Student-Teacher Relations Must Stay in the Classroom, Out of the Bedroom

The existence of teacher-student relationships, which have been widely reported over the years, are absolutely wrong and need to stop.

Teacher's having the authority and power over students leaves no opportunity for the word "consensual" to exist, even if the student is of age. Despite this fact, these relationships are forming and are ruining the expectations of teachers and the institutions they work for.

In Texas, 25-year-old ex-beauty contestant Amy McElhenney was arrested for sleeping with her 18-year-old male high school student in May 2006. According to Fox News, Texas passed a law in 2003 stating teachers who have sex with their students may be convicted of a felony and sent to prison for up to 20 years. Although this type of sentencing may seem harsh, it provides the message that this type of relationship is intolerable, which ignites the question of whether teachers and college professors should be allowed to form a teacher-student relationship? The answer is clearly no.

While some educators have already taken the personal and professional responsibility to stay away from students no matter what the age is, others have not been able to grasp a hold of this forethought; thus, leaving themselves open for inappropriate relationships and possible sexual charges.

These types of relationships exist both on high school and college campuses. For a teacher to think for one moment it is OK to sexually cross the pseudo-ambiguous divider between teacher and student is beneath common sense and frightening. To assume a position of educator, regardless of the educational-level means to provide a foundation of all good things possible through education and leadership. Yet those relationships only show betrayal, providing the disillusionment that it is fine to cross into teacher-student immorality.

The solution to this problem is simple. If a teacher and student want to be together romantically and/or sexually, then the teacher or student should leave the campus all together. It makes no sense to allow persecution from staff members, students and legal constituents to be birthed. After all, if these relationships are true and not just tangible fantasies, then separation of campuses should not hamper what is meant to be. Moreover, what needs to be implemented are signed documents by all educators, including anyone who works for a school, prohibiting any romantic entanglement with students on the campus they work for.

It is not enough for educators to say that the under-age student consented to sexual encounters, nor is it OK for college educators to say that they are two consenting adults. What needs to be understood is the message being sent. The message of no limitations and sexual freedom between teacher and student is unethical. It is not about "gett'n some," it is about "doing right"!