Good that a court is finally asking that question. The details of the case in question are disturbing just because of the ages of the children involved, but there doesn’t seem to be much justification for charging a young boy with statutory rape and not charging the young girls with the same “crime,” since the encounters were consensual.
Comments are closed.
An interesting double standard indeed. Here is some coverage I did for an article regarding a similarish subject:
Rolling Stone Jan. 22, 2009
Sex Lies & Phys Ed
A tale of the tragic consequences of “every high school boy’s dream come true”. Jason is a star high school athlete who is seduced by a 26 year old PE teacher Ms. Tapp. While Jason excels at sports, he suffers from a turbulent home life with a disabled father and an overworked mother in the midst of a divorce. His hardships are escaped through team comradery and game victory. Excitement enters his life when the schools “hottest teacher” begins a series of long late night phone calls with him. The flirtation eventually culminates in physical action. While at Tapp’s house Jason discovers a picture of his lover with a former high school sports star. A huge list of “lucky” high school boys is uncovered by him. Things begin to fall apart when Jason is brushed aside by Tapp only to be replaced by a coach he had held as a father figure. This bizarre triangle provides a window into the world of a high school where teachers act like students. The betrayal triggers an epic downfall (drug abuse, falling attendance, rage). Jason stops going to class and becomes a “timebomb” His dreams of a sports scholarship are shot and self mutilation becomes his outlet for rage. Once Jason’s mother decides to speak out and the school contacts police the result is that Tapp gets away with no prison time, no probation, but a $225 fine and the punishment of not being able to teach in New Jersey.
What is most incredible about this story of a backwards New Jersey High School is how many people knew of the affair and how none of them took any action. This is a fascinating exploration of the double standards that exist in these cases. Jason now lives by the railroad tracks and is an injured ex stripper/construction worker who can’t afford to pay his therapist and is behind on rent. He was unable to sue the school district since he let too much time pass before he decided to take action against them. Amazingly enough, years after graduation, Jason attempts to rekindle things with Platt who agreed to see him only if he rebukes his claims to the media. He never did.