Wednesday, May 07, 2008

At Least It's Not Criminal

And it's not in Florida this time, either. It occurred in Tennessee.

A teacher in Lenoir City has resigned amid allegations she had an inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old male student...

Lenoir City High School is the latest to see a teacher depart in a scandal. 25-year-old Rachael Burkhart resigned after being confronted with allegations she had an affair with the 18-year-old student...

Because the student is 18, Police Chief Don White says there are no criminal charges and no investigation.

I can understand the professionalism, or lack thereof, of dating your own student, or even a student at your own school--even though it's not technically illegal, I can see someone's losing a credential over it. Dating your own student is clearly beyond the pale, and dating a student at your own school undercuts the authority of all teachers at a school. But, can a teacher date an 18-year-old at a different school? What about in a different district?

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:39 AM

    I think about this often - straight out of college, I'm less than 4 years older than my oldest students. My boyfriend is only two years older than they are...

    I would say dating a student in your district is off-limits, even one in another school. But outside the district? I suppose it is still a bit unprofessional (what if your students were to see you out with students they recognized?), but nothing to lose credentials or a job over...

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  2. I'm not convinced it's unprofessional at all. Dating a student at your own school, though--big time.

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  3. Anonymous12:10 PM

    Sadly, I know this girl and its not uncommon for her at all......it was just going to be a matter of time.

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  4. Anonymous5:41 PM

    Down here in Texas, it would certainly be illegal to date a student from your school -- even a student who is 18 or older. State law takes the position that the power disparity negates the ability of the adult student to consent.

    For that matter, my district has a strict policy against such relationships -- even if you are talking about a 21 year-old kindergarten teacher and a 19 year-old high school senior. For that matter, it bans ANY employee from dating a student enrolled in the district, which creates problems when you have a recently graduated student hired as a secretary, maintenance worker, or janitor and they still have a boyfriend/girlfriend in high school.

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