To start off, I have been very intrigued lately by a story that has been in the news on Channel 11. Two teachers from Whitmer High School have been suspended with pay while an investigation is conducted regarding their relationships with students after the students graduated. I am especially intrigued because I graduated from this high school and knew one of the teachers that is under investigation. To me, this situation is unfortunate, especially considering the fact that this teacher is a good educator. However, I firmly believe that if teachers are having relationships with high school students after graduation, than there was some sort of unethical practices going on while the students were in school. In my opinion, students and teachers of the opposite sex don’t just happen to become involved after the student is no longer attending school; there has to be some sort of conversation/assumption that something will happen post- graduation. In the case of this teacher, multiple girls have come forward claiming that this was the case- I don’t think this is coincidental.
The two male teachers are being investigated for waiting until girls turn 18 and graduate so they could have a sexual relationship with them. Is this against the law? According to the school board, the sexual relationship is not illegal, as long as the girls are no longer in school. However, they are investigating them based on the idea of “grooming.” Supposedly this is where these teachers are using the girls’ high school years to develop an emotional relationship with them. They then use this relationship to get closer to the girls, and eventually start making suggestive comments regarding their appearance, and the acts that are a possibility upon graduation. Upon graduation, these teachers have been accused of taking these girls on a few dates, buying them alcohol, and then developing a sexual relationship with them. In my opinion this is illegal. These teachers are using their position in the workplace to get what they want from these girls. Some may say that the girls are consenting adults, but that’s not the issue at hand here. These men are using their position, status, and power to manipulate these young girls- making them believe that they are really interested in them as individuals, not just interested in sexual encounters. And I’m going to assume that most of these girls had no idea this was going on. As I said before, I knew one of the teachers and would have never thought this could be true- I am saddened to realize this is the case. Not because I feel bad for him---he knew the possible consequences of his actions, but because now we have lost out on a good teacher---someone who was truly able to effectively teach his students and help them become more knowledgeable adults.
I don’t know much about the other teacher, just what I’ve read in the newspaper and seen on the news. I think it is ridiculous that this teacher has been suspended without pay twice now, for the same accusations. He actually had a girl come to his apartment, drove her in his car, and shared information with her regarding his marital separation. Can I ask why this man is still able to teach in the school? And then he was suspended again because he wasn’t supposed to have contact with this student, and he violated that condition! Why is he still teaching? This is beyond my comprehension…if a school board knows these activities are going on, why do they still employ these educators? Both of these men have been caught buying alcohol for a minor girl at a bar, they both went to a girl’s house post-graduation and brought alcohol with them, and at least one of them is accused of having sexual relationships with these girls-I’m not sure about the other guy. This to me is just ridiculous! I understand that people make mistakes, but I have heard that they’ve both been employing these practices for over five years now. It is amazing to me that this has not been stopped prior to now.
The school board explained that both of these teachers will face a hearing this Thursday, October 9th. At that time they will hear the allegations against them, and will then have a chance to state their case. I am interested to see where this story leads. I hope that neither of these men will step foot into a classroom again. It’s not that I want their careers to be ruined, but as a mother and future educator, teachers like this don’t deserve to be in our schools. Under no circumstance should any suggestive comments/conversations be taking place in our schools with under-age females. These girls are being manipulated into developing relationships with these men, probably assuming they’re the only ones and it’s not that big of a deal because it’s not like it happens all the time. How wrong were they? I cannot imagine the way these girls feel now, knowing the truth about these men and realizing that they were used and manipulated so these teachers could take advantage of them for their own desires. It seriously disgusts me and I am looking forward to following the story of what these men’s outcomes are.
So I ask you all this question: Is what these two men are doing illegal? Should they be reprimanded for developing sexual relationships with students after they’ve graduated? If so, what should their fate be?
I am really looking forward to receiving some feedback on this issue…I’d like to know what other people think about this situation. Do you agree or disagree with me? Why?