When It’s Legal For a Teacher To Have Sex with a Student

There’s an interesting court case going on in the state of Washington. An ex-choir teacher at a Washington high school was charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. Matthew Hirschfelder, who was 33 at the time, allegedly had a month long sexual affair with a senior at the high school (although he claims there was no sex). But the kicker is, the student was 18-years-old…so legally an adult. Does that make it ok?

The Washington Court of Appeals says the student’s age does make a difference. Since she was 18, even though she was a student at the school where Hirschfelder was a teacher, the charges should be dismissed.

Whether or not he faces criminal charges for his acts, he was fired from his job and has been unable to get another teaching job. Although it is legal for a teacher to have sex with an 18-year-old student, it still violates the schools code of conduct.

Since the sexual misconduct with a minor charge doesn’t apply to cases like this, six Washington representatives are asking for a law that would make it a crime for a teacher to have sex with a student under 21 as long as the teacher is more than 5 years older than the student. And I personally think that’s a great idea.

I’m getting sick and tired of seeing all these stories about teachers having romantic relationships with students. I don’t care if the student is of age or not. He/she is still a student. Teachers are in a position of authority. And they are the adult. They are supposed to be the one with their head on straight. The one making good, responsible decisions. The one guiding students to do the same. They are supposed to be role models. Not sexual partners.

Teenagers are still learning and experimenting. They often make bad and impulsive decisions. They don’t always think with their heads…if you know what I mean. They have raging hormones and a relationship with an older lover seems like a dream come true to them.

My sister just turned 18 this week and doesn’t graduate from high school until June. I love her to death, but she doesn’t always make the most mature choices. And I don’t really expect her to because she’s still young and still testing her boundaries. But the thought of her having a sexual relationship with one of her teachers makes me throw up in my mouth a little. It also makes me want to threaten physical harm to any perverted teacher who would even think that thought.

My oldest will turn 18 about a month and a half before he graduates from high school. I can’t even imagine what I do if I found he was having sex with one of his teachers. But I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be pretty.

Would you support a law like this in your state?