Yesterday, the Bronx public school teacher who resigned from teaching after her writings about working as a Craigslist sex worker got her on the front page of every local rag hitched her wagon to notorious celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred. But we couldn't figure out why Melissa Petro did, especially since she had already agreed not to sue the Board of Education or the city. But it turns out she has more civic concerns in mind: she told reporters yesterday that she was developing a creative writing program for teens at risk for sexual exploitation. But our favorite Post columnist wasn't so charmed by her announcement: "This is one whore with chutzpah," wrote Walmart-loving, geese-hating Andrea Peyser.
After months of silence, trapped in one of the city's rubber rooms, Petro defended herself and her writings to reporters at the news conference: "My writing existed long before I was teaching. I write for adults, I write on sites that speak to adults, I don't think my students could comprehend my work - and if they did, they deserve an A," she said. Although, err, Peyser disagrees with her assessment of her former students: "[she] thinks her Bronx art students are too dumb to understand Petro's written ravings about her career as a proud and empowered slut." Peyser goes to town on Petro, mocking her "brown sky-high platform do-me pumps," calling her "clueless," and pointing out her "high-pitched, little-girl lisp" while cackling "ha ha."
And she is especially incredulous that Petro could be teaching children again: "Petro announced—get this—that she's reinventing herself as a crusader for "social justice" and plans to work with teens at risk for sexual exploitation. Holy cow! This woman is allowed to get her hands on more kids?" Ahh Peyser: whether you're giving Rudy Giuliani parenting advice or fetishizing long legs, never stop your crazy.
