In recent Arkansas news, Arkansas high court has overturns teacher-student sex law, banning sexual contact between teachers and students, finding that people 16 or older have a constitutional right to engage in a consensual sexual relationship. According to foxnews.com, the court sided with 38-year-old David Paschal, an Elkins High School history and psychology teacher who admitted having a five-month consensual sexual relationship with 18-year-old student.
With the recent law banning teachers from having sexual relationships with students being shutdown, not only were attorneys for the state upset, it also boiled a little blood for students and teachers here at Har-Ber High School. Mrs. Oliver and physics teacher Mrs. Pitman both responded by saying, “I believe that because a teacher is in a ‘position of authority’, the age of the student should not matter.”
Student Council sponsor Ms. Oliver went on to say, “If someone is 19 but still a high school student, they should be viewed as a minor in this situation.”
Mrs. Pitman also said, “Even though it may seem consensual, it could be the total opposite because no matter how old you are, students often have a hard time or are too scared to say no to people with authority.”
“A teacher is an authority figure, and they should never abuse that position,” English teacher Mrs. Moore responded in reference to the boundaries between students and teachers.
Parents were especially outraged that the law did not get passed. “My first instinct would be to hold my child. My second would be to head to the police station; not only for my child’s protection, but for the teacher’s protection as well. Last but not least, I’d get my child some counseling, because something has to be wrong there that they would feel the need to engage in mischievous acts with a teacher,” said Mrs. Pitman on what she would do if she found out her child engaged in a relationship with one of their administrators.
Sometimes students, because they are so young, confuse a teacher’s care for them as more than them wanting them to succeed. “ I would have a really honest conversation about boundaries and what’s happening,” Mrs. Moore added to her statement about what she would do if she felt a student was getting a little too close.
According to usnews.nbcnews.com, there was an incident in Montana where a teacher was sentenced only 30 days in jail for having sex with a 14 year-old student. The judge who sentenced the teacher has since backed down and ordered a new sentencing hearing. The girl who was involved committed suicide after the incident came to light.
“I would immediately go to the office and report it, then call my parents,” said 17-year-old Senior, Brittany Jankowski on what she would do if a teacher eve made a sexual pass at her.
“They’re looking for something to fill what they’re not missing. They do it for the thrill of it,” the senior also added about why she thought students engaged in sexual relationships with teacher.
It’s obvious that there will be more to come of these teacher student relationships, and debates will continue until Arkansas’ states attorneys and Arkansas high court find a happy medium, but until then teachers, students, and the parents of those students will be on the look-out for any suspicious behavior.