Why are student-teacher affairs/relations forbidden?

Student-teacher affairs/relationships

Most people think that the most terrible disadvantage of student-teacher relationships is the age difference between the student and the teacher. However, if you take a closer look at the age difference, assuming a relationship between a matriculant and a new teacher who just came out of college,age cannot always be regarded as a major issue.

What then are the issues here?

Age is sometimes an issue when an elderly man/teacher wants to or is involved with a student. However, as much as a three year gap is socially acceptable, teachers and students have a lot of reasons not to get romantically involved 1. Their levels of maturity differ. The student is most often than not still a teenager, while the teacher is in his/her twenties.

2. The teacher is "a teacher" - he has an educational qualification already! Students need to focus on their studies and their future instead of getting involved with people that have already secured theirs. This deters a lot of students from completing their high school education.

3. It is unfair on other learners and this often undermines the teacher's reputation to the learners. They now see the teacher as one of their peers and their respect for him/her wanes.

4. As a teen, you should be guarding against teenage pregnancy and diseases such as HIV/Aids.

5. It is morally and/or legally not acceptable.

What if their feelings for each other are genuine?

We do not condone relationships between students and their teachers, however, we understand that sometimes feelings can truly be genuine. If this is the case, why not wait for the learner to complete her studies at the school; and perhaps hook up later when you are both mature?

This cooling off period will also eliminate any doubts about the actual purpose of the relationship, and it will prove that it was not just about the fantasy or the lust. We cannot gurantee that the relationship will work, but at least that will buy both of you time, maturity and a lot of character. If he loves you, he will wait!

An older teacher, on the othe hand should not even be having feelings for his/her students, who most often are also minors.