Wedding Etiquette Forum

different standards?

Discuss - should teachers be held to different legal standards than people in other professions?
http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/cobb-da-plans-to-242038.html

:Disclaimer, this is going to be a post and run for now, since I'm cutting out a couple of minutes early to hit the grocery store.

Re: different standards?

  • I do not think the teacher should keep his job.  but if it's not againist the law, then he should not be prosecuted.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • I don't even understand.  The age of consent there is 16.  If she's over 16 then he didn't break a law.  So as far as the law goes, no I don't think they should continue to try to prosecute him just because he's a teacher.  As far as his job goes, I think he should be fired.
    image
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • I dont necessarily this teachers should be held to different standards, but I think the situation is different, in that teachers are in a "power" position over students.  That changes the whole dynamic, and can also result in policies being enforced differently (special attention to that student, better grades, etc). 
  • When a person in a position of authority sleeps with someone with less authority, be it boss to secretary, teacher to student, whatever, I always find it repulsive and incredibly unfair to the other employees/students/whatever the case is.
    image
    Whatever you hatters be hattin. -Tay Prince
  • I know that the article says the age of consent is 16, but there's nothing on the specifics of the law.  For example, in MN, the age of consent is 16, so long as the adult is not more than 36 (or maybe it's 48) months older than teenager.  So a 17 year old can have sex with a 19 year old, but not with a 25 year old (legally).
  • I don't think they should be held to different standards in the court, but he should certainly lose his job because "consensual" or not it's an abuse of power and position.  And I'd say the same for a boss and an intern or something like that.
    image
    ttc chart
    BFP 8/01/12, EDD 04/10/12, mm/c @ 6wks, discovered at 8wks, D&C 9/05/12
  • Good  point jk.  See I think that's why the article is a bit confusing.  It's not really doing a good job at explaining WHY the prosecutor is going to push for a new indictment. 

    Also good points about the power relationship but that's the same if a boss sleeps with a subordinate.  There's nothing illegal about that as long as it doesn't fall into the sexual harassment/hostile work environment stuff and if it's freely consensual relationship, it woulnd't.
    image
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_different-standards?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ffdaed7a-e0e9-4441-9952-c65fe1f2d104Post:01795628-ac87-4afa-ae6c-43870b878fee">Re: different standards?</a>:
    [QUOTE]  So as far as the law goes, no I don't think they should continue to try to prosecute him just because he's a teacher.  As far as his job goes, I think he should be fired.
    Posted by danieliza1127[/QUOTE]

    This exactly. This is why many teaching contracts have ethics clauses that deal with stuff that's inappropriate but not illegal.
  • from what I looked up in GA 16 is the age of consent.   You can have sex between the ages of 14 and 16 IF the other person is not older than 3 years.

    On another note, it againist the law to have sex outside of marriage, regardless of age or sexual orientation.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_different-standards?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ffdaed7a-e0e9-4441-9952-c65fe1f2d104Post:c0789bf1-a0cf-4ce8-8715-a11d17bd249f">Re: different standards?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I dont necessarily this teachers should be held to different standards, but I think the situation is different, in that teachers are in a "power" position over students.  That changes the whole dynamic, and can also result in policies being enforced differently (special attention to that student, better grades, etc). 
    Posted by JK10910[/QUOTE]

    Putting aside the fact that he's also twice her age... yes, exactly.

    Which is why I'm pretty sure almost every school district has rules against this. Which also means that even though it's legal, it's perfectly fine to fire the guy - and he should be fired.
    my read shelf:
    Meredith's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    40/112

    Photobucket
  • Yes, there's no doubt that even if it's legal, it's not ethical and is against codes of conduct.  I agree the teacher should lose his or her job (or at least be inestigated/suspended/etc).
  • Fired - yes.  Prosecuted - no, unless they have grounds to make a rape case.  If his position of power means that the student didn't have the ability to say no (i.e., sleep with me or I'll fail you), then that constitutes rape in many places. 

    Actually, I think the state should revoke his teaching credentials as well.  So that he can't get another teaching job elsewhere.  Regardless of whether it's rape or not.  It's just wrong.
    DIY & Planning | Married 

    Married: 2010
    Mom to J: 2011
    Mom to H: 2014

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic



    Dresses may be easier to take in than let out, but guest lists are not. -- kate51485
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_different-standards?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ffdaed7a-e0e9-4441-9952-c65fe1f2d104Post:b5585c4d-db44-443b-af42-c5a16b7c18c9">Re: different standards?</a>:
    [QUOTE]There is a move on in the GA legislature to make it illegal for a teacher to have consensual sex with a student regardless of ages. I'm not a lawyer, but this seems unconstitutional to me (that whole 14th amendment, equal protection thing.) I agree that he should lose his job and teaching credentials, absolutely. But to be prosecuted for something that, if he were in a different line if work, isn't illegal, seems a bit much to me. <strong>And as for the FB pages with pictures of yourself drinking, I think that's a bunch of horseshit ifyou lose your job over it.</strong>
    Posted by sarabellam[/QUOTE]

    I disagree.  Just a pic of you where you happen to have a beer in your hand?  Ok, yeah, that's redic if you get fired over that.  But drunken party pics?  When you go into certain professions, you accept with it a certain professional image that you have to maintain.  It's part of the career.  If you can't accept that, you picked the wrong career.  We would look at recruits' FB pages at the firm.  And you better believe I'd tell the partners if there was something they needed to see before making a hiring decision.  What you choose to put out there in the public is your choice.  There comes a time when you may have to grow up a little.  If you can't part with drunken party pics on the internet, then you have some messed up priorities.
  • MyNameIsNotMyNameIsNot member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    edited December 2009
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_different-standards?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ffdaed7a-e0e9-4441-9952-c65fe1f2d104Post:d6f78dfb-9196-4f08-b747-e5dc9028ffdc">Re: different standards?</a>:
    [QUOTE]2.  The sodomy charges are rediculous.  That law needs to be changed.  Did you read that part?  Consensual oral sex is considered sodomy in GA and is ILLEGAL and punishable by a lifetime as a registered sex offender.  That's insane. 
    Posted by goheels05[/QUOTE]

    There are laws like that in a lot of states.  I told my DH no more BJs b/c they are illegal once.  He wasn't amused. 

    But in reality, laws like this probably aren't consitutional, and if the state ever tried to enforce them, they would probably be struck down following the sodomy one in Texas a few years ago. 

    I'm all for firing teachers that do stuff like this, and I'm all for a higher standards that they should keep to remain employed.  But I don't think you can criminalize a teacher sleeping with a 16 y/o consentual student while not criminalizing the same behavior from any other adult.  I don't think it is consituational. 
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards