets what he deserves.
January 17, 2007 at 8:46 pm
I worked with Barry Goodman for over 25 years. He never did anything inappropriate during that time. He was an excellent teacher that went out of his way to make lessons meaningful for his students. He was sensitive and understanding. Unfortunately times have changed and what was acceptable in the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s is now considered inappropriate. Many a good teacher mussed a kids hair or put an understanding arm around a student. Obviously that is not to be done anymore. I can see that Barry would have used, foolishly, a human instead of a dummy to make CPR more meaningful, but never would he choose to touch a child in a sexual manner.
A good man does not change over night. I would tend to think of the situation as junior high/middle school kids acting like the children in the “Crucible” rather than representing truth and reality.
January 17, 2007 at 9:07 pm
I find it absolutely amazing when comments are made such as this. “He never did anything inappropriate during that time.” Perhaps it should read, “He never did anything inappropriate during that time THAT HE WAS CAUGHT FOR.”
Maybe he didn’t, but its possible he did. I understand the denial. Nobody wants to believe that someone they know could actually do these things to a child.
Unfortunately (and this is what makes this crime so hard to prevent), these monsters are excellent teachers, perfect fathers, caring coaches, reverent priests, nice neighbors. This is a cover. They have to hone those skills so that they arent busted. They have to make sure nobody will suspect them. They have to do whatever they have to do so they wont be detected.
And guess what… they are DAMN good at it. They practice manipulation before they even decide they are attracted to children, and they become masters at their craft.
Things werent any less acceptable in the 70’s and 80’s, and the many many years before. They got away with it, however, because nobody talked about it. Nobody wanted to know about it. They didn’t know what to do about it.
Just because it was accepted as the norm 20 years ago, doesnt mean it was right.
Do I know if Goodman is guilty? I have no idea. I make no guesses. It isnt my job. Do I know if its possible if he committed what he is being accused of? Absolutely. It wouldn’t be the first pillar of the community to be outted as a closet child molester.
January 17, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Carol ,
Yes, It makes sense that you would like to ” think of the situation as junior high/middle school kids acting like the children in the “Crucible” rather than representing truth and reality.”
And that may turn out to be the case , but you personally cannot know that it is . So I hope if you are still working in a school environment , teaching – whatever -
that you would not dismiss a child’s accusations of abuse against a co-worker as nothing but a “witch-hunt”.
Excellent teachers who are sensitive and understanding gain the trust of their students very easily , and with that comes a huge ethical responsibility . Most teachers respect that responsibility .Pedophiles are also very skilled at appearing sensitive and understanding in order to gain the trust of children . They frequently work in careers that give them a good deal of access to children .
That Barry Goodman was never before accused of such things , does not necessarily mean he has never done anything before . You are right – ” A good man does not change over night ” . It may only mean that it was not reported – as most cases of molestation are not.
If you are a teacher in NYS then you are a mandated reporter ; and I would sincerely hope that if a student disclosed something of this nature to you in regards to the behavior of a co-worker that you are fond of , that you would not let your personal feelings for a co-worker interfere with assisting a child that may be at risk .
It will be up to law enforcement and possibly the courts to decide what is truth and reality in this case .
February 15, 2007 at 4:15 pm
i know that person she is my bff!
March 4, 2007 at 9:34 am
Does anyone know what happend to goodman at his second hearing? Because it wasnt in the news papers.
March 24, 2007 at 7:52 am
I cant believe this!!! I found out a few weeks ago that my friend from Madonna Heights committed suicide and before she died she left a note saying that one of the reasons why she was going to committ suicide is because of goodman when he harassed her. Because of him she’s gone forever. I hope he rots in hell where he belongs! And now he’s denying the whole thing about harassing and sexually abusing anyone. I hate him with a passion! He’s never going to get away with any of this! Im already talking to the Suffolk County police and theyre doing an open investigation on him for what he did to me and others. He deserves to be locked away for life!
April 3, 2007 at 5:21 pm
i went to madonna heights for 1 year &1/2 and i’ve went on a trip with him upstate to help with his and his brothers camp for children with special needs n attention and it was jus me and 3 other girls from madonna heights n he never not once tried anything with me i looked up to him like a father figure i never saw any signs wht so ever i’m not sayin he didnt do anything becasue seriously i have no idea what pple are capable of doin…i juss figuered i would leave a comment to let people no that there is a good side…and all those comments about his family are seriously not nessasary at all..
April 7, 2007 at 10:52 am
There is no good side to a predator. Its all pretend when they act nice. Obviously this guy has a lot of people fooled and they just dont know it. How sad.
June 26, 2007 at 11:30 am
Well the ADA called me and she wants to hear my side of the story about goodman and then she’ll decide if she wants me at goodman’s trial or whatever….I hope they put him away….I really really hate that man with a huge passion.
August 14, 2007 at 1:53 pm
goodmans trial is on September 11, 2007
October 11, 2007 at 10:57 am
Unfortunately goodman was found innocent at his trial on October 4th….So now he’s aloud to teach anywhere he wants and its going to happen all over again…I feel so bad for the his next victims.
August 10, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Hah. After I Was in His class, For About 5 Min., I Knew something Was up. I Told my Friend This, & A Few Other’s but No One Believed Me. ;] So I Rest my Case, & Kept Silent Through all This.