From Mary Kay Letourneau to Debra LaFave and countless scandalous school teachers (male and female) in between, there seems to be an epidemic of sex scandals involving teachers and their students in the nation’s middle and high schools. It’s an issue that is getting a lot of attention in the mainstream media, as well as on the Internet and on various social platforms. It’s also one that experts are beginning to take seriously, and school systems are beginning to, too.
Epidemic Or Timeless Occurrence?
Whether it is fair to call the problem a true “epidemic,” or whether we are simply more aware of these types of relationships than we as a nation have been in the past is probably another subject for debate entirely. There are many who say these things have gone on for centuries, and there is more than likely much truth to that. There are many who say the incidence of teachers having sex is no more or less prevalent than it ever was, but that we are simply made more aware now due to a combination of factors, such as students being more courageous and forthcoming, and the mainstream media eating up and churning out these types of stories which make excellent headline-grabbers.
It’s hard to know what the case really is, since the absence of reporting from years past makes it really only a guessing game. Nevertheless, some schools and experts are putting their efforts into how to curb the problem. After all, the issue is less about whether it’s gone on for years, and more about what to do about it. It is almost irrelevant that teacher sex scandals may be timeless in nature.
What Can Be Done?
The big question is, “What can schools do about it?”
It would be nice for schools, students, and parents to be able to trust adults in authority, but clearly that is not enough in this circumstance or in so many others. So the problem needs some real attention and real solutions.
Taking the issue head-on, experts say that first and foremost boundaries need to be reinforced and clarified. They believe that statutory rape and sex with minors is a legal and moral issue that gets too little attention and is easily swept under the rug.
Another leading recommendation is that students not be allowed contact outside of school, or to maintain a relationship with teachers outside of school and/or on social media sites, via unmonitored email, et cetera. The facts of the most famous cases reveal that teachers who had sexual relationships with students were able to access them easily out of school and after hours.
One of the other major problems that has been observed is the lack of uniformity in regards to policy addressing the issue. Each school system has its own policy, blurring the lines and making it more difficult to penalize offenders. Many officials think addressing that problem on a state-wide or larger basis is the first step.
Mary E. Ward writes on finding the best institution to get a masters in education administration.