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Jonathan Zimmerman: No Excusing Teacher-Pupil Affairs

[Jonathan Zimmerman teaches history at New York University and lives in Narberth. He is the author of "Small Wonder: The Little Red Schoolhouse in History and Memory" (Yale University Press).]

About a quarter-century ago, when I was a rookie high school teacher, I was helping a student in the faculty office when a colleague bounded in to grab some coffee on his way to class.

"Are you teaching this young lady some history, Mr. Zimmerman?" he asked, refilling his cup.

I nodded and smiled, unsure where he was going. Then I found out.

"And, my, is she a beautiful young thing," he added....

I thought of this exchange last week as I read about Lower Merion High School teacher Robert Schanne, who was suspended after a former student reported that she had a romantic relationship with him while she was still attending the school. I don't know what happened between Schanne and the student, and neither does anyone else besides those involved. That's why the school district put Schanne on paid leave pending a full investigation....
Read entire article at Philadelphia Inquirer