Thread: Child Abuse Scenario...

Originally Posted by Steve

Here's a scenario:

A 15 year old boy approaches one of his teachers, and tells the teacher that he's involved in a homesexual relationship (and all that "homosexual relationship might suggest) with an older man. The boy does not identify the man.

Being 15 years old, at the very least, it would appear as though statutory rape has occurred.

State law requires that such allegations be reported, but the teacher did not report it.

The question is: Should the teacher have been held accountable and punished for not reporting the abuse?

How old is the person he's having sex with?
Is it forced sex?

Originally Posted by wooyarn

How old is the person he's having sex with?

The boy describes the person as an "older man". The teacher is unaware of the age of the man...

Is it forced sex?

Does it really matter? The boy is 15.

But, the boy describes it as a "relationship" with an older man, so the assumption can be made that it is not "forced", but it is with an adult...

Originally Posted by Steve

State law requires that such allegations be reported, but the teacher did not report it.

The question is: Should the teacher have been held accountable and punished for not reporting the abuse?

If she broke the law, she should be punished.

Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with there, Steve.

I think it would be nobodies business except the boy himself, the boys parents and the lover. That's why in any case, I would ensure the boy's parents know about that sexual relationship. As long as the boy is doing alright and OK with the sexual relationship, IMHO only the parents have the moral right to report "the abuse".

Originally Posted by Jefe

If she broke the law, she should be punished.

Let me know if there's anything else I can help you with there, Steve.

The teacher the boy tells about the relationship is a man...

Originally Posted by mabus

I think it would be nobodies business except the boy himself, the boys parents and the lover. That's why in any case, I would ensure the boy's parents know about that sexual relationship. As long as the boy is doing alright and OK with the sexual relationship, IMHO only the parents have the moral right to report "the abuse".

You don't have a problem with an adult having a sexual relationship with a child?

Originally Posted by Steve

The teacher the boy tells about the relationship is a man...

Uhm, I don't see what difference that makes, except I will now change my answer to "If he broke the law, he should be punished.".

Also, is there any other info you'd like to add to your hypothetical scenario? Or is this just one big trick question?

Originally Posted by Steve

The boy describes the person as an "older man". The teacher is unaware of the age of the man...



Does it really matter? The boy is 15.

But, the boy describes it as a "relationship" with an older man, so the assumption can be made that it is not "forced", but it is with an adult...

Still not enough info. There's a 16yo that lives down the road form me that I consider a man. He's hard working, true to his word and willing to do whatever it takes to make it. I also know some 40yo's that I would not consider men.

As for the teacher, they do have responsibilities for their kids but is there a law that states they have to report these kinds of things? I know the Medical profession have to report suspected abuse, gun shots etc... But not sure about teachers.

Originally Posted by wooyarn

Still not enough info. There's a 16yo that lives down the road form me that I consider a man. He's hard working, true to his word and willing to do whatever it takes to make it. I also know some 40yo's that I would not consider men.

As for the teacher, they do have responsibilities for their kids but is there a law that states they have to report these kinds of things? I know the Medical profession have to report suspected abuse, gun shots etc... But not sure about teachers.

Look, if you don't want to answer the question, just say so.

There is a state law which requires that a teacher report cases of suspected abuse. That was included in the original post.

The boy describes the person he is having the relationship with as a "man"; not as a mature 16 year old, or as an immature 40 year old.

Given that the law exists, and given that it would appear as though the child's relationship is with an adult (at least that suspicion is there), should the teacher report it, and should he be punished if he doesn't?

Originally Posted by Jefe

Uhm, I don't see what difference that makes, except I will now change my answer to "If he broke the law, he should be punished.".

Also, is there any other info you'd like to add to your hypothetical scenario? Or is this just one big trick question?

I don't see how it's a trick question.

The boy, a minor, says he's having a homosexual relationship with a "man".

State law requires that the teacher report it, so that it can be investigated.

Should the teacher be punished if he doesn't?

Originally Posted by Steve

You don't have a problem with an adult having a sexual relationship with a child?

If the child already developed a sexual drive, I would leave that up to the parents. I don't think that when I was 15, having a sexual relationship with an adult woman wouldn't have "damaged the development of my personality". But then beeing underage, that should have been the decision of my parents, as well.

Originally Posted by mabus

If the child already developed a sexual drive, I would leave that up to the parents. I don't think that when I was 15, having a sexual relationship with an adult woman wouldn't have "damaged the development of my personality". But then beeing underage, that should have been the decision of my parents, as well.

That's all neither here nor there.

State law requires that the teacher report it. It's not an option.

Should the teacher be punished if he doesn't report it?

Originally Posted by Steve

I don't see how it's a trick question.

The boy, a minor, says he's having a homosexual relationship with a "man".

State law requires that the teacher report it, so that it can be investigated.

Should the teacher be punished if he doesn't?

Forgive me, but the answer to your question seems painfully obvious, so I'm just wondering what the point is. Are we supposed to guess how old this "man" is or something?

Otherwise, your hypothetical can be summarized as "Should someone who breaks the law be punished?" To which the answer is "Yes". Duh.