Why Are More Teachers Having Sex with Their Students?

Is it me or is sex between teachers and students becoming much more common?

This week the Associated Press reported:

"A 45-year-old former Garden City High School teacher has been charged after authorities say she engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct involving a student at school and the boy's home.

The Wayne County prosecutor's office says Virginia Ann Homberg of Saline also sent sexually explicit pictures to the teen. Prosecutor Kym Worthy said it took place between December 2007 through this year.

Worthy said the student was between 14 and 16 during that period...."

It seems as if every other week another story comes out about a teacher-student sexual relationship. We're all familiar with the sensational stories like Mary Kay LeTourneau, who had two children with her sixth grade student in Washington, or Debra Lafave of Florida (pictured above) who seduced her 14-year-old student. Both stories which have become the subject of numerous editorials, talk shows and Lifetime movies.

Although less sensational, equally disturbing stories of teacher-student sex are becoming more and more frequent in the Metro sections of our local papers. For example, D.C. is actually proposing legislation that would criminalize a teacher having sex with a student no matter how old the student is. This was after a teacher was accused of impregnating a 16-year-old special needs student. The age of consent in D.C. is 16 so, without this law, there actually would be no criminal consequences to a teacher having sex with a 16-year-old student.

Above, Angela Palmer, an employee at a California school, was fired after being caught having sex with a 16-year-old female student in her car.

It's scary that is has come to this.

It seems these forbidden relationships are happening more often. Though I must admit, in a society where boundaries are becoming more nebulous and in some cases non-existent, it's not very surprising. Today, teachers can have unfettered access to vulnerable students through cell phones and e-mail. Gone are the gatekeepers of Mothers and Fathers who answered the home phone and screened every caller. Is it any wonder that when students can watch their teacher posing in a thong on Facebook, the lines of appropriate behavior may become blurry?

Children are becoming more exposed to sexuality through the media at earlier and earlier ages, and too often, the parental guidance on issues of sex and behavior is sorely lacking or sometimes nonexistent. There is no doubt that this combination can prove dangerous in a world where so many teachers seem to think that these hormone-filled, older-than-they look students are just ripe fruits for the picking.

Andrew Sewell, above, was a high school principal in Alabama who was arrested for having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. (photo courtesy of JAILBETA)

But teenagers are stupid: Young girls think nothing of sending lurid photos to cell phones; young men think nothing of then sending those pictures to friends or posting them on the Internet. We expect teenagers to do stupid things, because they don't know better, and let's face it, we all did stupid things.

But what is the teacher's excuse? Do they blame it on "fast ass" girls? Smooth talking, hard-bodied teenage lotharios? What has happened in our society where it suddenly became acceptable to sleep with the very young people you are responsible for teaching?

Christy Martin, a teacher in Florida, was arrested after sending pornographic pics of herself to a 14-year-old male student.

Is this the logical product of a generation whose parents treat them like BFFs? Are teachers taking advantage of vulnerable children? Is it just the inevitable consequence of a new world without boundaries? Children without role models? Schools without parental involvement? Pedophiles disguised as teachers? Cougars gone wild? Or maybe it's just those "fast ass" girls?

So many questions, very few answers. However, this is becoming an increasing problem that threatens the very nature and integrity of our educational system and is destroying untold numbers of young people. We must be vigilant in protecting our children. Predators are no longer the creepy guys in the raincoats across from the school. If your child is spending a lot of extra time with their teacher after class or if those evening tutoring sessions are going a little too late, you may want to investigate and make sure that algebra is the only thing she's learning.