Student-Teacher Relationships?

On Friday March 26, 2010, Good Morning America reported on a story that affects a number of students attending college to become a teacher. Amy Beck, an English and social science teacher at David Starr Jordan Middle School in Burbank, CA had turned herself into the police for an affair she was having with a fourteen year old student for six months. The relationship had been over quite some time, but she says she turned herself in because she could not deal the guilt any longer. The unusual thing in this story, besides the obvious moral issues, is that she had refused bail, which was set at $175,000, and opted to stay in jail. Beck’s lawyer says that she has declined her bail in order to avoid the media and to earn credit towards her sentencing. Her lawyer says that she will receive two years in prison, but with the good behavior she will only have about a year in custody. Her sentencing is set for May 7. Since Beck’s made a plea, the young boy, now fifteen, will not have to testify which is what Beck’s wanted to avoid. Their relationship lasted between last March and September. Beck’s is married to a police offer and has three children. Her lawyer says that her husband plans to stand by her and keep their family intact.
This is such an important story for people to read because I believe the media is making Beck’s look like a good person, which may be true, she may have a really good heart, but she still committed a serious crime and it should not be ignored. I do think she is doing the right thing by turning herself in and by assisting the police so to avoid putting the boy’s name out in the public. Even though she is doing this all, I still think this is unbelievable. As a future teacher and a mother I am outraged at this act. I cannot understand how come a teacher would cross this line with their student. There does not seem to be a reason that would make this seem forgivable. Beck’s did take the right steps in dealing with this by turning herself in, but I feel she needs to face the media also. She owes an explanation to everyone, especially her students. I cannot imagine what she, her family, the boy, his family, and the school is going through. She was reported as being a wonderful teacher, a favorite among students, and now because she crossed that line, she will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life. I just cannot see how a relationship with a fourteen year old boy could be worth it.