Syosset students show support for teacher

Five Syosset schoolboys got a real-life civics lesson in a Hempstead court Friday morning - with their former teacher as the defendant.

Some wearing black "FREE EDRICH" T-shirts and red rubber wristbands, the teen supporters went to First District Court to see the teacher, Ian Edrich, face a misdemeanor child endangerment charge.

A Hamlet quotation - "That it should come to this!" - was emblazoned on the shirts; the apparel are on sale on the Web site FreeEdrich.com.

Since 35-year-old Edrich was arrested Jan. 7 for maintaining a journal correspondence Nassau police called "immoral, unhealthy and inappropriate" with a 13-year-old boy at H.B. Thompson Middle School, some of his former students have made the apparel, joined support groups on Facebook, written a blog, signed a petition and convened rallies.

The Syosset Central School District said last month it suspended the teacher, but the district didn't return calls Friday for comment.

In the journal, the boy wrote he loved Edrich and "did not want to live" without his friendship, according to court records. Police allege Edrich would in turn write inappropriate things to encourage him.

After discovering the handwritten journal, the boy's mother concluded Edrich was "manipulating and controlling my son."

On Friday, when Edrich peered through the courtroom door, the students gushed.

"I saw him! Mr. Edrich!" one student whispered to another.

A fellow teacher in the pews blew a kiss.

Edrich's attorney met with the judge and the prosecutor for just a few minutes. His attorney, Anthony J. Colleluori, proclaimed his client's innocence and said the government promised to turn over the journal to the defense.

"I think this entire thing is stupid in a way and shouldn't be happening," 14-year-old Tyler Walsh said afterward. Added Richard Cao, 13: "They should be dropped because every child kept the journal" and entries were appropriate.

Among the chaperons was Cao's father Ming, who called Edrich "one of the best teachers I've seen in the school."