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Pupils back 'vampire row' teacher
10:57am Monday 12th February 2007
Comments (39)PUPILS and tutors have leapt to the defence of an Accrington teacher under investigation after complaints about her "lurid" gothic vampire websites.
Support for teacher Samantha Goldstone of St Christopher's CE High School came as it emerged her debut vampire novel was in a good book guide alongside horror legend Stephen King.
As revealed in Saturday's paper, the English and drama teacher has agreed to stay away from the church school she has taught at for three years while the complaints are investigated.
Investigations centre on the part-time gothic fiction writer's personal websites and others that promote gothic literature written under her pen name Paigan Stone which she says contains "adult content with vampire eroticism, violence and blood lust."
Her personal MySpace website, which has now been taken off public display, included images and links to her debut novel Gabriele Caccini which features a 17th Century vampire who lusts after women after being drugged with ecstasy.
Following complaints from parents, headteacher Alasdair Coates has launched the investigation.
But more than 60 messages have been posted on the Telegraph's website - many from past and present pupils and teachers supporting her.
One former pupil from Burnley writes: "As a past pupil of Samantha Goldstone's I feel that the way she is being treated is appalling.
"She was a great teacher and has helped many pupils in their English and Drama work.
"What she does in her personal life should not affect her role as a teacher."
And a teacher writes: "Mrs Goldstone may have been a touch naive by posting her picture on her website but what on earth has she done wrong?."
Another posted by a pupil named as "Laura" states: "I'm one of Mrs Goldstone's drama pupils and she is the best thing that has happened to this school."
But not everyone is as sympathetic, one message reads: "Do you think it is right for pupils ages 11-16 to see their teacher like this?
"St Christopher's is a respected school, and I don't think they should have teachers who do things like this."
The messages come as it emerged that her first book appears on the Good Book Guide's online monthly horror recommendations.
The guide puts her book alongside renowned author Stephen King's latest nailbiter Cell.
Her book, is published by AuthorHouse, a company which has 25,000 authors worldwide.
Your Say YourThis Is Lancashire
R Owens, Bolton says...
2:55pm Mon 12 Feb 07
?????????, b.burn says...
3:08pm Mon 12 Feb 07
?????????, b.burn says...
3:24pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Dave, B'burn says...
5:19pm Mon 12 Feb 07
RK, says...
5:30pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Infektid, Indiana, USA says...
5:49pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Jonny Raw, Burnley says...
6:06pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Amused, Finland says...
6:39pm Mon 12 Feb 07
Would be very "interesting" to hear what people complaining about this teacher do in as job and in THEIR personal life.
After all it would be only fair that people could also investigate if those "complainers" have something in THEIR lives that others might feel unsuitable for their line of work...
Andy, UK says...
7:56pm Mon 12 Feb 07
It's a bunch of small minded folk who have very little going on in their own lives that have created this fuss - GET A LIFE!!
I say go out and buy the book, she's a fantastic Author - this is the point we are forgeting.
The book is great.
The School is bang out of order.
the guv, says...
9:42pm Mon 12 Feb 07
kate, Burnley says...
11:32am Tue 13 Feb 07
I think the parents or anybody who has said anything about this is jealous.
If parnets are that concerned there is a lot worse on the internet than this and there is such things as blocks for concerned parents for any websites.
I feel very sorry for this teacher as she is very respectable within the school and a good teacher so what does it matter what she does out of school as long as her job is done properly.
I dont agree she should get punished for doing something in her private life.
AK, London says...
12:48pm Tue 13 Feb 07
John, Germany says...
2:14pm Tue 13 Feb 07
Nev, USA says...
9:58pm Tue 13 Feb 07
I've been coming to the sad realization that in this age, people have more fun ivading eachothers privacy than keeping to their own lives. Basicly, I have to aggree with the posters before me whom do not understand why it should affect her work.
John, I think the gender issue is irrelevent... but I could be mistaken.
John O, Lincolnshire says...
10:36pm Tue 13 Feb 07
And it is quite clear that the view of the local education authorities is that you should not remain as a teacher once you have lost "standing amongst the impressionable young people you are charged with teaching."
I think the evidence of this website cannot be clearer. The headmaster has utterly lsot the confidence of his pupils and teachers - and should resign forthwith.
John O, Lincolnshire says...
11:49pm Tue 13 Feb 07
Something about peopoe who live in glass houses?
Because for a school SO obsessed with what image it may be giving out, a burning cross is a pretty dodgy image for it to be promoting.
Simon Taylor, Boston, Lincs says...
10:37am Wed 14 Feb 07
By logical extension of this public vilification, does this mean that people who read her fiction, or have similar interests are unsuitable parents?
Why should her personal interests have any bearing on her ability to do her job?
I run a horror movie review website, does that somehow automatically make me a worse a person than anyone else?
I thought witch-hunts were a thing of a past.
robin3, florida says...
5:37pm Wed 14 Feb 07
Samantha, i hope you are able to contune what you love to do, teach, and write books. more power to you.
Abbie, Accrington says...
9:04pm Wed 14 Feb 07
brad Stevens, Luton says...
6:00pm Thu 15 Feb 07
Den, Burnley says...
10:24pm Thu 15 Feb 07
(In her own time.)
The sites selling the book pre-warn the viewer of adult content. Does the headmaster seriously think that his pupils could not get hold of material of this nature (or much worse) -if they put their minds to it?
Are the pupils being adequately supported whilst their (popular?) teacher is banished from doing her job.. or are they stuck with a temporary support teacher whilst the prudish do-gooders make a mountain out of a molehill?
Does anyone care about the student's opinion in all of this, or has the inquisition got too wrapped up in their moral crusade?
What a waste of time and effort.. why not just ensure that Mrs Goldstone is perfectly aware that her books are NOT on the curriculum, NOT discussed in class times and be perfectly aware that; should students be aware of her work and ask, she is perfectly entitled to be honest and truthful in her reply and also warn them of the explicit nature of these books. Let her get back to doing what she obviously does well.. respect is a hard thing to earn in teaching now-a-days.
And finally; to the people getting yourselves all hot and bothered about this issue.. you are aware that you are in fact giving the books more publicity through this campaign. Mrs Goldstone could not have set this up better! I predict more book sales.
Elizabeth Dickinson, Burnley says...
1:06am Fri 16 Feb 07
So do all of these concerned parents, and fellow human beings who find this book oh so appalling realise that the Children who are being taught by this author of fiction realise that around the time of high school children learn about sex education, how to put on a condom, and other methods of sex safety, and will be able to get hold of erotic images by buying the sun news paper. Page 3 contains a rather interesting slant on a womans body.
May I suggest that before anyone complains about her website or book, they first check out her official website, www.paigenstone.com and read her book. Things, as they are often portrayed, are not what they seem to be.
And finally, to those of you with children out there who are concerned about this book, and the myspade, may I please remind you that you went through the process of sex to gain that child. And if you should one day hope to obtain grand children, youre children will one day go through the process. These children you seek to protect will not be children for ever, and will grow up sooner or later. They will learn about these things one way or another. You cant protect them forever.
CK, Manchester says...
8:28am Fri 16 Feb 07
Have any of you actually read the book??? I Found it to be expertly written and anyone who attends that school should be proud that one of their teachers has accomplished something that many can only dream of.
I have seen the myspace website, you all act like its page 3 of the Sun.
There is no nudity and the videos are quite humorous.
Its a good thing we are not living in the 17th century or you might have burnt her at the stake.
My recommendation is go buy the book at Amazon / Author house read it for yourself then reread this article again.
And only then will you see how silly this article is. Trust me you will laugh.
Paigan keep up the good work
Aimee, Rishton says...
5:09pm Fri 16 Feb 07
Adam T, Mrs Gs pupil, Blackburn says...
10:33pm Fri 16 Feb 07
None of my friends care bout her books n wot she does in her private life n neither do their parents. in my view no1 else sud either.
she hasnt dun nybody harm n no1 has the rite to insult her n judge her.
He without sin cast the first stone!
Gd luck Mrs G. we're all behind u!
Jeremy Kelly, nanaimo says...
2:24am Tue 20 Feb 07
sam, burnley says...
6:27pm Tue 20 Feb 07
Cecilia, says...
8:32pm Tue 20 Feb 07
Anon, Liverpool says...
8:57pm Tue 20 Feb 07
mel, bolton says...
11:57am Wed 21 Feb 07
Mellor, Accrington says...
1:52pm Wed 21 Feb 07
Abbie, Accrington says...
3:59pm Wed 21 Feb 07
Elizabeth Dickinson, Burnley says...
8:16pm Sat 24 Feb 07
I agree with Abbie: Get a life. Put you're self in her shoes, grow up a little, and come back to the planet known as earth.
matt, potomac falls va says...
11:40pm Mon 19 Mar 07
matt, potomac falls va says...
11:49pm Mon 19 Mar 07
T. Barona, Canada says...
12:42am Tue 10 Jul 07
"Do you think it is right for pupils ages 11-16 to see their teacher like this?
"St Christopher's is a respected school, and I don't think they should have teachers who do things like this."
What the heck do they mean when they say "this"? I totally agree with what's being said here, she didn't do anything wrong. It's my understanding that there is an age restriction for the book and the site so why is the school administration and the parents getting all upset over something that wasn't even meant for their kids to see? It's not her fault parents are disgustingly ignorant regarding what their children are being exposed to.
I also agree with the person who said that her personal life shouldn't affect her working life at such a critical level. After all, don't we have ambitions of our own?
And so what if she wrote a gothic novel? Why is it that almost every time someone is seen to have an interest in horror, Gothic literature and whatnot that they're immediately stereotyped as having some sort of affiliation with the Devil and that sort of thing? If it's not the parent's ignorance, then it's definitely that whole stereotype taht always comes to people's minds when the word "goth" comes up. People need to grow up, have a little more empathy, and most of all, everybody needs to be more open-minded.
J. R., Toronto, Canada says...
1:17am Tue 10 Jul 07
T. Barona wrote:I agree 100%. Just because a teacher writes Gothic novels doesn't mean that he is evil, or has a dark heart. People think that if someone has an interest in something that isn't nice and holy, that they must be like what their intrests are. I think that the only thing her book proves is that she is creative, and isn't scared to show off her writing talents. Why can't we just burn Stephen King at the stake then? It's people like her that give us such dark, and interesting, and scarey novels that are a welcome change from your regular save the world story.
\"Do you think it is right for pupils ages 11-16 to see their teacher like this? \"St Christopher\'s is a respected school, and I don\'t think they should have teachers who do things like this.\"What the heck do they mean when they say \"this\"? I totally agree with what\'s being said here, she didn\'t do anything wrong. It\'s my understanding that there is an age restriction for the book and the site so why is the school administration and the parents getting all upset over something that wasn\'t even meant for their kids to see? It\'s not her fault parents are disgustingly ignorant regarding what their children are being exposed to. I also agree with the person who said that her personal life shouldn\'t affect her working life at such a critical level. After all, don\'t we have ambitions of our own? And so what if she wrote a gothic novel? Why is it that almost every time someone is seen to have an interest in horror, Gothic literature and whatnot that they\'re immediately stereotyped as having some sort of affiliation with the Devil and that sort of thing? If it\'s not the parent\'s ignorance, then it\'s definitely that whole stereotype taht always comes to people\'s minds when the word \"goth\" comes up. People need to grow up, have a little more empathy, and most of all, everybody needs to be more open-minded.
I think this teacher should be applauded more than she is being shunned. She must be a great example to her students, she was successful in the writing buisness, and it proves that learning English can help you in the long run.
Also, people are warned that the book has adult content, so it is the fault of anyone who sells the book to their pupils, and to the parents who don't monitor their children so they won't visit these websites. The only time that kids should be left alone on a computer is if you can trust them, or you think they are mature enough to view content like that (And there are many who can be trusted on these sites, and can draw the line between reality and virtual reality).
Whoever fights this teacher should question themselves as to whether they would like it if someone tried pressing charges over their personal feelings.
ex pu[il, accy says...
11:48am Fri 28 Dec 07
Samantha Goldstone
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John Crawford, UK says...
12:17pm Mon 12 Feb 07
The comments from the public about this story, and the story regarding the web video at Hameldon in Burnley have shown that even though something is reported by the newspapers in a certain way, other people have strong, often opposing views and being able to read the comments enables the reader to obtain much more information to give people a balanced view.