Hell to the NO!

He sounds like a sexual predator who needs to be fired

He's a scum bag.

BTW he also has had issues with his team involving discipline. Might want to look into that.

Oh yes, sign our family up for that school! Seriously, that idiot thought that was a great idea for a book!?! Disgusting slob. Hopefully every parent in that district will step up and demand he be fired! Their tax dollars ate paying his salary!

After reading the article, I don't see what the problem is unless he promotes his book to his students.

He's gotta go. He can pursue a new career as an author & leave coaching/counseling to people with respect for young women. If he had coached my daughter, I would have been in the first row at the school board meeting demanding my tax dollars back for paying this guy's salary. SMH!

High school guidance counselors need to help students develop emotionally healthy relationships. Publicly promoting manipulative and mutually disrespectful relationships between men and women is incompatible with being an effective counselor. His writing is evidence that he is not familiar with positive romantic relationships.

What a combo of professions: school counselor, GIRL'S coach, bouncer at a strip club, and author of a sex book. I am all for Renaissance Men, but COME ON NOW!

Did you see the update!?! He's on administrative leave! WTG school board!!! What a moron!

Well to every adult or parent that feels strongly about what the topic was on his book is his choice and you do not have to agree with that. but i HIGHY DISAGREE with what you all are saying as a it comes to his job. i am a former rich central graduate (2012) and Craig was my counselor. he was a WONDERFUL counselor and mentor to all. if i wasnt for him i wouldnt be attending a great college and had a certian outlook on life it wasnt for craig. the book he wrote is an adult book and umm DUH he is an adult!! if your child attend rich central in sure the book is not listed in the library or on the rebric to read for the semester!! and im damn sure he is not encourging your students to read it. come on you all are adult and are looking at this situation from a child like manner and in the young one. as i stated Craig is a great counselor and cares deeply about his job most of all he is paaionate about it also the girls basketball team and thats what you all want for your children. and i support him and so will every other student that had him as a couselor or coach... have a blessed day 1 :)

Has anyone actually read the book? I didnt find it to be vulgar or degrading in any way. The said opinions seem to have been based on issues in the book that were taken out of context. Don't be so willing to ruin a man's career on someone else's loathing and hatred. Educate before you judge.

Erica, it sounds like you are just starting your Freshman year of college. Your school may have a resource center for students who need help with writing skills. You may want to check it out. Your writing has energy and flow. A good writing tutor could show you how to express yourself more effectively. The schooling you had at Rich Central has failed to give you adequate skills for college writing. I'm glad you had a positive experience with Mr. Craig. However, his vision for romantic relationships is so far afield from healthy that his fitness to be a high school guidance counselor should be under review. With freedom of speech comes the responsibility for the content of what one says. What he says is disrespectful towards women. Those attitudes cannot help but impact how he relates to students and colleagues. May this first year of college be a time of growth as you claim your adulthood, grow intellectually and emotionally, and have some fun!

If he were any good at his job, he'd have realized it would be a bad move to publish a book with this subject matter under his name. One day miss Erica will understand... When she has a young one under the direction of someone like him... He wanted the glory for that trash material, he got it. He just cannot coach or guide young adults at the same time. New career, writer/author of a book that won't sell. Great job coach!

Sounds like most here are forming an opinion without actually reading the book for themselves. Are you also teaching your kids to jump to conclusions or to form opinions without knowing all the facts? If that's the case, YOU shouldn't be around kids either.
Obviously he has had these views for awhile now and it didn't effect his teaching or coaching abilities before the book was written so why is it all of a sudden going to do it now?
I for one am tired of the hypocrisy coming from the citizens of this country. You go out and celebrate the freedoms we have and wave your flags but the reality is you only support these freedoms (speech) if you agree with them and quickly try to stifle the ones you don't agree with. Grow up and know when to shut up. You might not like what's being said but embrace the fact that he has the same rights that you do to express himself.

You all should actually read the book instead of making someone elses opinion your own. Shame on you for letting the media control your perception with minimal info.

Encouraging adolescents and young people to be promiscuous is philosphically antithetical to being an adolescent counsellor.

He is free to write a book about any subject he chooses, Like anyone is free to do. But my issue is the profession he works dealing with teenage girls. As a parent I would be concerned, Not saying he is a danger to the girls he works with, but one must be concerned and extra watchful. Coaches often become close mentors to those they work closely with. Here is a possible scenario that would be a concern with any parent or at least it should be. If a girl comes to the coach with boyfriend troubles, seeking advise and he tells them to do what he advocates in his book, Well that crosses the line and he should be terminated ASAP. He is not a trained counsler, therapist, Psychologist etc, and he has no business giving advise to underage girls unless it directly correlates with coaching sports.

Excuse me closed minded people, when did it ever state that the context of the book was for young adolescents in high school. Has any student or young person come about saying he spoke with them about those things or refered to his book. Has there been any evidence that he encourged children to do such things. No.I have heard of no such thing.

Once again, it appears noone has read the book. Biased and convoluted opinions based on one individual's views and media intervention. Shame on you! As I stated before...educate yourselves before you stand in judgement. Furthermore...clean your own side of the street!
I'm always amazed at the hypocrisy or perhaps cowardice, at the reluctance to state ones name.

Conflict of intrest

erica w - soooo naive. Classic case of 'you dont know what you don't'...

If this was the 1st incident involving Craig's immoral conduct and poor judgment, it would be one thing---it's not. Craig engaged in an extra-marital affair with the head cook at Rich Central which resulted in the safety of students, staff being placed in jeopardy. The head cook's husband came up to Rich Central with a "gun" to deal with Craig. Selma McDonald [HR Director] and Donna Leak gave Craig a pass by issuing him a "verbal reprimand." Leak and McDonald had the female head cook fired. Leak and McDonald both should be fired immediately for condoning Craig's conduct then and his apparent ongoing uncovered conduct now. Worse Leak gave Craig police protection at taxpayer's expense to make sure Craig was "safe" from the husband. The students supporting Craig are proof positive that the District's hiring of people of Craig's ilk [and he's not alone] exposes them to illicit and immoral conduct by adults in authority and corrupts their ability to develop a sense of right and wrong. As one student wrote "...he got to make his money somehow..."
Making money "anyway" is morally bankrupt and wrong---would this student say sellin his mother, sisters, nieces as prostitutes an acceptable way "to make his money"? I think not.....

Promoting using women is right? Body parts more important than a woman as a respected person? How skid he get his job as counselor to teens? Terns vulnerable and naive. He's known that's. Ethics were dishonered for years by high school administration too. Were there past reports made? Is this a Sandusky issue here? Scarey. Authority figures get away with too much!

One thing that is absolutely critical in someone who counsels,teaches and coaches teenagers is good judgment. This "gentleman" clearly has none. Terminate him immediately and defend the inevitable lawsuit. The comments of the superintendent suggest, however, that the fix is already in....

Good for him that he didn't sugar coat the reality of the world.
Women need to be told the truth even if its sexist. People should experiment way before they marry otherwise they might find out they have someone who is horrible in bed. Better to know before they sign their lives over. He's realistic and people need to get over it and stop walking around wearing blinders. Kudo's to him !

Ok I'm also a former rchs student & speaking from personal experience Craig was a Great counselor there were kids wanting to drop out commit suicide all types of things men & women& he went above & beyond caught signs parents & others didn't he actually cared about students girls he would hear rumors about being hot & fast he told them they could do & be better come on now hell he & few others is why centrals test/graduating stats are so high! My class a alone has turned out to be very successful under his & others guidance it's a book not his life not what he lives hell look at Zane, omar tyree lets grow up & get on something important like all this senseless killings

Whether or not people like the book, agree with the book, have even read the book...whether or not he is good at (any of) his job(s), the underlying, fundamental concern is that somebody in his position within a school, even if he was a janitor with more limited exposure to the students, would think that writing this book under those circumstances would be okay, would go unnoticed, would NOT spark controversy...it might not in itself make him a terrible person, but it DOES speak to his overall judgement. Perhaps not speaking directly to his ability as a coach or G.C., but generally speaking, people making that sort of error in judgement cannot be surprised when it causes greater scrutiny.

The 1st thing that I suggest is that you read the book in it's entirety. A line of text removed here & there distorts the meaning intended. Craig's being surrounded by women coming up & now working with, has only helped him become the man he is today, a great husband, father, son, coach, mentor, etc. In the book, he spoke of some of his earlier life experiences & his reponses to being hurt. The book is not a sex book, it is a learning/teaching book for ADULTS (men & women). Mr Craig is a professional, respectful, punctual, reliable man that I am proud to call my son.

I am also a RICH Central 09 alumni and until I go read this book all I can say is WOW

This is one of those situations where the guy may not have done anything "wrong" but if you are being honest, would you really want this guy coaching children?? Maybe, but then again, maybe they prevented another Sandusky type of situation...

The people on her commenting that we should read the book... I wouldn't pay a penny to read that book! What a great title!! It's"her" fault!!! Sounds like he is a great mentor for the female students... NOT!!! And he works at a strip club where women are demoralized.. I see nothing positive that this man can offer any student.. Male or female...

Did he harm a student? Inflict an unhealthy opinion on any of the youths that he educates, coaches, or counsels? Do the parents of the students maintain honest and open communication with their child, that would allow parents to KNOW if an educator has crossed the line? Truthfully, there are a lot of messed up people in the world, and there are a lot of really bad teachers too. Any one of them could be in your child's classroom. Do your job as parents, and know what is happening in your child's life both in and out of school. If Mr. Craig remained a positive, professional role model in the students lives, then I don't think I would mind much about this book he had written. Personally, I have no interest in reading the book, therefore I will not sit and cast stones at a topic and person I know very little about. At the end of the day, I'm willing to bet there could be a lot worse in your student's classroom. Again, I reiterate, do your job as parents - talk to your children, and make yourself aware of what is going on in their lives. If you fail at that, then you have no right to judge the educators that are placed in their classroom.

If you read the book, which I have it's not a sex book. The book is to help ADULTS ONLY!! The book is not for high school boys or girls. I think it's sad how people let the media control there way of thinking. People are quick to judge! This book has not effected his counseling, teaching, or coaching abilities.
He would never, speak to any young person or student about the contexts in his book. This is NOT a Sandusky situation here!! He is a great counselor, and mentor. He has done a great job, with the young people in my family. Not once has he ever said or has done anything inappropriate. I'm glad he wrote this book, he speaks on real issues in relationships.

As a parent and a tax payer, I have every right to judge the educators of my children. I talk to, guide, and am involved with my children's lives (both of whom are H-F grads and in college), and I am shocked & saddened at this news story. This isn't about harming students. This is about hiring people who have influence over our children. We cannot protect our children from everything, but when there is a coach & counselor who chooses to engage in activities that are degrading (strip club bouncer, author of a book about sexual conquest) I'm sorry but that needs to be addressed! Bet you this experience was not listed on his resume when he got the job at Rich Central...and if it was, bet you the school board will be doing something about it now. Yeah, blame media & blame folks for rushing to judgment, but hey, he just should have known better!

Omg are all these comments and attacking of the Rich Central young ladies necessary? If this coach did not do anything to harm a child who cares what he writes who he supposedly slept with and what his side hustle job is. It sounds like he had a positive influence on his students who seem to respect him. Kudos to Mrs. Craig for standing you for her son!

I meant up for her son.

If you have not read the book how can you comment on the book being, distasteful & inappropriate. The point of the book is to inform adults of how to have a positive relationship. Comments are piggybacking on common statements of negativity. Judge not less ye be judged.--Ms. Gee

I'm a Rich Central alum and Mr. Craig was an incredibly inspiring staff member when I attended RC. He encouraged his students to excel academically and socially. Additionally, Craig pushed his students to get a higher education and attend college. I currently hold a BA in journalism and I know what makes an interesting article. While this article is well written and has an attention grabbing headline and lead, it is only reveals snippets of Craig's book. The power of the media is amazing. His book sales will sore even if this controversy surrounding his book is detrimental to his career at Rich Central.

The real problem that will probably go unaddressed is the District 227 hiring practices. What, specifically, is done to ensure people of good character are hired in the first place? This sounds like the need for a coach or 'a friend of a friend' needs a job drive the employment decision.

Well, I haven't read the book in its entirety, but I did wander over to Amazon to take advantage of the "look inside" option. What I read was pretty rudimentary and offensive. It certainly didn't stimulate a desire for me to buy it. I also noticed very poor writing, grammar, and punctuation. I guess this happens from time to time to the best of human beings, however, this book also has an editor and a note from her that also has grammatical errors. Oh, the irony!

As we all know, opinions are like a**holes and every "body" has one. I believe in being able to judge people based on their choices and decisions. For example, if you have a neighbor on a sexual predator watch list, would you let him babysit your children even if he has turned his life around, gotten a job, a degree, and became an ordained minister? Probably not.

We use judgement every day in our lives. Unfortunately, not everyone is equipped with the best judgement and some end up making poor choices that they'll have to deal with. Karma is real but the best part is that we get to learn lessons from our mistakes (only if we believe they were mistakes).

If anything, this book can be essential in teaching women how to spot and stay away from people who think like Mr. Craig. At school he may wear a cape and save lives through his dedication to academia, but who is he in the strip club or when hanging out with his friends? That's my opinion and not necessarily the truth for all people. :-)

Erica,
I understand that he is someone that you have considered to be a role model for you.
High School is a very pivotal point for young adults. Many are navigating to adulthood very fast, including being involved in romantic relationships. Many teens and preteens are already having sex within intense and emotional driven relationships. I do not agree with this path, but that is the state of affairs in today's society. As a coach and a guidance counselor, it should be realized that you would be looked up to and seen as a model for behavior, in school/on the court, or outside of school. Students who read, will get a copy of your book and hang on to every word as it is law. Especially, it the content swirls and relates to sex and relationships. Which most teens are naturally drawn to. I would have loved to see him write about how to be a good husband/wife, father/mother, friend, productive citizen, intellectual, defender of justice, empathy, serving mankind and the earth, etc..So many other necessary things that we need to work on, to put energy into that is light years ahead of any sexual "manual". I pray that he continues to protect his modesty, his wife's , his co-workers, and the girls/boys he comes in contact with.
We have enough focus on carnal desires today, lets move beyond that please, teens are watching, listening, and learning.

What a teacher does in there private life outside of school should be mostly there own business. Unless they are breaking the law or doing something within the community itself that is obscene. Be the author of a book with adult sexual information in it should not be grounds for suspension of a teacher. Unless the teacher is somehow associating himself to the high school in the book. It was dumb of the school district administration to even publicly acknowledge the existence of the book. It should have been privately reviewed. I would sue the school district if I were this teacher. For the emotional distress and damage to his reputation that the school disctrict's actions have cause him. Authoring a book should almost never be reason to be terminated. The teacher being the author should have never even been brought to the publics attention by the school board.

As a high school guidance counselor and girl's basketball coach, he should have known better. There's nothing wrong with moonlighting as a bouncer or being an author. But why would a person knowingly associate themselves with those (for some, unseemingly) activities when the public is entrusting them to lead and guide their children? Why would one take that chance? In an era where people lose their jobs and get removed from sports teams all because of their pics and comments in social media, it should have been easy for this coach/counselor to understand what might be at stake. After all, Illinois is an "at-will" state, meaning a person can be hired at will, and fired at will. Given the fact that he's resigned his post as basketball coach and has now been placed on administrative leave, the writing is on the wall (no pun intended). As mentioned in my first post, he will likely have a successful career as an author...that may be his true calling. Call me an ignorant idiot if you will; I don't have to read the book to wish him well.

1) It does not appear that Rich Central has graduated (or, evidently, hired)anyone with a decent command of the English language in years;
2) the bar for a good male role model in the Rich Central community must be very low indeed; and
3) As far as I can tell this lowlife has only given up his coaching position, and will still hold on to his sweet, well paid counseling gig and his platinum-plated benefit package....

http://www.familytaxpayers.org/ftf/ftf_teacher.php?tid=71308&year=2011

Let me start by saying this: Every person has a right to voice their opinion in every way imaginable.So for ppl to actually drag an authors name in the dirt just because you happen to have soft feelings; GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now Im not saying i agree with every little thing in the book but you ppl have no GOD giving right to do what your doing, his book has nothing to do with his career with the school system. So for weak minded individuals who want band-wagon or no real insight or even the possibility of not opening your mind: Go Kill Yaself!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with all of the commonsense, well thought out and impassioned comments by the ADULTS out there. It was a HUGE error in judgement on Coach Craig's part. ADULTS WHO ARE IN POSITIONS OF INFLUENCING YOUNG LIVES (EDUCATION) ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING POSITIVE IMAGES! What is done in the dark always comes to light, and Mr. Craig's authoring this book, while for adults was meant to be found out. I do not think that book of this nature was meant to be taken seriously. He wrote this book for the "Love & Hip Hop", "Basketball Wives" and other trashy shows of that ilk crowd. He had a target audience in mind. Possibly the target audience was the young ladies at Rich Central. It would be very telling if Mr. Craig hid his literary aspirations from his employer at Rich Central. Also, the responses by capricorn and erica w suggest that Coach Craig has prevailed. These impressionable young ladies fell for his allure hook, line and sinker. These two fail to understand that the problem lies in Mr. Craig's judgement to write a book of this nature while employed as a steward over young children.

I'm already imaging the Dr. Phil Show on this sorry mess.

I'm trying to figure out how Mr. Craig gathered his information about vaginal walls. Since they cannot be visualized without a speculum and bright light he must have had some interesting conversations on his dates. Seriously, the material sounds about like what adolescent boys dream up in locker room conversations. Although he is entitled to due process anyone with an I pad and an I tunes card can read the material. It would appear to be easily accessible to curious students for $3.99. I don't think he can be an effective guidance counselor going forward.

NotBuyingIt, going solely off the interactions I had with Craig while attending Rich Central yes I would be okay with him working with any child of mine. Unless he recently developed these ideals I do not believe they have interfered with his ability work with youth. Gina, thanks for taking the time out to edit my comment. I'll be sure to send you all my scripts before they hit the teleprompter. Oh I forgot I already have a great editor for that. Thanks again though :-)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-school-to-discuss-status-of-counselor-who-wrote-racy-book-20120918,0,5047191.story?track=rss

Someone challenged my reference to the "inevitable lawsuit" Here it comes.... Any lawyer dumb enough to really believe that "First Amendment Rights" were violated will get crushed trying to pursue this case.......

Lol I just tranferred from central and mr.craig was my counselor. As hilarilous as I think this is, Rich Central is a mess. the kids get bullied, like me, and those teachers don't care anything about the students and now this.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with that judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measure back to you

I went to college with this guy - and for the most part he was the least dangerous out of all the jerks. Truth is he was jus as much a womanizer as most of the guys on a college campus but he wasn't harmful and in my experience he was a good guy. the problem here is not his freedom or speech being taken it was his own lack of good judgement that has ended his career and caused this embarrassment. After you begin educating/coaching/mentoring children, you have reduced your freedom of speech significantly. Ever hear of a pen-name??? He could have written this book and released it under a "alias". Dude, ur a girls' team coach, that would make any parent nervous! If he's got a helluva attorney he will win this suit, but in reality I think he should get nothing...just a lesson learned. It was foolish PERIOD.