"I guess it leaves me wondering-- to which of MY former drinking buddies' classrooms would I have entrusted my son?"

I guess you're not telling us where you're really coming from Susan. Did you have a wild debauched past before you got religion? You're hinting around a lot but maybe you need to start a new thread without this distracting example to tell us what's on your mind. Or if it's not about you, I'd suggest you find an example of truly mind-boggling indiscretion online that led to consequences...and baffled surprise by the participants and the media.

Personally I have no qualms about my kids being in a classroom with any of my past or present drinking, or smoking buddies who have become teachers. (of course, that's a subset of my acquaintances that includes practically everyone I've known who came of age in the 70's, and now includes some of their adult kids too!) Those who have gravitated towards the education profession seem to have done well at it, some exceptionally so--and I don't recall any of them having to leave in disgrace.   

Best
W-O