To follow the general laws yes, not the specific laws of her contract.
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I do not think she committed a criminal act, just breach of contract. There's a difference.
Here's a thought-- if you don't agree to the terms of the contract, don't sign it.
The fact YOU think its wrong is immaterial. It was the specific terms of her contract that made the breach a criminal act.
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No, see it's a simple disagreement. There is no question she violated ethics and trust here, however the punishment just does not fit the transgression.
Maybe we just take such transgressions just a bit more seriously than some folks do.
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Again, take away her teaching license for life, don't throw her in jail for having consensual sex!
You keep saying consensual sex. I understand the boys were 18, but seriously, so you think an 18 year old high school boy would not say okay if he were provided with both the opportunity and the acquiescence of a person he considered to be an authority figure to do so?
'Two consenting adults' implies equality, yet the very definition of a student / teacher relationship has an inferior and superior aspect. How does that make the consent of the 2 adults 'equal'?
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I wonder why Bill Clinton never got thrown in jail, he most certainly did the same thing?!
Maybe
1) because he didn't have a contract prohibiting it
2) because he wasn't a teacher and the intern wasn't a student
3) because Washington D.C. is a cesspit and wouldn't recognize the concept of 'ethics' if it bit them on the ass
Now, I think this is a GREAT question, but I'm a little confused as what I perceive as your naivete in this particular matter. When I was in school "All" the boys from 13-18 would "talk" about Ms. Andrews the gym teacher! Long story short...No question, Any time! I overheard my 18 yr old son and his friends talking about a teacher at his school, and I'll say 99.9% of all boys have this fantasy. It's not AT ALL about her authority, it's about fantasy. Even though you are right, the authority figure who plays a part in this is responsible, I'll agree, however I highly doubt it was an over riding factor in these boys actions.
Did ONE of these boys say they were raped or taken advantage of by her authority over them? This was all about the PARENTS being pissed and the state bringing charges, which rightfully so they should have.
I'm sorry, but at what point is a consenting adult? The state defines it at age 18. Raise the age to 21 if you think 18 yr olds are too young to be making consensual sex decisions. See, that's a peripheral issue to my whole point. Morally these are children still, but in the states eyes LEGALLY they are adults. Again, if these were 30 yr old men, we would be facing the same issue LEGALLY, but not morally and that's where most of your argument I believe is coming from. I'm not defending what she did was legal, I am saying the punishment for what she did is too obsessive!
Two consenting adults' implies equality, yet the very definition of a student / teacher relationship has an inferior and superior aspect. How does that make the consent of the 2 adults 'equal'?
Because "LAW" dictates they are equal by age. However, the State Of Texas sees this exactly the way you have described as far as sentencing guidelines go, which I think are highly punitive for the nature of the crime.