[user104658]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I really don't want to sound patronizing here Jack, I promise, but I seriously think that until you actually have kids yourself you won't fully understand why a teacher shouldn't be allowed to go into school and pick up their students. When I was your age I would probably have thought the same way as you do and again that isn't meant to come across in a condescending way at all, I just don't think you fully see the problems with this sort of thing until you're properly out of that age bracket.

I have a 16 year old daughter, she's doing exams etc at the moment, I'm worried about boys her own age, to actually have to send her to school and worry about a full grown adult with power over her also would just be horrific. I'd probably end up sending her to a school with no male teachers if it were perfectly fine for full grown adults in a position of power to be able to pursue school kids in a sexual way

I agree but this is what makes me wonder about the age of consent, full stop. If kids at 16 aren't capable of protecting themselves in some situations then, surely, the same applies in every situation be it teachers or not - and therefore, I'm dubious about it being legal for teens to consent with full adults at all.

Then again, I have to wonder... Will you feel any differently when your daughter is 18 compared to 16? I doubt it's any different for a parent. My wife's younger sister is 20 and she STILL seems very naive to be honest - and this is a girl who was drinking / smoking / having sex at 14 and ran away to live with us for 4 months... Not someone who was wrapped in cotton wool.

Not sure what my point is there really. Just that 18 year olds can still find themselves in these situations with people who have authority of some sort or other over them. So I guess the important part is making sure young people are aware and prepared for those sorts of situations in general?