Do you think teachers having sex with students has become more common over the past couple of years or are we just hearing more about them because of the internet? I did a quick check and it appears there are about 20 ongoing cases of female teachers accused of having sex with their students and surprisingly much less men accused of the same crime. In the latest one to go to trial, Stacy Schuler had tried the novel approach of saying she was insane at the time and does not even remember having sex with at least five members of the high school football team where she worked.
Apparently Schuler plied the students with alcohol, gave them all a massage and then proceeded to have sex with them in various parts of her home. She waived a jury trial and a judge convicted her on 16 counts of felony battery. How long do you think she goes to jail for? Well, the sentence is four years but she is eligible for parole in 6 months. Think about that if this was a guy. If a guy was convicted of 16 counts of felony sexual battery do you think he would be getting out in six months?
I don't think she'd get out in six months if she were a man, she's getting off easy. Don't inmates dislike child molesters? Or do high school boys not count? It would count for me. I've never been a attracted to a high school boy and that includes when I was actually in high school. (okay, maybe one or two)
ReplyDeleteCan't believe how many female teachers have gotten busted recently for sleeping with students. (BTW, Enty chose the most unflattering photo of her out there.)
When I was in high school (graduated 1981) there were a LOT of teachers who slept with students. I only knew of male teachers doing it, though. Officially, it was frowned upon, but not illegal--there were several openly known teacher-student couples, and more than a few married right after the girl graduated. I just chalked it up to being in such a remote part of the country, but it was the times too--I know that teachers, male or female, would do time for this now.
ReplyDeleteI think it's always been going on.
ReplyDeleteI agree Enty, the justice system is very one sided when it comes to these crimes, had a man done this or worse done this with male students, they would throw the book at them.
ReplyDeleteShe needs way more time. Way more!
ReplyDeleteWe had one couple in my high school (class of 88) the male teacher married her one year after she graduated. I thought it was gross and inappropriate, but wouldn't have labeled it harassment back then. I think the reason why it's usually women is that there are far fewer male teachers.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to high school 20 (ahem!) years ago, we had a male teacher that left his wife for a student, another male teacher that left his second wife (former student) for a student, and a female teacher that dallied with her male students.
ReplyDeleteThose were just the affairs we knew about. I think it has been going on forever.
When I graduated in 83, we definitely had some student/teacher affairs going on. They were well hidden and quiet though. I agree, it has been going on forever, we are just hearing about it more now. And I think that the adults should be thrown in jail for the maximium sentence available. You are stealing their childhood.
ReplyDeleteI think gender plays a huge role in this light sentence. We tend to think of males as being sexual agents and females as being passive victims. Trying to bring parity to this would not result in women getting longer sentences: more likely, lawyers for male offenders would be able to get their clients shorter sentences by gesturing to term lengths given to women who had done equivalent offenses.
ReplyDeleteThe link to the story also has a story about the double standard: http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Double-Standard-For-Teen-Boys-in-Alleged-Sex/_pOWX6_eXUSX8vkBgR4kqQ.cspx#.Tqk1LZdxpM4.twitter
The story they link to also has a link to another story, I should have written to be more clear.
ReplyDeleteThere was a teacher in my high school that married one of her students, but she was right out of school and they didn't even start dating until after he graduated.
ReplyDeleteWill this teacher be a registered sex offender? She should definitely get more time. It's such bullshit.
I DEFinitely think that there's a double standard here. The woman is a sexual predator, for sure, and is definitely guilty of statutory rape. If the young men were complicit, her actions weren't violent in nature, but she still certainly abused her authority. Four years is an insanely short sentence, and the fact that she's even eligible for parole so soon is just ludicrous.
ReplyDeleteIf I were the mother of one of these boys, I'd be ready to cut a bitch. No question.
This teacher is obviously CRAZY. The smirk and borderline sexy shirt that's *completely* inappropriate for court are pretty telling.
Society considers girls more vulnerable than boys to opposite-sex molestation, and boys more vulnerable than girls to same-sex molestation. In other words, society is much harder on the male molesters. There are various rationales for this but, at the end of the day, the same rule should apply to all molesters. Women should be held to the same standard. Anything less is not just hypocritical but it's also demeaning.
ReplyDeleteDamn those high school boys with their greasy hair and acne-covered backs. Damn their siren song!
ReplyDeleteThat was hilarious Anita!!
ReplyDeleteThe thing I find most hilarious is that these teachers have reached this stage of adulthood but yet think a teenager is going to keep their mouths shut. When has a teenager EVER kept their mouth shut?
ReplyDeletelol Anita!
ReplyDeleteYeah, there were always rumours about two teachers at my school, too - one male and one female. I think this has always gone on, we're just now hearing about it.
And I know this is probably not going to be popular, but I feel like there's a difference between the Mary Kay Letourneaus of the world (wasn't her student like 13???) and teachers like this sleeping with senior athletes who probably aren't virgins. That being said, there's a total double standard here - a male would have gotten way more time.
@Rocket Queen -- I don't excuse Mary Kay's behavior -- I don't even think thirteen year-olds should be french kissing, honestly -- but at least she and that dude are still happily married to each other. It seems as if he genuinely loved her, too. It's freaky and fucked-up, yes, but at least things kinda worked out for the best.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also agree that there are few things less titillating than an adolescent boy.
What about the ENTIRE FOOTBALL TEAM THAT WENT TO HER HOUSE AND CONSENTED TO THIS?
ReplyDeleteI guess they are just too innocent to make responsible decisions.
I teach middle school, and I can't imagine what MK Laterneau was thinking! So wierd!
ReplyDeleteThis lady, either. A student/teacher relationship (even if the students look like adults) is strange....
I teach middle school, and I can't imagine what MK Laterneau was thinking! So wierd!
ReplyDeleteThis lady, either. A student/teacher relationship (even if the students look like adults) is strange....
I think there are probably more men teachers attempting to seduce female students than vice versa or teachers seducing same sex students. If I had to create a teacher sexual predator list that is. That is all.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter's teacher pled guilty to 50 counts of felony sexual battery (one of whom was my daughter) and he got two years -- six months ago. He is now out and walking around a free man.
ReplyDeleteI see what you're saying, Ida, but I still think that it's fucked that the only relationship Mary Kay's now-husband has ever known was HER. At least 17 year olds are a bit more worldly and have experimented with other partners...Mary Kay never gave that poor boy a chance to get old and experience other relationships. That's what I find despicable about her.
ReplyDeleteThe football players were all 17, and 16 is the age of consent in that state. The only reason it's illegal is because she was a teacher.
ReplyDeleteThese guys were old enough to consent.
@sassyyankee, so sorry about your daughter and the disgustingly short sentence her abuser was handed.
ReplyDeleteI have written before how female abusers need to be treated the same as male abusers. Having read the punishment, they all need to be put away for longer. I don't care if the boys were 'legal', she abused her position of power and trust. It was an uneven relationship in that respect as well as age wise and life experience. I would lock up every pedophile/sexual predator for life. Mary Kay LeTaurneu ruined that boys life, he never finished school, he had children young, and then she went and married him. How the hell would he know what love is, he has only known abuse.
@Jaiden -- that's an interesting point. I'm not rankled by this case because these boys WERE older, and they DID consent. I think statutory rape is fucked up largely because kids haven't really developed the maturity to make sound decisions regarding sex, but these dudes obviously knew *exactly* what they were doing, and it sounds as if they were kind of gung ho to do it.
ReplyDelete@RQ -- Oh, I DEFinitely think the Latourneau situation isn't ideal, and people *should* have a few different romantic relationships, even if those relationships aren't always consummated. But at least that couple still loves each other, and it doesn't seem as if the boy was too terribly scarred by it all. I guess that was my point.
Yes, I think the male teachers would get the same short sentence. If she had a joint in her purse when it happened, she would get 20 years.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am a teacher and considering how absolutely unattractive both males and females are during adolescence, it has never been even the faintest temptation. As others have said, it's the imbalance of power that makes it morally reprehensible even if the legal system doesn't always agree.
ReplyDeleteI can think of two examples from my school, so I think it's always been going on.
ReplyDeleteI have always had an issue with how the law reads about sex offenders. I feel like people that target younger kids should receive harsher sentences than ones involving anyone 16/17.
This woman was having orgies with these boys too (per another article I read, so it wasn't just one on one encounters). She was drinking and smoking pot with them, giving them massages. Blech. I definitely think there is a double standard and I think the fact she is trying to enter an insanity plea is complete bullshit.
What I can't fathom is throwing away your career over this...? I think these people are insane.
I can think of two examples from my school, so I think it's always been going on.
ReplyDeleteI have always had an issue with how the law reads about sex offenders. I feel like people that target younger kids should receive harsher sentences than ones involving anyone 16/17.
This woman was having orgies with these boys too (per another article I read, so it wasn't just one on one encounters). She was drinking and smoking pot with them, giving them massages. Blech. I definitely think there is a double standard and I think the fact she is trying to enter an insanity plea is complete bullshit.
What I can't fathom is throwing away your career over this...? I think these people are insane.
I HAD a friend who was/is still a school teacher. She was 31 years old and slept with a 17 yr old senior in Highschool. I was disgusted.
ReplyDelete