41 Year Old Teacher Sends Nude Pics to 15 Year Old Student

[Bill Thompson]

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d735/d262/d746/d224/d96/f3/inter.jpg

Melinda Dennehy, a high school teacher from Londonderry, N.H. is in trouble with the law after offering sex acts and emailing nude photos of herself to a 15-year old student. (I read one report that said the kid was 16) The teacher had also been texting the teenager and according to the police affidavit said, “[i]n some of those messages, Dennehy told [the teenager] what she wanted.’’
Police learned about the incident after inappropriate photos of Melinda Dennehy were distributed throughout the school. The 41-year old high school teacher is now being charged with one count of indecent exposure. She's free on $7,000 bail and is due in court in late April.

Does anyone thnk the exact same thing would happen if a male teacher send nude photos of himself to 15 year old female student? Would he be out on bail?

[laca]

No.

[Bill Thompson]

No.

So should she be out on bail?

Is the crime less offensive because she is a woman?

[laca]

Yes. :D

[Puppycow]

Is the crime less offensive because she is a woman?

Depends how hot she is.

:boxedin:

[Puppycow]

Is the boy traumatized or something?

I think in most cases it would be scarier for the student if the teacher were a man and the student a girl.

[paximperium]

Actually yes.
Why? Do you know how the bail system is suppose to work?

[Bill Thompson]

Seriously, despite the male ego, I think when I was 15, it would not be able to handle it very well.

[Bill Thompson]

Is the boy traumatized or something?

I think in most cases it would be scarier for the student if the teacher were a man and the student a girl.

Why?

You know, it is not about sex here. The woman is a teacher. It is an authority figure.

I also I think you are wrong. There are 15 year old girls who would laugh it off and there are 15 year old boys who might be messed up and terrified. Women have a lot of power to throw around psychologically when it comes to sex.

Our male dominated society and the male ego tell us it is no big deal. I think it is.

[Cain]

From Ratemyteacher (comments prior to the alleged wrongdoing): http://www.ratemyteachers.com/melinda-dennehy/1972732-t/5

I love her. She's the most down to earth and chiil teacher I've ever had. By far one of my favorite teachers of all time. She lets you do ike anything.

LOVE HER!!!<33333

I LOVE U DENNN!!! hahah i <3 Gerda!!!! / Goya

melinda is my favorite! :D i love gerda <3

I LOVE HER

--------

Other comments refer to the boy as "Armando." The teachers that make the news are usually white, but I wonder if the boys are disproportionately ethnic. I'm guessing this guy had ridiculous game. I means, she's still attractive, even for 41. She's also a *********** idiot for leaving an electronic trail.

Male teachers seem to be a little more discreet about *********** their students, and, as far as I know, wait until the girls have graduated. (They leave their personal e-mail addresses in yearbooks). One of my favorite instructors ended up marrying a student. After he divorced his wife. She was a cheerleader. The student, not the wife.

[Puppycow]

Why?

You know, it is not about sex here. The woman is a teacher. It is an authority figure.

I also I think you are wrong. There are 15 year old girls who would laugh it off and there are 15 year old boys who might be messed up and terrified. Women have a lot of power to throw around psychologically when it comes to sex.

Which is why I wrote "in most cases."
There are exceptions. I can't say whether she should be out on bail or not because I don't know the details, but one relevant factor might be whether the boy and his family are terrified or "laughing it off" or somewhere in between.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "it is not about sex." I think that sex has something to do with it. I'm just saying there's no one-size-fits-all way to handle this that is best for all cases. She is going to suffer consequences, hopefully neither too lenient nor too harsh for what she did. Of course "too lenient" and "too harsh" are subjective here, but in my way of looking at things, it depends how damaged the boy is.

[dtugg]

How come this never happened to me when I was in high school?

[Soapy Sam]

Seriously, despite the male ego, I think when I was 15, it would not be able to handle it very well.

I seem to recall handling it pretty much all the time at 15.

[Sledge]

How come this never happened to me when I was in high school?

Your teachers didn't think you were hot? Don't feel bad, I think most of us missed out on this sort of thing.

[WildCat]

Male teachers seem to be a little more discreet about *********** their students, and, as far as I know, wait until the girls have graduated. (They leave their personal e-mail addresses in yearbooks). One of my favorite instructors ended up marrying a student. After he divorced his wife. She was a cheerleader. The student, not the wife.
There was a girl in my older sister's high school class who started dating her teacher, but only after graduation AFAIK. This girl went to the U of Illinois as did my sister and as fate would have it ended up on the same dorm floor. It was really, really creepy seeing those 2 together when I helped her move in... this teacher wasn't young and handsome. He was in his 40s or 50s and not at all what anyone would think of as attractive.

I have no idea how that turned out.

[GreNME]

Is the boy traumatized or something?

I think in most cases it would be scarier for the student if the teacher were a man and the student a girl.

http://image.grenme.com/thread/TeacherSexMatrix.jpg

[JoeTheJuggler]

Bill Thompson, it's interesting you approach the issue of gender discrimination using the example of an extremely rare instance when it's more profitable to be a woman than to be a man.

I assume you're in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment? And that you're outraged by pay inequity that still exists (http://www.womensmedia.com/new/Lips-Hilary-gender-wage-gap.shtml)?

Or are you only in favor of the equal treatment of women when it comes to prosecuting them for sex-related crimes?

[GreNME]

Bill Thompson, it's interesting you approach the issue of gender discrimination using the example of an extremely rare instance when it's more profitable to be a woman than to be a man.

I assume you're in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment? And that you're outraged by pay inequity that still exists (http://www.womensmedia.com/new/Lips-Hilary-gender-wage-gap.shtml)?

Or are you only in favor of the equal treatment of women when it comes to prosecuting them for sex-related crimes?

No, no. That's all Affirmative Action justifying, and should be resisted. :p

[Cainkane1]

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d735/d262/d746/d224/d96/f3/inter.jpg

Melinda Dennehy, a high school teacher from Londonderry, N.H. is in trouble with the law after offering sex acts and emailing nude photos of herself to a 15-year old student. (I read one report that said the kid was 16) The teacher had also been texting the teenager and according to the police affidavit said, “[i]n some of those messages, Dennehy told [the teenager] what she wanted.’’
Police learned about the incident after inappropriate photos of Melinda Dennehy were distributed throughout the school. The 41-year old high school teacher is now being charged with one count of indecent exposure. She's free on $7,000 bail and is due in court in late April.

Does anyone thnk the exact same thing would happen if a male teacher send nude photos of himself to 15 year old female student? Would he be out on bail?
When a grown woman risks pregnancy and std's with a male student it isn't as destructive as it is when a middleaged man puts a 15 year old girl in the same danger.

Both situations involve stupid adults. If you want to see just how stupid otherwise intelligent and educated people can be go to youtube and look up perverted justice.

At my mothers church the youth minister who had two 14 year old daughters of his own was arrested after an undercover policewoman posing as a 14 year old girl told him to come over for sex. He was arrested in what he thought was the girls home.

This happens alot.

[Beerina]

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d735/d262/d746/d224/d96/f3/inter.jpg


Hot! Reward her! She is awesome and we need more teachers like this!


Does anyone thnk the exact same thing would happen if a male teacher send nude photos of himself to 15 year old female student? Would he be out on bail?

Of course not. But we need to accept the double-standard of our very own culture. Embrace it. This "treat 'em the same" is fraud born of equality before the law, and has nothing to do with reality.

[rustypouch]

So doesn't everyone know that sexism and discrimination don't count when it's in a woman's favour?

[Bill Thompson]

Bill Thompson, it's interesting you approach the issue of gender discrimination using the example of an extremely rare instance when it's more profitable to be a woman than to be a man.

Why shouldn't the same punishment be given to this woman that would be given to a man?

[Bill Thompson]

When a grown woman risks pregnancy and std's with a male student it isn't as destructive as it is when a middleaged man puts a 15 year old girl in the same danger.

How so? The woman could give the boy STD's.

[shadron]

Bill Thompson, it's interesting you approach the issue of gender discrimination using the example of an extremely rare instance when it's more profitable to be a woman than to be a man.

I assume you're in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment? And that you're outraged by pay inequity that still exists (http://www.womensmedia.com/new/Lips-Hilary-gender-wage-gap.shtml)?

Or are you only in favor of the equal treatment of women when it comes to prosecuting them for sex-related crimes?
Why shouldn't the same punishment be given to this woman that would be given to a man?

That sounded to me like a subvocal "no, no, yes". I would sort of agree with Beerina, with the proviso that accepting it for now is not an excuse to stop trying to change it in the future:

But we need to accept the double-standard of our very own culture. Embrace it. This "treat 'em the same" is fraud born of equality before the law, and has nothing to do with reality.

[Bill Thompson]

If the 41 woman sent her naked pics and her lesbian desires to a 15 year old girl, would the crime and punishment be just as severe? One has to wonder if this happens often and if it is even reported. In all those Catholic schools all over latin america, it is hard to imagine that it has not happened. Now, you must know where I am going with this. You know it would be serious if it were a male teacher and a male student. Shouldn't it be just as bad if it were a female student and female teacher?

[Bill Thompson]

Of course not. But we need to accept the double-standard of our very own culture. Embrace it. This "treat 'em the same" is fraud born of equality before the law, and has nothing to do with reality.

So inequality is cool when it is fun or when we find it entertaining and embrace it

When it is not cool or fun we protest it, like in DADT.
http://forums.randi.org/customavatars/avatar35318_1.gif
And this makes us all feel good about ourselves.

[real american]

If the 41 woman sent her naked pics and her lesbian desires to a 15 year old girl, would the crime and punishment be just as severe? One has to wonder if this happens often and if it is even reported. In all those Catholic schools all over latin america, it is hard to imagine that it has not happened. Now, you must know where I am going with this. You know it would be serious if it were a male teacher and a male student. Shouldn't it be just as bad if it were a female student and female teacher?
I say that the should charge her like any other pervert that hs done that. The women is just like any other pig who woul think of having relations with teenager

[Bill Thompson]

I say that the should charge her like any other pervert that hs done that. The women is just like any other pig who woul think of having relations with teenager

I agree. She is a pedophile.

[cornsail]

If the boy was past puberty (which I assume he was) then I don't consider her a pedophile.

[Alt+F4]

If the boy was past puberty (which I assume he was) then I don't consider her a pedophile.

You're right, she's not a pedophile. She was charged with one felony count of indecent exposure, which seems appropriate. If she's found guilty she'll lose her job.

[fallout]

Nothing wrong there.

Every 15 y.o. dream would have been that. (although i'm not sure yet if shes any hawt).

[cornsail]

I saw a video about a support group for men who were sexually abused as children/teenagers. I remember at least one was coerced into sex by an adult female social worker at age 15 or so (and she wasn't bad looking). Seemed it screwed him up pretty bad.

[Tsukasa Buddha]

I knew of one relationship between a male student and a male teacher in high school. The student was decidedly less than traumatised, and I never thought it necessary to report.

I actually felt bad for the teacher :p . He was totally being played with.

[Bill Thompson]

If the boy was past puberty (which I assume he was) then I don't consider her a pedophile.

I think you could not be more wrong and if you thought about it a bit more you might change your mind. I hope you would.

[Bill Thompson]

You're right, she's not a pedophile. She was charged with one felony count of indecent exposure, which seems appropriate. If she's found guilty she'll lose her job.

No, I think you have it a little off the mark. She is not a pedophile in the legal sense only because she did not go through with any physical contact.

[Bill Thompson]

Nothing wrong there.

Every 15 y.o. dream would have been that. (although i'm not sure yet if shes any hawt).

Not every. And some 15 year old girls have crushes on their male teachers. Would it be alright with you if those dreams were made real?

[tyr_13]

Bill Thompson, it's interesting you approach the issue of gender discrimination using the example of an extremely rare instance when it's more profitable to be a woman than to be a man.

I assume you're in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment? And that you're outraged by pay inequity that still exists (http://www.womensmedia.com/new/Lips-Hilary-gender-wage-gap.shtml)?

Or are you only in favor of the equal treatment of women when it comes to prosecuting them for sex-related crimes?

Tu quoque? I'm sorry, it isn't objectionable to point out gender discrepancies in both directions when they exist.

Now if Bill is doing that evenly is another question...

[JoeTheJuggler]

Why shouldn't the same punishment be given to this woman that would be given to a man?

Why shouldn't the same rewards be given out to equally qualified women doing the same job?

I have no problem at all with the Equal Rights Amendment. I'm all for it. I'm just asking if your position is consistent, or does it only kick in when the gender discrimination favors the woman--something that happens maybe once for every few gozillion times it goes the other way around.

[Alt+F4]

I think you could not be more wrong and if you thought about it a bit more you might change your mind. I hope you would.

Look up the definition of pedophile. It's someone who has a sexual attraction to prepubescent children. It's highly unlikely that a 15 year is prepubescent.

[Alt+F4]

No, I think you have it a little off the mark. She is not a pedophile in the legal sense only because she did not go through with any physical contact.

Being a pedophile is having a sexual attraction to children. A person can be a pedophile and never have sexual contact with a child. Pedophila is a psychological term, not a legal one.

[JoeTheJuggler]

Tu quoque? I'm sorry, it isn't objectionable to point out gender discrepancies in both directions when they exist.

Now if Bill is doing that evenly is another question...
Exactly--and that's the question I'm asking.

Since women benefit from gender discrimination in maybe 1 case for every gozillion cases they suffer from it, I think Bill Thompson's position is most likely an inconsistent one.

That's why I wonder if he would support the Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA would make it possible to do away with both types of discrimination.

I think citing an extremely atypical case of gender discrimination and then crying out that it's unfair is why I suspect that Bill Thompson is not actually in favor of equal rights under the law regardless of sex.

[cornsail]

I think you could not be more wrong and if you thought about it a bit more you might change your mind. I hope you would.

There are both physical and cultural reasons why someone might be too young for sex. For most 15 year olds, I'd say it's purely cultural. It was normal to marry that young in a lot of previous societies.

[tyr_13]

I think citing an extremely atypical case of gender discrimination and then crying out that it's unfair is why I suspect that Bill Thompson is not actually in favor of equal rights under the law regardless of sex.

Or like some of us he was sexually abused by a woman as a child and this sort of thing touches a button for him, and the perverse 'he wanted it' social reactions it always generates.

Your speculation is probably more likely though.

[cornsail]

No, I think you have it a little off the mark. She is not a pedophile in the legal sense only because she did not go through with any physical contact.

You mean she's not a statutory rapist, I think.

[Alt+F4]

You mean she's not a statutory rapist, I think.

Bill thinks pedophilia is a legal term or charge, it's not. And again, a pedophile doesn't have to act on the sexual desire for children, it's the desire itselft that makes them a pedophile.

[gnome]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "it is not about sex." I think that sex has something to do with it. I'm just saying there's no one-size-fits-all way to handle this that is best for all cases. She is going to suffer consequences, hopefully neither too lenient nor too harsh for what she did. Of course "too lenient" and "too harsh" are subjective here, but in my way of looking at things, it depends how damaged the boy is.

Are you in favor of such a determination in the case of a male teacher and an underage student?

While our culture may cause us to react differently when roles are reversed--we must not mistake that for justice. I can agree with it being more situational--but not with just letting someone off easy because we find it less grotesque somehow. Or giving unreasonably harsh sentences because we find it MORE grotesque. Our feelings should stay out of it.

The only other thing I would say (not directed to Puppycow specifically) is that I find crimes involving sexual behavior with the underage to be different according to the maturity of the child--pre and post puberty. Pre-puberty it is clearly a sign of a dangerous mental disorder--it is not natural to be attracted before sexual development occurs.

Post-puberty, it is still morally disgusting--but more like a person that does not or cannot control their impulses. The impulses themselves may result from reacting to characteristics that can be found in fully mature individuals, and IMO don't have the same psychological implications. Still a crime, still hurts people, and still just plain wrong. But to pretend it comes from the same mindset is counter-productive.

[Foolmewunz]

I agree. She is a pedophile.

You were actually on a roll, there, Bill. You were making sense until this post.

A fifteen year old boy is not pre-pubescent. Her wronginess is that a teacher (or a boss - it's happened to me) has to look at a hotty and say, "Damn, that kid's hot! If he/she was a couple of years older, I'd do that in a heartbeat!" But you draw the line due to your position (of authority) and due to their age (legally problematic), and you don't act on your momentary fantasy.

She blew it - she took it a step or two too far. But it ain't paedophilia. More like stupophilia.

[Bill Thompson]

Why shouldn't the same rewards be given out to equally qualified women doing the same job?


What are you TALKing about? This is somehow related to employment issues to you?

[Bill Thompson]

You were actually on a roll, there, Bill. You were making sense until this post.

A fifteen year old boy is not pre-pubescent. .

I see things on a psychological level not on a biological level. It is like saying kids who can have kids physically should have them or it would be OK if they did.

No one here, I think, is a mental health professional or a social worker. What this woman did is bad. She could have caused damage. I am not so sure a 15 year old will have the same views towards women after this. The kid might or might not be hurt by it. But I know from other cases that the boys can grow up messed up. THere was a case where the boy later sued (the school, I think) and I recall he seemed to have a good case.

[Bill Thompson]

Bill thinks pedophilia is a legal term or charge, it's not. And again, a pedophile doesn't have to act on the sexual desire for children, it's the desire itselft that makes them a pedophile.


Just wait. I can see her lawyer spinning an argument that she did not intend to go through with anything.

[Alt+F4]

Just wait. I can see her lawyer spinning an argument that she did not intend to go through with anything.

Whether she intended to go through with or not has no basis on if she is a pedophile....she is not.

[qayak]

I see things on a psychological level not on a biological level. It is like saying kids who can have kids physically should have them or it would be OK if they did.

No one here, I think, is a mental health professional or a social worker. What this woman did is bad. She could have caused damage. I am not so sure a 15 year old will have the same views towards women after this. The kid might or might not be hurt by it. But I know from other cases that the boys can grow up messed up. THere was a case where the boy later sued (the school, I think) and I recall he seemed to have a good case.

Perhaps no one here is a mental health professional but don't let that keep you from seeking help. Your outrage is of your own making. Change a definition here, make up some false analogies there and pretty soon you have worked yourself into a regular old lather.

Having gone through a similar experience as a 15 year old, I can say it has a profound effect but not in the way you seem to think. My later girlfriends were all appreciative of the things I learnt from my encounter with an older woman.

[Foolmewunz]

I see things on a psychological level not on a biological level. It is like saying kids who can have kids physically should have them or it would be OK if they did.

No one here, I think, is a mental health professional or a social worker. What this woman did is bad. She could have caused damage. I am not so sure a 15 year old will have the same views towards women after this. The kid might or might not be hurt by it. But I know from other cases that the boys can grow up messed up. THere was a case where the boy later sued (the school, I think) and I recall he seemed to have a good case.

So if no one here's a mental health professional, how do you claim to see things on a Psychological level? Bill calls you in a lot for counselling?

I concur that she done bad - that's what defines wronginess (I see things on a cutesy level, myself), but you went overboard with the paedophile accusation. That's all.

Gnome and I are saying the same thing, essentially - or thinking along the same lines. Whilst it may be understandable that someone finds a particular teenager to be desirable, there's still the eeeew factor. It's not acceptable that she acted on this, not in her position as a teacher, and not in my position as a boss.

In my own case, it wasn't even someone who was a statutory minor, but damned close... At 41 years older and being her boss, it didn't matter how hot she was or how much she was flirting. It just had that whole eeeew factor going for it. As in, "Eeeeew - she's 18 and you have a 29 year old daughter? Ya creep!"

[cornsail]

I see things on a psychological level not on a biological level. It is like saying kids who can have kids physically should have them or it would be OK if they did.

No one here, I think, is a mental health professional or a social worker. What this woman did is bad. She could have caused damage. I am not so sure a 15 year old will have the same views towards women after this. The kid might or might not be hurt by it. But I know from other cases that the boys can grow up messed up. THere was a case where the boy later sued (the school, I think) and I recall he seemed to have a good case.

You make it sound like "she did nothing wrong" and "she is a pedophile" are the only two logical possibilities. How about "she did something wrong, but is not a pedophile"?

[real american]

Puttin' my two cents in; this teacher was persuing a UNDERAGE STUDENT. The women is nothing more than any other perverted scum. I don't care if the girl is 15 or older it is WRONG!

[Schrodinger's Cat]

I think in general these types of relationships are more destructive to girls just because sex in general is more destructive to girls who have sex too young when they are too naive.

For young boys, sex is about getting laid. For girls, sex is far more likely to be about emotions. Most guys I know who had sex in their young teens because they wanted sex. Many girls I know who had sex in their early teens did not have sex because they wanted to have sex, but because they wanted to make their partner happy. They had sex because their boyfriends pressured or convinced them to. Now when it's a teenage boy pressuring a teenage girl, they're on equal footing. But when it's an adult male and a female teenager, he has far more of an advantage in being able to manipulate her emotionally. When the older male is an authority figure, it adds a whole new dimension to it.

Bill maher talked about this subject once, and he put it very well "Yes, there is a double standard when it comes to this, for a good reason. Because it's too different things!"

However, despite the fact that I think that sex is typically very different for teenage boys than for teenage girls, this is not absolute. I'm sure there are plenty of teenage girls who would love to bang their male teacher just for the sake of sex. I'm sure there are absolutely teenage boys who would suffer emotionally from the experience (or potentially physically, if they don't have safe sex). Also, an adult has far more of an ability to understand the potential consequences of a sexual relationship. They do not have the right to engage in such a relationship with someone who is not on the same mental footing to appreciate the conseuqences of their actions.

Also; it is not right for any authority figure to use their position of authority to obtain sex from a teenager.

So even though I think it is more LIKELY that this kind of relationship is more damaging to a teenage girl, I think teenage boys deserve as much protection under the law as girls, and women who commit these crimes should face whatever consequences a man would for the same actions.

[Schrodinger's Cat]

And also...I wouldn't exactly call this woman a pedophile. However, I do think it is not normal to be attracted to a 15 year old. It's not quite pedophilia...but it's something else.

In cases like this I have heard people say around the net that if someone has hit puberty, they are sexually mature and should be of legal age. This despite the fact that a girl can get her period at 9.

I volunteer a lot with teenage kids. I am around 13-15 year olds all the time. And even the ones who are the most physically mature still are far from adults. yes they may look a little bit older than they're actual age, but they are NOT adults. It's not like in Japanese manga when the 14 year old school girls all have the bodies of slim 25 year olds, just in pig tails and a schoolgirl skirt. I really just think anyone who looks at a 13 year old kid and is sexually attracted to them is sick in the head, even if it's not the same as a pedo who actually is attracted to pre pubescent children.

[qayak]

And also...I wouldn't exactly call this woman a pedophile. However, I do think it is not normal to be attracted to a 15 year old. It's not quite pedophilia...but it's something else.

In cases like this I have heard people say around the net that if someone has hit puberty, they are sexually mature and should be of legal age. This despite the fact that a girl can get her period at 9.

I volunteer a lot with teenage kids. I am around 13-15 year olds all the time. And even the ones who are the most physically mature still are far from adults. yes they may look a little bit older than they're actual age, but they are NOT adults. It's not like in Japanese manga when the 14 year old school girls all have the bodies of slim 25 year olds, just in pig tails and a schoolgirl skirt. I really just think anyone who looks at a 13 year old kid and is sexually attracted to them is sick in the head, even if it's not the same as a pedo who actually is attracted to pre pubescent children.

In the not so distant past it was considered "normal" for a girl to get married and have control of her own houshold far earlier than we allow them to even have sex with adults these days. In a few years I expect the age of consent to be somewhere around 45 years old. ;)

As for the "in authority" designation, I am split. I think for adults, which is usually designate as somewhere between 18 and 21, this shouldn't be an issue unless that authority is used to procure sex.

[cornsail]

And also...I wouldn't exactly call this woman a pedophile. However, I do think it is not normal to be attracted to a 15 year old. It's not quite pedophilia...but it's something else.

In cases like this I have heard people say around the net that if someone has hit puberty, they are sexually mature and should be of legal age. This despite the fact that a girl can get her period at 9.

I volunteer a lot with teenage kids. I am around 13-15 year olds all the time. And even the ones who are the most physically mature still are far from adults. yes they may look a little bit older than they're actual age, but they are NOT adults. It's not like in Japanese manga when the 14 year old school girls all have the bodies of slim 25 year olds, just in pig tails and a schoolgirl skirt. I really just think anyone who looks at a 13 year old kid and is sexually attracted to them is sick in the head, even if it's not the same as a pedo who actually is attracted to pre pubescent children.

Well, it depends. A 15 year old could look 13 or 17. When you look at how a lot of porn advertises itself: "Just 18!" / "Barely Legal" / "Cheerleaders" / "School Girls", it's hard to conclude that being attracted to a 15 year old is "abnormal". If she looks 12 then yeah, I'd agree. Anyway, the important point is that acting on such an attraction is wrong if you're an adult.

[Praktik]

I've been looking at wiki cause I remember reading a wiki page that had a different clinical term for people attracted to post-pubescent children (ages 13-16 or so) - they are clinically not "pedophiles" but something else...

unfortunately I cannot find the page now... :(

EDIT: AH, here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephebophilia

looks like they're saying 14-16 or so... so we should be calling her an "ephebophile"

doesn't quite roll off the tongue that well though...

[Praktik]

Well, it depends. A 15 year old could look 13 or 17. When you look at how a lot of porn advertises itself: "Just 18!" / "Barely Legal" / "Cheerleaders" / "School Girls", it's hard to conclude that being attracted to a 15 year old is "abnormal". If she looks 12 then yeah, I'd agree. Anyway, the important point is that acting on such an attraction is wrong if you're an adult.

On the wiki page:

The term ephebophilia is used only to describe the preference for mid-to-late adolescent sexual partners, not the mere presence of some level of sexual attraction. Such a distinct preference for individuals in mid or late adolescence is not generally regarded by psychologists as a pathology when it does not interfere with other major areas of one's life.
...
However, ephebophilia can sometimes be diagnosed as a disorder if it results in dysfunction or exploitative behavior, either under the DSM specification 309.2, "Paraphilia Not Otherwise Specified", or under the ICD-10 F65.8 "Other disorders of sexual preference".In this case, the teacher could be considered to fall under the "disorder" category due to the exploitative behaviour she engaged in with this teen. The mere fact she was attracted to him is not the deciding factor.

[pgwenthold]

On the wiki page:

The term ephebophilia is used only to describe the preference for mid-to-late adolescent sexual partners, not the mere presence of some level of sexual attraction. Such a distinct preference for individuals in mid or late adolescence is not generally regarded by psychologists as a pathology when it does not interfere with other major areas of one's life.
...
However, ephebophilia can sometimes be diagnosed as a disorder if it results in dysfunction or exploitative behavior, either under the DSM specification 309.2, "Paraphilia Not Otherwise Specified", or under the ICD-10 F65.8 "Other disorders of sexual preference".In this case, the teacher could be considered to fall under the "disorder" category due to the exploitative behaviour she engaged in with this teen. The mere fact she was attracted to him is not the deciding factor.

If it were a guy, I'd just call him a creep.