It's Legal For Teachers to Have Sex with Students in My State
14 year olds can legally "consent" to sexual touching by teachers in Rhode Island (and Massachusetts)
I just submitted written testimony in support of a bill that would (finally) make it a crime for teachers and other school staff to have sexual relationships with students.
I know. That sounds crazy, right?
I was doing some research in 2017 and stumbled upon a staggering truth about my state: It is not a crime for school personnel to engage in sexual activity with students. The details, while grotesque, are important so stick with me if you can:
It is legal for teachers, school employees, school bus drivers, coaches and all other adults in positions of authority to sexually touch the children in their care, with their “consent”, in a non-penetrative way once the child turns 14.
It is legal for teachers, school employees, school bus drivers, coaches and all other adults in positions of authority to have sexual intercourse with the children in their care, with their “consent”, once the child turns 16.
If you don’t believe me, I understand. Since I too was incredulous at what my research turned up, I reached out to our state attorney general’s office. It was a pretty uncomfortable conversation for the young-sounding staffer on the other end of the phone and I suspect he was thinking, “this lady throwing around words like “sexual touching” and “penetration” in the context of teachers and students surely has her wires crossed.”
Two days later he called me back and confirmed that everything I had said was, in fact, true.
In 2017 I reached out to my state rep, explained the situation, and asked him to sponsor a bill to get the law changed. To his credit, he did just that.
The first time around, it went nowhere and never saw the light of the day. The following year, the bill was heard in the House Judiciary committee and the two teachers’ unions (AFT and NEA) went on the record in opposition to the bill. You can read about their pathetic justification for that position here and here. The ACLU also went on record in opposition of the bill.
Ultimately the bill passed the house on the final night of the legislative session, without the support of the most “progressive” wing of that chamber. But, alas, there was no companion bill in the senate and the bill died.
The following year was dominated by COVID so I guess they get a mulligan since they weren’t even in session. The powers that be in the general assembly didn’t think it was safe enough to convene and do their jobs even though many of them were canvassing neighborhoods and knocking on doors in search of votes. Campaigns are COVID-resistant, don’t ya know.
So this is our year, I hope. And in what feels like a page out of Bill Murray’s life in Groundhog Day, I just submitted testimony, again, to get this bill passed.
Elected officials and others talk a big game about how we must ensure that our schools are safe and that our children are protected. Long before schools closed down last March and remained closed in cities where unions reign supreme, I was well acquainted with how disingenuous much of that “safety talk” is. I had watched a previous governor and the current attorney general obsess over how we need stricter gun laws related to schools (we already have incredibly strict gun laws here and it practically takes an act of God to qualify for a concealed carry permit) while ignoring the fact that we permit sexual abuse of students in school.
I am grateful to those in my state who have worked with me to get this law changed. Those who have opposed it at every turn are a disgrace. But this year provides an opportunity for redemption, a chance to stop living in the teachers’ unions pockets and instead do the right thing for students (and for us parents who don’t have lobbyists but deserve to know that our tax dollars aren’t being used to protect those who would prey on our adolescent aged children.)
No one says “4th time is a charm” but I am saying it because I have to believe that, this 4th time around, we will end the insanity and get the damn bill passed.
The MotherLand
On a lighter note, March Madness is all the rage in my house—there is so much yelling at the TV that I find myself getting as far away as I can from everyone whenever I need to be able to think straight for more than five seconds.
“Mom, your bracket is absolutely wrecked.” — my youngest son today after Wisconsin’s loss.
And on a much more personal basketball note:
Wishing everyone a week of meaning, joy and some long overdue warmth and sunshine on the face. Throw in a little nuance and it just might be close to perfect.
Thanks to all who take the time to stop by here and read what I have to say.
Talk soon,
Erika
So, what was the ACLU's rationale for opposing this law?
Wow. Thank you Erika for all your hard work advocating for children’s rights.