Whilst I don’t think it’s ideal for a teacher to be involved in the racy novel-writing industry, I’m not sure that the crime befits anything more than a ban on writing future novels. A teacher caught involved in such activities hasn’t broken laws but they have somewhat tarnished their reputation. Still, is it really worth more than a slap on the wrist?
Parental complaints have led Midd-West School District officials to investigate a veteran high school teacher who writes erotic romance novels under a pen name.
The teacher, Judy Buranich, of Selinsgrove, has taught at Midd-West for 33 years. Under the pen name Judy Mays, she has been writing novels for a number of those years. Her books include liaisons involving werewolves, aliens and vampires and can be found in the Romance section at Waldenbooks.
Buranich declined to comment about the controversy Wednesday.
On her website, she refers to herself as “a mild-mannered tenth grade English teacher in a small public high school.”
Wesley Knapp, superintendent of the Midd-West School District, said he has received a few complaints, but it was after The Daily Item approached him on April 18 to ask about the connection. Until then, he said, “I didn’t know anything about it.”
Knapp said he has told those making complaints “that we’d look into it.”
He declined to discuss the matter further.
“When it’s a personnel matter, I can’t comment,” he said.
Deanna Stepp, mother of a district student, said: “We are not questioning Mrs. Buranich’s teaching credentials. We are not even questioning her ability as a writer … . What we’re questioning is that the two jobs are not compatible with one another.”
Another parent, Wendy Apple, said she had Buranich as an English teacher in high school.
“I thought she was a top-of-the-line teacher,” Apple said.
But the erotica, she said, “is unethical, totally unacceptable. Period. It just sort of sickens and saddens me to know everybody’s sort of looking at this like, hey, this is OK.”
Apple has received comments and messages on her Facebook page, she said, from people who are attacking her for speaking out.
Apple said she heard the rumor from several students, and started during her own research. Although most of Buranich’s defenders are saying it’s not an issue because she does the writing on her own time, Apple said, “then how did these kids find out? These kids knew what kind of writer she was.”
As a result of her speaking out, which she had contemplated for about a month, Apple said her son, who has Buranich as a teacher, has received backlash at school as well.
“I wholeheartedly believe that more parents are looking at things the same way we are,” Apple said.
Writing as Mays on Facebook on April 22, Buranich said, “The world is full of idiots.”
She also referred to support she has gotten.
“I have a lot of people supporting me, including students and ex-students,” she wrote.
She wrote that she hopes the expose will make the sales of her books go up, and already has.
Meanwhile, a Facebook page titled “Support Judy Mays (Mrs. Buranich)” hit 88 likes by Wednesday afternoon.
Cindy Wagner, manager, at Waldenbooks, said the novels are under the category of “Romance,” not “Erotica” at the bookstore. She said the books are already tagged when they arrive, and she simply places them on the shelves according to those tags.
So should teachers be allowed to lead a double life? At what point would they be taking it too far? Do you think that the parents of Ms. Buranich have what to complain about? Do you agree that she should be advised to quit writing these novels while she is still teaching?
Tags: Books, Education, facebook, Judy Buranich, Judy Mays, life, Midd-West, News, Novel, Parenting, Teacher, Writer
Topical Teaching 
April 29, 2011 at 1:28 am |
I couldn’t disagree more with you, Michael, and with this news story. From what I’ve read, she has been a wonderful teacher. Writing novels is no crime. If people don’t want to read them, they don’t have to. What’s next…are we going to install cameras in people’s bedrooms to be sure their sex lives aren’t too kinky for their day jobs. Who decides?
Do the parents who are complaining watch Rated R movies? Heck, even some cable TV shows are pretty raunchy. Do they subscribe to cable? Does that make them unfit parents? Do they let their kids watch violent shows and play violent video games? Probably. But I suppose that doesn’t count because what we’re dealing with here is someone’s puritanical issues. Some people are just terrified of sex.
What people do in their personal lives is their own business, provided they are not committing crimes. This was no crime. And I don’t believe that being “caught in such activities tarnishes a reputation” in anyone’s mind but the most prudish. She’s a writer, for Pete’s sake, not a criminal. As a writer myself, I hope this controversy results in through-the-roof book sales for her. I’m happy to see that former and current students are supporting her. That says it all. She did her day job well.
April 29, 2011 at 1:40 am |
My position is hardly a strong one and her teaching ability is not in question. The reason why I concluded the post with a range of questions is, whilst I am sure that the parents blew this out of proportion and that she shouldn’t be suspended or fired for her actions, I wasn’t sure whether writing steamy novels and teaching was an ideal fit. I also wonder whether a teacher’s private life should be bound by any extra “rolemodel-type” responsibilities.
I think you argued the case brilliantly Margaret! Exactly what I was looking for.
April 29, 2011 at 1:38 am |
I’m not sure that the crime befits anything more than a ban on writing future novels.
In the first place, it’s not a crime. It’s a perfectly legal activity that she would declare on her tax forms. Secondly, a ban on writing any more books? Are you serious? These are romance novels with some spicy scenes. Her books are in bookstores like Waldenbooks and probably carried by libraries. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with her writing them and no one has the right to stop her from continuing to write them.
Like her, I write erotic romance. I’m a stay at home mom and it provides some handy extra income — not much, but a few thousand a year. It’s not just the money for a writer, though, it’s the pure joy of creating something. Writing’s addictive. I could never give it up and thank God no one Iknow would ever expect me to. I live in Canada and everyone from my family to my dentist to my hairdresser knows what I write. It’s not a secret because it’s something I’m proud of.
The parents who complained, from what I gathered before the original site took down the hundreds of comments in support of the author, are sisters who glory in whipping up storms in a teacup and getting publicity.
Double life? You make it sound like she’s a secret agent or something. Most authors use pennames, it’s common practice no matter what genre you’re in. You get to pick something memorable and often alliterative, something to catch the eye on a shelf.
This is a non-story and a disgraceful piece of biased reporting by that station. I’m waiting for the follow-up article the people responsible have promised to print, but I’m not expecting much.
April 29, 2011 at 1:49 am |
You make fair points. That line doesn’t read well. She should be ble to continue writing her novels.
I wrote double-life because she adopted a second name and clearly wanted her writing career kept a secret.
My main contention is that she doesn’t deserve to be suspended for her writing. As for banning future books, I have been enlightened by your comment and the comment above.
April 29, 2011 at 2:29 am |
It seems insane to me that someone who clearly does an excellent job should have her integrity and suitability for the role called into question because she writes ‘racy’ novels in her free time. Would she be condemned for reading them, too?
One thing has nothing to do with the other. She is a professional doing a job and doing it well. What she does outside of that is no-one’s business. And, come on, these are novels about vampires and aliens. This is hardly moral threatening stuff.
I’m more worried about the intolerance and puritanical bullying which the ‘concerned’ parents set as an example to their children.
There’s no such thing as bad publicity and her sales should now soar. Good luck to her.
April 29, 2011 at 3:05 am |
End result is going to be that her sales spike. It’s ridiculous and everyone involved knows it. The people causing a ruckus probably do it regularly. And it’s the one’s who shout, “PERVERT” the loudest that usually turn out being the biggest kinks in the chain.
April 29, 2011 at 3:45 am |
Every writer I know works multiple jobs! I can’t imagine us investigating someone based on what they write, and under a pen name to boot! It sounds like she already took precautionary measures, and really it’s whoever let the cat out of the bag that is creating all the buzz and concern. I am appalled that her teaching position is put on the line for this, but if something happens, I hope it does WONDERS for her book sales!!!
May 3, 2011 at 6:06 am |
After thirty-three years of teaching, maybe it is time Buranich stopped leading a double life. As the other commenters have said, I hope her book sales jump dramatically from the publicity. Then her increased royalties would allow her to retire from teaching — if she wishes — and work full-time in a profession that gives her both privacy and respect. She’s earned that much.
November 13, 2011 at 2:43 am |
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