After School Seduction: Teacher-Student Sex Scandals
by Mike McClanahan
CBS 42 News
2008-07-14 20:00:00.0
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It's been 24 years since singer David Lee Roth fantasized about after-school seduction in the Van Halen song “Hot for Teacher.”
But that's entertainment.
There have been plenty of real teacher student sex scandals since then, including some in local schools. Most recently, former Clay-Chalkville Middle School teacher Julie Pritchett was charged with sodomy and sexual abuse for incidents involving several students, including two under 16. Investigators believe there could be additional victims.
Unlike the song, the reality of student teacher seduction is not pretty according to psychologist and sex therapist Keith Abrams.
"Sex offender…there really is no other euphemism."
But Dr. Abrams says our society views female teachers differently than male teachers caught in the same situation.
"There's clearly a double standard in that the assumption is that perhaps because the victim was a teenage male it is less traumatic than if the victim was a teenager female," said Abrams.
But just like police officers, teachers are invested with the publics trust. Regardless of their gender, they are authority figures.
"For the teenager or the child involved, even if they are thinking for the moment ‘wow this is great,’ do they really know what the possible consequences are of being with someone who's not just older, but who's exploiting you," said Abrams.
Some states have outlawed teachers, coaches and other school leaders from having sexual relationships with students under 18. In Alabama, there are no such laws.
But Dr. Abrams says there are still consequences.
"It is important to have this idea that there can be two people in a relationship where there is such a significant difference in maturity or experience or even the right to give informed consent that we do need to have these laws," said Abrams.
Because when life imitates art, it can get ugly.
All charges in the case involving former Clay-Chalkville teacher Julie Pritchett stem from students who were younger than 16.
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