I had no idea that ...

Jeff, I had the exact same thought when I read the story yesterday. "If only the public school system would allow married teachers there would be no problems like these."

This has less do with the system and more to do with how hyper-sexualized our society is. Naturally people with these types of inclinations are going to gravitate to jobs and places where opportunities arise. If you like candy, then you frequent the candy store.

According to their map, the numbers for Hawaii are really low but that cannot be right. The average age of "teen" pregnancy here is 11-12 and all females dress like whores starting as early as possible. Considering the epidemic of 20-something grandmothers plauging this state, it would be logical to presume teacher involvement.

Just another case of people operating under the assumption these things do not happen as often as they do.

I've never been so happy to see a tragic story. Wish it weren't true, but I'm glad it's being told. Sexual exploitation of children is a human problem, not a Catholic problem.

(Note how the AP story gives Catholics a jab too, of course.)

I read somewhere that public schools were protected by a cap on civil penalties. Can you verify this?

Regards

I'm saving this entry, and that Orthodox priest one, for future reference in case someone try to argue that priests who are celibate are prone to sexual crime.

Mike, are you referring to the fact that I can sue in individuals, but not an entire government entity? If that's the case, it's not so much a "cap" as a buffer. For example, if a teacher or a township clerk abuses my child, I can't force the local taxpayers to pay damages.

I read somewhere that public schools were protected by a cap on civil penalties. Can you verify this?

In MD, for instance, you cannot sue the (public) school district unless the abuse is reported within a certain number of months from when it is alleged to have occurred. (I think it's six.) You can't even prosecute unless it is reported within two years, regardless of the age of the victim. Those institutional protections don't apply to private and parochial schools, IIRC.

Who's next...Catholic clergy, public school teachers. Next it'll be doctors. Seems to me there's deviants everywhere.

Homeschooling here I come.

This fact has been pointed out before, by Philip Jenkins and probably by others as well, but I can't remember the AP ever paying attention before. I think it was too busy bashing priests. And isn't it interesting that there are limits to suing the government so as to protect taxpayers, but there aren't many limits on suing churches to protect the parishioners who actually pay the bills?

Looking back oh so many years, we knew which teachers were boffing students. There were two of them in my high school. I can't imagine its any different now. It's not like this is some new thing, and it's not like no-one knows this is going on.

If you ask the students, they will even tell you who and where and how often.