Che Scott is a very good-looking man who has not had sex in 10 years. As a 21-year-old UM football player, Scott took a vow of abstinence. The now-minister and chaplain for the Heat doesn't plan on sleeping with anyone again until he's married, out of respect for his future wife. At 31, he's written a book called I Like Girls about a lifestyle that he refers to as "Honor" or the "New Guy Code."
Thursday night, Scott spoke to about 60 people at Books & Books in Coral Gables. Well-meaning moms and dads filled fold-up chairs, hoping to learn how they could use I Like Girls to prevent their teenagers from turning into jackasses. And although his message of chastity and restraint is likely to fall on many deaf ears in Miami -- and especially in the Heat locker room -- there was one South Florida contingent who was clearly listening at the event. Miami-Dade School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho was there to take in the talk, flanked by school board members Susie Castillo and Carlos Curbelo.
See also: Carvalho's Liaison
Carvalho even took the podium himself. "This stands as a testament that education at all levels is important," the superintendent said in praise of I Like Girls. "Ethical living is important, moral living is important."
His worldview seems to have shifted in a few short years. In 2008, the married Carvalho was embroiled in a scandal involving improper relations with a then-27-year-old Miami Herald reporter covering schools. Although Carvalho denies the affair, a leaked series of inappropriate e-mails may (or may not) have lead Tania deLuzuriaga to later resign from the Boston Globe.
Steven Myers, on the Poynter website described the mess this way:
Personal e-mails purportedly between deLuzuriaga and Alberto Carvalho surfaced a couple weeks ago while Carvalho was being considered for a promotion from associate superintendent to the top job over the Miami-Dade school system.The messages, most of them apparently from deLuzuriaga and dated between July and September 2007, indicate a romantic relationship between the two and suggest that they work together to help each other.
Carvalho at the time, said he had a "playful" relationship with the reporter. That long ago incident didn't stop the politician from fawning over the former Hurricanes walk-on. "I'd like to formally invite you into our schools to speak with our boys," he said. "I think we need to put you in front of them as the embodiment of what we hope they will exemplify as they interact with young women in our schools."
Editor's Note: Writer Che Scott sent the following response to this article after it was published:
In response to the article entitled "Superintendent Carvalho Invites Minister to talk about Abstinence" Which was published on Feb.7th.Books and Books Coral Gables, hosted an author event for my book "I Like Girls/ Honor: The New Guy Code." A book designed to challenge boys to treat girls in the same way that they would want their sisters, future wives and daughters to be treated. We had a standing room only crowd of parents, educators, students and community leaders.
In the opening section of I Like Girls I shared my decision to remain abstinent until I was married. However, the book is not about abstinence, or any particular world-view for that matter but simply teaches young men the importance of honoring girls.
Below you'll find the passage from my book that Allie referenced
"I moved to Miami in 2003 and it didn't take me long to see that despite its proximity to my hometown of West Palm Beach, Miami was completely unlike the city in which I grew up. In the midst of the parties, athletics, beaches and beautiful women of Miami, I was going through a major spiritual makeover. It was then that I decided I was going to change the way that I viewed the world. One major part of that change was deciding that I would not have sex again until I was married. It meant that how I related to all women had to be different than the way that I would eventually relate to my wife. I felt that if I was ever to be married, I owed it to my wife to honor her beforehand. This also meant I had to consider the future wives that would cross my path along the way. Did I not owe it to them to honor, protect, and leave them whole for the man they would eventually marry?
I think society would answer that question with an emphatic "no." Society would say, "Live and do whatever comes naturally. Who cares if feelings are hurt? Take advantage of your opportunities because she's not your responsibility." Ultimately, you'll have to make your own decision on when to have sex and I think it's important to ask yourself, "What's my motivation for entering into a relationship with her and what legacy do I hope to leave with this girl (who is someone's daughter, sister, loved one and friend)?"
Allie Conti claims that the book is about abstinence and while that reflects my personal commitment, it does not reflect the message of the book or the discussions that were had on the evening reported.
As far as her comments and allegations aimed at the superintendent, his message to our audience inspired many and we couldn't have been more thrilled to have him with us. Parents, students and other educators were so encouraged by him and we are better off as a community for having him as our superintendent.
For more on I like Girls, please visit my personal site at newguycode.com
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