| It began to seep into the national | | | | doesn't make the latter any less |
| conscious with the tawdry tale of Mary | | | | damaging to the victim. |
| Kay Laterneau and her then teenaged | | | | Another popular argument is that young |
| lover Vili Fualaau. Most recently, | | | | boys, as opposed to young girls, are |
| middle school teacher Kelsey Peterson | | | | mature enough to know what they are |
| took a young student across state lines | | | | doing. This is not only a generalized |
| and into Mexico so that she could enjoy | | | | falsehood, but even if it is true |
| a sexual liaison with the boy away from | | | | between individuals of the same or |
| the prying eyes of small town residents | | | | opposite sex on a case by case basis, it |
| in the community they both lived. | | | | doesn't make the situation acceptable. |
| Improper student teacher relationships | | | | There are many children who are |
| are nothing new, and it's certain that | | | | remarkably mature for their age in some |
| these stories commanded so much | | | | respects, but never in all respects. |
| attention due to the fact that the | | | | More importantly, it's amazing how |
| teachers involved are women. Abusive, | | | | people can assume a level of emotional |
| innocence stealing and morally corrupt | | | | maturity based solely on physical |
| teachers of both sexes have been taking | | | | maturity. Just because a person s |
| advantage of student's youth since the | | | | capable of doing something doesn't mean |
| dawn of mankind. Of course, it's no | | | | they are ready, or are ready for the |
| reflection on the profession as a whole, | | | | associated consequences. |
| as a percentage from any other | | | | That's why we have laws to keep underage |
| profession would undoubtedly be just as | | | | kids from drinking. Those laws are not |
| guilty were they exposed to children as | | | | only meant to protect children from the |
| part of their vocation. In fact, there's | | | | misuse of alcohol at an age where |
| no evidence to prove that it's happening | | | | situations can quickly become out of |
| more frequently, only that it's being | | | | control, but also to protect them from |
| publicized more widely in the current | | | | the future consequences of their present |
| age of investigative media exposure. | | | | actions even if they are able to handle |
| What is apparent, however, is an | | | | the consumption of alcohol. Can a child |
| unfortunate change in the way larger and | | | | physically have sex with an adult? |
| larger segments of society perceive | | | | Certainly, but that doesn't mean that |
| these relationships. This itself is a | | | | any child is capable of dealing with the |
| further indicator of the "dumbing down" | | | | emotional consequences of experiencing |
| of the US population and how an | | | | sexual intercourse before they are |
| unhealthy dose of double standards have | | | | ready, much less with an adult who is |
| managed to remain in place while moral | | | | supposed to be in charge of their well |
| standards fall by the wayside. | | | | being. Young boys in war torn regions of |
| Type in the name of almost any female | | | | Africa often find themselves with a gun |
| teacher convicted of this crime and | | | | in their hand committing acts of brutal |
| you'll undoubtedly come across comment | | | | violence against innocent civilians. |
| fields on blogs and under news feeds, | | | | Does the fact that their trigger fingers |
| most of which are rife with opinions on | | | | are mature enough to work in the same |
| how society shouldn't stand in the way | | | | way that an adults can make that |
| of true love. Since when did a twelve or | | | | situation acceptable? |
| thirteen year old know what true love | | | | If the public reacted to these |
| is? Some adults have no idea what it | | | | occurrences with well deserved, |
| means to truly love someone, including | | | | universal disdain, it's likely more of |
| themselves, which is why things of this | | | | the few teachers who engage in this |
| nature happen in the first place. It's | | | | despicable behavior would think twice |
| awfully presumptuous to state that a | | | | before doing so. If people continue to |
| couple must have found "true love" | | | | condone teachers having sex with their |
| simply because the relationship has | | | | underage students, regardless of the |
| lasted. Battered women are often found | | | | gender teachers and students involved, |
| to stay in abusive relationships, which | | | | it can only lead to more pain and |
| no one condones. The fact that one form | | | | suffering for not only the victims, but |
| of abuse is more visible than another | | | | society as a whole. |