Do you think a state should prosecute a teacher for having sex with students if the students are of legal age?

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Do you think a state should prosecute a teacher for having sex with students if the students are of legal age?

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Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
A teacher in Texas was found guilty today of having sex with five of her students. Teacher/student sexual relationships are societally undesirable, but it should be noted that all of the "victims" were at least 18 years old (age of sexual consent in Texas is currently 17) when the incidents occurred.

"Despite their age, Texas law forbids sexual relationships between teachers and students, even if the students are legal adults and consent to the relationship. Several of the victims testified Thursday to not wanting to testify in the trial with one of them saying he didn't want to press charges."

The full story is HERE.

Do you think a state should prosecute a teacher for having sex with students if the students are of consensual age?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Yes.
Beck , VanillaFreeSex , OhMy! , DeliciousSurprise , Airen Wolf , Gracie , Two Grand , Deeder , married with children , LAndJ , gsfanatic , neil i. , Jaimes , <3BF , amplified to rock , RedKyuubi , G&L , Stagger13 , marigolds6 , travelnurse , tiniest bird , Spring , coolts12
23  (29%)
No.
Petite Valentine , SneakersAndPearls , Amber1319 , calliope , Katie , SMichelle , Dreamy Demon , Augustxsins , Rossie , xMila , solitudinarian , KrissyNovacaine , Leather & Lace , Gone (LD29) , Gdom , ksparkles16 , edenguy , Yaoi Pervette (deleted) , Bullfroggy and Rose , *Camoprincess* , Noelle , michael scofield , shoutitout87 , Do emu , rom323 , satinlady550 , Incendiaire , Sima-pusya , padmeamidala , Billie Bones , novanilla , mdnght , Daofan , icyqueen , nosrslylol , Missmarc , GONE! , roskat , misty82 , ToyGeek , hyacinthgirl , Llahsram , Supervixen , Falsepast , bayosgirl , sweetpea12 , RubyBlue , llellsee
48  (62%)
Other.
Pi , SkylarrStarr , deltalima , namelesschaos , glasskitten , AliMc , Apirka
7  (9%)
Total votes: 78
Poll is closed
08/17/2012
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Contributor: SneakersAndPearls SneakersAndPearls
Just my personal opinion here: If a teacher has sex with a student who is above the legal age, they should get fired, but not prosecuted.
08/17/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Yes, because she is a teacher and she fully knows she should not being having sex with students regardless of their age. If they were legal age then she didn't have long before she wasn't going to be their teacher. She knows the laws and knew exactly what she was doing was against it.
08/17/2012
Contributor: SMichelle SMichelle
My opinion? No. The students are of the legal age, so it's not a state issue. It is, however, something that she should be fired for. But, jail time for sleeping with an 18 year old? ...No.
08/17/2012
Contributor: SnuggleBuddy SnuggleBuddy
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
A teacher in Texas was found guilty today of having sex with five of her students. Teacher/student sexual relationships are societally undesirable, but it should be noted that all of the "victims" were at least 18 years old (age of sexual ... more
I can't believe she got five years...bet they don't have that issue come up for a while.
08/17/2012
Contributor: Dreamy Demon Dreamy Demon
You know, I saw these headlines fly by when I was reading the news today, and I didn't even look at the story. This is messed up.
08/17/2012
Contributor: Augustxsins Augustxsins
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Just my personal opinion here: If a teacher has sex with a student who is above the legal age, they should get fired, but not prosecuted.
Agreed. It breaches professional codes of conduct, but the activity in and of itself is not inherently illegal.
08/17/2012
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
yes, it's still a position of power and should be avoided to not chance abusing that power. i mean what about grades if nothing else. even in university i think it should be frowned upon if ur in their class.

but...i have dated bosses in the past. in fact as soon as my 18th bday hit.
08/17/2012
Contributor: Pi Pi
Persons in authority should never take advantage of that position or even appear to and prosecution is fine in my book.

One caveat if the person is no-longer in authority such as after the school year etc then it should not be prosecuted but I would still think termination would be in-order.
08/17/2012
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
I think that teachers that have sex with their students while they are still an active student under that teacher should be fired and prosecuted. If the student is a matriculated student but is not in any classes with that particular educator--and will not take classes with that teacher in the future--they should not be prosecuted.
08/18/2012
Contributor: SkylarrStarr SkylarrStarr
I think it depends upon the circumstances and should be determined on a case by case basis. Even though a student may be of legal age, that does not mean that the teacher did not take advantage of their position of authority. Let's be real...if a student is 17 or 18, they are about to graduate. Keep it in your pants until they walk for graduation if the sex is that important to you.
08/18/2012
Contributor: KrissyNovacaine KrissyNovacaine
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Just my personal opinion here: If a teacher has sex with a student who is above the legal age, they should get fired, but not prosecuted.
I agree with this.
08/18/2012
Contributor: Gone (LD29) Gone (LD29)
There's a lot she did wrong, and she should have consequences. That being said, being prosecuted and facing jail time is just ridiculous. Should she be fired? Yes! Could her marriage be in danger if they don't have an open relationship? Absolutely! But I'm floored that this woman is going to jail for having affairs with partners over the age of consent.
08/18/2012
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
I seem to be agreeing with the majority, here. As a teacher, she was abusing her position of power - maybe she didn't mean to, but that is what happened. I don't think she should be jailed, but sacked, yes. If at least just to avoid favouritism and unfair grading.
08/18/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
(EF Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
A teacher in Texas was found guilty today of having sex with five of her students. Teacher/student sexual relationships are societally undesirable, but it should be noted that all of the "victims" were at least 18 years old (age of sexual ... more
There is an unequal power vacuum between a student and a teacher regardless of whether the student is of age. Hell they frown on this in High level College studies. It's a class for a year if it's real love it can wait till the teacher has graduated or failed the student!
08/18/2012
Contributor: Gdom Gdom
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Just my personal opinion here: If a teacher has sex with a student who is above the legal age, they should get fired, but not prosecuted.
This. It IS ethically questionable for a teacher to have sex with students regardless of age simply because of the inherently skewed power dynamics that exist between teacher and student (the fact that the student turned 18 does not make them magically immune from potential abuses of influence and power on the teacher's part). But that's the same issue you might get with employer-employee relationships and we certainly don't consider those egregious enough to justify criminal proceedings.

The teacher should be fired but not prosecuted, plain and simple. And even if the relationships were perfectly healthy (honestly, I doubt it, but it IS possible), if the teacher were not fired, the backlash from parents (followed by pulling their children out of the class or the school as a whole) would be so strong as to be unbearable for the school and possible the school district. Managing public opinion is important when you depend on the public's support, but criminal proceedings are completely unnecessary and unjustified in this case.
08/18/2012
Contributor: ksparkles16 ksparkles16
No, they should be fired but not prosecuted after 18.
08/18/2012
Contributor: edenguy edenguy
I don't think the state should be involve but the teacher could be sanctioned by the school
08/18/2012
Contributor: Yaoi Pervette (deleted) Yaoi Pervette (deleted)
I agree a teacher having relations with an adult student should be fired rather than thrown in jail.
08/18/2012
Contributor: Taylor Taylor
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Just my personal opinion here: If a teacher has sex with a student who is above the legal age, they should get fired, but not prosecuted.
I agree with this. I don't think it should be illegal if the student is not underage, but it is obviously VERY inappropriate and shouldn't keep their job.
08/18/2012
Contributor: Bullfroggy and Rose Bullfroggy and Rose
Quote:
Originally posted by SneakersAndPearls
Just my personal opinion here: If a teacher has sex with a student who is above the legal age, they should get fired, but not prosecuted.
I agree
08/18/2012
Contributor: deltalima deltalima
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
A teacher in Texas was found guilty today of having sex with five of her students. Teacher/student sexual relationships are societally undesirable, but it should be noted that all of the "victims" were at least 18 years old (age of sexual ... more
In this case, if the students didn't want to press charges, she shouldn't face charges especially because they were of legal age. If the school/state wants to pursue a case, that would be a different story. I started dating a teacher ONLY after class (in grad school).
08/18/2012
Contributor: Gracie Gracie
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
There is an unequal power vacuum between a student and a teacher regardless of whether the student is of age. Hell they frown on this in High level College studies. It's a class for a year if it's real love it can wait till the teacher has ... more
I agree. It is more about the unequal power than the ages! No one in a position of authority should prey on those he/she have been entrusted to help!
08/18/2012
Contributor: Two Grand Two Grand
I feel there is a line that should not be crossed it's not a matter of age itis a matter of principle, if you are a person in authority, you need to matitain it. Having taught on a college level and having some very attractive and sexy students offer me favors for a higher grade, was it worth losing my job over NO, the school policy was no contact, Some of my friends lost thier jobs.
08/18/2012
Contributor: Noelle Noelle
Quote:
Originally posted by Petite Valentine
A teacher in Texas was found guilty today of having sex with five of her students. Teacher/student sexual relationships are societally undesirable, but it should be noted that all of the "victims" were at least 18 years old (age of sexual ... more
SHe is in a position of trust of couse, but is she was just a neighbor or even a co worker, she would not be in any trouble. The guys are consenting adults. I mean if my son could join the military at 18, then I feel he is a consenting adult.

It is a waste of resources and time to convict someone if the "victimized" party isn't willing to press charges. Her life is basically ruined, she has no job and will possibly have to register as a sex offender.(depends on the state, some states say no regsitering if the "victim" is an adult.)

Yes, she crossed a line, and should have lost her job, but no, I don't feel she is a "threat to anyone" and her husband is the one she should have to deal with, not some judge. Just sayn'.
08/18/2012
Contributor: Noelle Noelle
Quote:
Originally posted by Gracie
I agree. It is more about the unequal power than the ages! No one in a position of authority should prey on those he/she have been entrusted to help!
Do you really feel she was preying on them? Just wondering, not arguing your point.
08/18/2012
Contributor: Noelle Noelle
Quote:
Originally posted by Gdom
This. It IS ethically questionable for a teacher to have sex with students regardless of age simply because of the inherently skewed power dynamics that exist between teacher and student (the fact that the student turned 18 does not make them ... more
Agree totally!!
08/18/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by Two Grand
I feel there is a line that should not be crossed it's not a matter of age itis a matter of principle, if you are a person in authority, you need to matitain it. Having taught on a college level and having some very attractive and sexy students ... more
Without a doubt, she should not be allowed to continue teaching because having sex with a student violates the ethical standards of the position. But jail time for an extra-marital affair with consenting adults just because she's in a position of authority? If that were federal law we'd have to wave goodbye to half of the politicians in office.
08/18/2012
Contributor: namelesschaos namelesschaos
I picked other because the specifics of the law would matter and because generally speaking:

a) I have nothing against a law saying high school teachers can't sleep with their students.
b) I have nothing against with a law saying people over 18 can sleep with any other consenting person other 18, either.

Both are arbitrary lines designed to serve legitimate justifiable ends. Whether statement B takes precedent over statement A, or vice vera is not a big enough deal for me to have strong feelings one way or the other. Line gets draw a little differently either way its follow the line or do the time.
08/19/2012
Contributor: shoutitout87 shoutitout87
I voted no. I agree that it is HIGHLY inappropriate and would be grounds for termination, but I don't necessarily think it's a legal issue.
08/19/2012