February 25, 2005

What is going on


What is going on in this world?

The local morning radio show has had a lot of fun with the "Tampa teacher". Better known to grown ups as Debra LaFave who is accused of having sex with her 14 year old student. The D.J.'s think it's funny and always say how when they were 14, this would be their ideal fantasy. A "hot" teacher coming on to them. They say they wish they had a "Tampa teacher" when they were in school.

Just the other day another teacher (an intern) was found having sex with her 16 year old student in a car parked in the back of their school. And the most disgusting part of this whole incident: "The intern's toddler was strapped into a car seat in the back when police discovered the two Saturday."

And I think we're all aware of Mary Kay Letourneau.

These radio talk show hosts voice a popular opinion that because the victims were boys, and because all boys are oversexed and fantasizing about their history teachers anyway; it's not that bad. I guess it is just the girls we should protect.

First of all, there is no excuse for any adult. No matter if they are male or female to willfully take away a child's innocence. No matter if that child is 17 or 12.

Second, an educator, especially, should never cross that line of intimacy with their student. It is grossly unfair to that student.

School should be a place for all students to go to learn and be given a fair chance to mature. Why should any boy or girl have to worry about having a sexual relationship with an adult? It makes me sick to think that these teachers could abuse their students in such a fashion. I am not being naive. I know what goes on in those schools. At 26, I am not too far removed from that scene and I know it is even worse now than it was then.

These teachers have broken a trust that can never be restored in their victims lives. No matter how much the boy wanted it or fantasized about it, the adult should have been grown up enough to not encourage the situation and to definitely not become involved.

Our society pushes sex on these kids. The magazines they read, the shows they watch, the books they read; all forms of media push the idea of premaritial sex and never give good alternatives as to why they should not engage. The discussion about the feelings involved, the maturity required and the level of intimacy that is established during a physical relationship seems to be non-existent. However having said that, two kids engaged in this type of activity may be a mistake for them to live with and struggle with for the rest of their lives. But they are on an equal playing ground even if misguided.

However bring an adult into this equation, and the playing ground becomes dangerously uneven. The adult, especially an authority figure such as a teacher, has all the power in the relationship and if you think for one moment these teachers are engaging in relationships with their students just for the intimacy, you are mistaken. They like the power. They like the control. They like the admiration. They are in it for their own selfish desires. They are the abusers and regardless if the kid is a 14 year old boy and the teacher is a "hot" Tampa teacher; it is still abuse and it is still a crime.

Posted by Jody at February 25, 2005 09:51 PM | TrackBack
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