Yet another teacher in yet another area small-town school was indicted recently for alleged sexual misconduct with two students. The teacher is a man and his two students are girls.
When one reads such charges time and again, especially when the gender tables are turned and the suspect is a woman and the alleged victims boys, one wonders if there is some kind of sexual epidemic going on in schools today? Or, to put it quite bluntly, one wonders whether there is some kind of serious false allegation epidemic taking place?
Make no doubt about it, there have been plenty of news stories and a plethora of movies of the week about teachers abusing students and students ruining teachers’ lives through lies. Kids today are much more savvy today than in the past and basically, all it takes is one allegation and a teacher’s life can be turned upside down and inside out.
I think about an assistant principal at a local middle school who was accused of sexual assault. He was acquitted and went back to work. But that apparently didn’t turn out so well so he has resigned in the wake of lawsuits and counter lawsuits.
In addition to having lives ruined by lies, kids who tell false tales on teachers also pose potential harm to their peers who really do find themselves sexually abused by educators. Think “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
It’s a shame for all concerned and until those who commit crimes by making false reports or perjure themselves wind up in deep s**t, a balance will be hard to strike in what has become a very sad situation for all concerned.