state house mug by julie.JPG

(Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

Dale Wisely, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist who lives in Vestavia Hills

By Dale Wisely, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist who lives in Vestavia Hills

What are we to make of the shockingly regular mug shots of Alabama teachers charged with sexual relationships with students? What can be done about this problem?

It is tempting to believe the problem is Alabama schools hiring pedophiles and child predators. But, based on news stories, that possibility would not explain the majority of these reports.

Although there have been school cases involving apparent pedophiles whose victims were children, most of these reports involve teenage victims, which means the perpetrators are unlikely to be pedophiles. A pedophile is an adult with a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children, generally defined as 11 years old or younger. That inherently pathological attraction is regarded as a psychiatric disorder. Acting on that attraction with a child victim is one of our society's most universally detested crimes, and properly so.

Even when the victims are older teenagers, we should never see the students as sharing any responsibility for these crimes. These students deserve protection by our laws, by professional ethical codes, and by the presence of moral compasses in the adult offenders, who are the ones radically responsible for these violations.

Many of these cases may involve predators, who wantonly target youth for exploitation. But other cases likely begin with legal behavior on the part of the teacher, even well-intentioned behavior. Suppose a 16- or 17-year-old student admires a teacher and approaches the teacher to share difficulties in the student's life or to seek advice. There is no crime when a teacher listens and responds supportively. Many of us would want that for our kids. If, however, the teacher does not have a clear sense of the importance of maintaining proper boundaries, and then crosses those boundaries--more intimate conversations, secrecy, development of a "special" relationship--feelings may develop between the teacher and student which could lead to more serious breaches until the adult victimizes the student through sexual contact.

I offer no defense of these teachers. When they cross these lines with students, they deserve to lose their jobs, to forever lose the ability to serve in professional or volunteer roles with youth. They deserve the judgment and penalties of our courts. But I am concerned that unless we study and understand what is happening, we will fail to find a solution. To date, loss of careers, public shaming, and criminal penalties do not appear to be slowing this phenomenon. The shocking display of mug shots continues.

One necessary part of a solution is to carefully screen candidates before they enter training for the teaching professions. While being trained as teachers, extensive conversations and clear guidance about the importance of maintaining proper boundaries with students must be fully integrated into training curricula. This should also be a part of the ongoing continuing education of everyone who works with students in schools, and perhaps for all who work with young people in any professional capacity.

To aid prevention, difficult and ongoing conversations must be held with youth. We have to teach them about what kinds of boundaries ought to be maintained by the adults in their lives, about what seduction looks and feels like, and about the inappropriateness and danger inherent to secret interactions with adults.