Mass: A teacher-student sex bill still being discussed by union

Here's a tough question that's going to be on the final exam: should the teachers' union outlaw sex between teachers and students 19 years old and younger? (Hint: the Massachusetts police strongly support the bill.)

Teachers are seen as authority figures by their students, just like Bill Clinton was an authority figure over his aide, Monica Lewinsky.

But the Massachusetts state teachers' union has yet to endorse the bill because, well, they're confused.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association (with the emphasis on "Ass" evidently) has 110,000 members. They told Fox News that they're currently reviewing the bill and have been reviewing it over and over for six months.

"The Massachusetts Teachers Association's priority is always to protect students and the educational environment," they lied. "While we are still examining the many components of this proposed legislation, we understand that its intent is to help ensure that our schools are nurturing places for students to learn and grow."

So what's the confusion?

Sen. Joan Lovely

The bill criminalizes teacher-student sex and outlaws sexual relations between a student and other adults employed by a school district, even if they're only a volunteer or work on a contractual basis. It would also protect youth in independent schools and youth organizations. 

Adults found guilty of having sex with these young people would face up to 5 years in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both.

But to be fair, the measure marks the latest effort in a long battle over the past several years to criminalize sexual activities between authority figures who call themselves teachers, and students who are vulnerable to authority demands, in a state which considers 16 to be the age in which a person can give consent to sexual activity.

The bill's sponsor is Sen. Joan Lovely (seriously) of Salem. She said that getting the teachers union to back it would boost efforts for its passing and would protect students.

The question is, however, does the union want to protect students more than it wants to protect its members?

Lovely (really, that's her name) said the Comprehensive Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Act of 2017 would add another layer to a system that already trains educators to spot child abuse and how to handle such situations.

The absence of language outlawing sex between a teacher and student 16 years or older, has made it almost impossible to take legal action against the adult in position of authority.

But the teachers union is willing to continue sitting on their hands.


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