Every Monday night at 6:58, not a minute later, you can find me sitting in front of the televi- sion, eagerly awaiting the dramatic introduction of my favorite show: “Pretty Little Liars.” I enjoy almost every moment of the hour-long drama, yet I always find myself anticipating the arrival of a single storyline.
The secretly intimate relation- ship of Aria Montgomery and her English teacher, Ezra Fitz, is a relationship many viewers be- come consumed with. I admit, the relationship drama is addicting to watch, but in no way does this make the occurrence of these interactions in reality the least bit OK.
It isn’t everyday a show comes along where they play out the scandalous yet forbidden relation- ship brewing between a teacher and his or her student. Yet, you don’t often find a show willing to step the boundaries into such a serious subject matter as well as aiming it towards the teenage demographic. Because sexual relations between a teacher and their student are illegal, you would think that producers, directors and writers would come to the conclusion that publicizing and glamorizing these illicit relation- ships would be, well, not smart.
This show, as well as the many others that contain inappropriate student/teacher interactions, are viewed by a large sum of the teen population.
Teenagers are the main victims in these situations, and giving out this false hope that a relationship with a teacher is a good thing is go- ing to do nothing other than cause more situations to arise.
Rewind to 2004-05, and you’ll find yet another show that glamor- ized the sexual interactions of a student and her teacher.
On “Degrassi: The Next Gen- eration,” teenage character Paige Michalchuk was having inappropri- ate relations with her handsome and very young teacher, Matt Oleander. Here we have yet another show that crosses the line into the unnatural realm of students and teachers getting together.
Nothing changes the fact that these relationships are illegal, not to mention unethical.
It seems to be the intense rumors that blow these stories out of the water.
Recently, the rumor mill was on full speed at Shawnee Mission West High School. On March 7, 2011, KCTV5 reported that a SMW teacher was placed on administra- tive leave after allegations of her having inappropriate relations with a student flooded the school.
There you go: proof that these relationships do occur in reality, and there are consequences to these inappropriate actions. Just because you see it on your ‘magical box o’ color’ doesn’t make it right.
From local high schools to the television screen, teacher-student relationships have been going into overdrive. The illusion that these relationships are OK, as well as normal, is going to do nothing more than lead to a rise in the number of victims in high school settings throughout the nation.
Whether it is the student or the teacher who pursues the relation- ship, in no way does a magical flash- ing sign appear out of thin air saying ‘It’s OK, nothing bad is going to hap- pen.’ So, don’t follow the path these shows may lead down and use some common sense. Being involved with a teacher may sound great, but nothing good will come of it.
