Faculty-student romance...?

Paul R. Abramson, a professor at UCLA, recently wrote a book called Romance in the Ivory Tower: The Rights and Liberty of Conscience. This book is about whether the choice to engage in a faculty-student romance be protected or precluded. He argues that the right to choose a romantic partner is a fundamental right of conscience, protected by the U.S. Constitution.

There have also been many sex scandals among high school and middle schools. High school teachers have CONSENSUAL sex with students many times and have gone to jail for it. Do we feel this is right? Mary Kay Letourneau was a teacher who was sent to jail for “raping” her 13 year old student. She gave birth to his child twice.

Articles: http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/22/local/me-romance22

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/psychology/marykay_letourneau/1.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=4453608&page=1



Question: If a student is in college and above age, should professor-student dating, relationships and/or even sex be allowed? What about teacher-student relationships and sex within grade school?

Sam:

I believe that teacher student relationships are definitely not respected. Going to school should be just going there to learn, not seeing your teacher (the sweetheart). However, who is to say that being a student or teacher and dating the other student or teacher is wrong if it is true love? It is, in my eyes, immoral and wrong, and I think that my family will, for sure, degrade me for dating a teacher. I will also lose much respect for myself.

Andrea:

Students and teachers have relationships, this is a fact. We have relationships together at school, a professional relationship that exists only for an educational purpose, and nothing more. Then there will always be those relationships that take it too far. Much like the 'creepy treehouse' effect, where a teacher would utilize a communications website such as MySpace in order to use it in the classroom; only this is what should be called the "Creepy Classroom".

In elementary, secondary, and high school, it is not uncommon for students to have 'puppy love' crushes on their teacher. We see it all the time, especially if the student is a young girl, and the teacher happens to be that new, young, and attractive substitute, or if the student is a boy and his teacher is the 'smoking hot' librarian, just to name a couple of stereotypical examples. This crush could become the Creepy Classroom if the student or teacher took the initiative to "deepen" their relationship and take it outside of the classroom.

Take for example the recent strings of teacher-student sexual relationships, such as with Pamela Diehl-Moore, who engaged in several repeat offenses of sex with a student, aged thirteen, to her own age of forty-three. When the case was taken to court, the judge ruled lightly for Miss Moore, ultimately saying that it was no big deal because they "clicked" outside of a classroom relationship.

This article by David Kupelian goes into this particular case:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49389.

However, had Miss Moore been in fact a forty-three year old man having sex with a thirteen year old girl, the court and most of the country would have been rallying outside his door, demanding justice. This particular case is an example of how one's gender sorely affects how the world will treat you: if you are a woman, you can flirt your way out of a speeding ticket, but if you are a man, you may get a second ticket. If you are a woman who has sex with an underaged minor, you are not a sexual predator but an "outlet" for his budding sexual feelings. However, if you are a man having sex with an underaged minor, you are the scum of the earth.


On the same note, what about those relationships between students and their college professors in a university or community college environment? The vast majority of attending students are over the age of consent and could, legally, begin a sexual relationship with their professor if they so chose. It's not about whether or not they CAN engage in a sexual relationship as professor and student; it's a matter of that professor's ethics. Is it in fact ethical for a professor in a position of power to engage in a relationship with their student? One can argue that maybe they actually fell in love and are soul-mates. Another can argue that maybe the student REALLY WANTS that A on his or her next term paper. At the end of the day, is it morally acceptable for a teacher to have sex with their student? No. By definition, a teacher is 'one who teaches, especially one who is hired to teach'. Nowhere in that definition does it mention having inappropriate feelings or relations with their students. When I read that definition, I think of how I am trusting this person, my teacher, to give me the necessary knowledge for me to better myself, and educate myself further, so that I might make something better of the world around me.

Alexandria:

There has been this epidemic of teacher-student relationships lately, and it just sad. There is actually a site dedicated to posting information and pictures of teachers convicted of the crime. The question that puzzles me is, when a teacher comes to the conclusion that it's okay, even though it's for both men and women, why is it that men usually receive a harsher punishment? Either way, it is still unethical for grade school level through college level.

Alyssa:

I feel that if a student is in grade school, there should not be a relationship or sex or anything. The student is underage, and even though it may be consensual, it’s not right. If the student is in college and is above age, I think it’s not much of a problem. If this student has this teacher for class, then I feel it’s wrong. That professor may begin to play favorites and that’s very wrong. If a student and professor want to take this chance, then it should be allowed. I personally wouldn’t advise it though.