A former Texas English teacher remains behind bars...after being convicted of having sex...in a videotaped orgy...with several of her male, high school students.
I raise two questions with regards to this case. Is what she did...wrong? And should she be in prison for doing it?
Simply put...yes...what she did was wrong. But no...she should not be in jail.
According to court documents...28-year old Brittni Colleps - who is married and is a mother of 3 children - admitted to flirting for a month or so with one or more of her male students...by sending them approximately 300 text messages that were sexual by nature. Some of those text messages were written and transmitted while the students were actually sitting in Colleps' classroom at Kennedale High School in Kennedale, Texas, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth.
The "sexting" then escalated to several sexual encounters at Colleps' Arlington, Texas home with one of the students...and then an invitation to that student and four high school football players, which resulted in the videotaped "sex-fest" at the Colleps house...which Colleps claims she was unaware was being recorded....by a cell phone...being held by one of the guys.
So why is what Colleps did...wrong? First of all...she is married to a United States Army soldier...who was reportedly overseas on active duty when his wife was engaging in her sex romps with her students. Secondly...the sex party took place in her husband's and her bedroom. Thirdly...Colleps is the mother of three young children - ages 5, 6 and 8. It was proven at trial, however, that the kids were not at home whenever their mother was entertaining her students. Nevertheless... overall...Colleps' behavior was ethically and morally inappropriate.
But here's why Colleps' actions...should not be...illegal - and why she should not be in prison. The five guys she had sex with...were all 18 and 19 years old. THEY ARE ADULTS!!! LEGAL, CONSENTING ADULTS!!! Yes...they were her students...BUT THEY WERE NOT CHILDREN. Even in states where the age of consent is 16...I would not agree to allow a teacher to have sex with any minor. That is a crime. But a teacher having sex with a student who is over the age of 18...SHOULD NOT BE ILLEGAL. Is it inappropriate...is it wrong? Yes...I've already stated that it is...and for numerous reasons. But when a person is 18 years old or older...that individual is NOT...I repeat...NOT...a victim...when agreeing...when consenting...to anything sexual.
Now...that being said...it is...unfortunately...illegal...in the state of Texas...for a teacher to have sex with a student...no matter what age they are...if they are still in high school. This law needs to be changed. Texas is one of the few states in America that has such a law on the books. In most states...and depending on the situation...perhaps rightfully so...a teacher would be disciplined in some form by the board of education...or even fired...for having sex with a student...but he or she would not be sent to the state poky for 5 years...for being sexually involved with a student who is over the age of 18. And in the case of Brittni Colleps...she could have been sentenced...to 20 years in prison. This law is obsolete...archaic...and needs to be updated to the 21st century. There was a time...many moons ago... when Americans weren't granted "adult status" until the age of 21...and then...a teacher having sex with an 18-year old student...may have been something that should have been prohibited. But not now. Let's face it...18 year olds can vote...18 year olds can serve in the United States Armed Forces...and fight for our country. If you are 18...YOU ARE AN ADULT!!! Now don't start in with noise about 18 year olds not being able to legally drink alcoholic beverages. When I was 18...we could drink. But that's a subject for another day.
According to trial transcripts...Colleps claims no student was ever given better grades because of their sexual relationship. Despite that...court documents have revealed...that the students did not feel...as if they were victims. Some of the guys testified they were "happy" to be with Colleps for the sex party at her house. Duh! You think? What 18 or 19-year old, heterosexual male wouldn't want to have sex with a 28-year old woman, who he thinks is hot? One student reportedly told his lawyer that he wanted to testify on behalf of Colleps.
Brittni Colleps is not a registered sex offender. She was never arrested or charged...let alone convicted of any such crime. These students were not boys. They were men. And Colleps is serving time for 16 counts of having "inappropriate relationships with a student" - a law...as I said...that needs to be changed.
Meanwhile...Colleps is appealing the court's ruling. However...she will never be allowed to teach in school again. Her certificate and license to do so...have been revoked. As for her marriage... Brittni Colleps' husband... Christopher Colleps...is standing by his wife. He has also admitted to adultry...and blames himself on some of the reasons why Britttni did what she did with her students. Christopher Colleps had also testified in court that he and his wife experienced group sex together...before the military relocated him overseas.The bottom line is...there's a difference between...what is morally and ethically wrong...and what is...or should be...illegal. Brittni Colleps has repeatedly stated that her conduct was "absolutely wrong" and she takes "responsibility" for it. When you think about it...if the same 18 or 19-year old males...met Brittni Colleps...outside of school...and had sex...there would be no crime. The fact is...two consenting adults...CAN HAVE SEX. Period. End of story.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy will make an effort to publish a new commentary every Sunday and Wednesday. Unscheduled essays may appear, from time to time, on other days as well.
Please express your opinions in the comment box below. You do not have to register your name and you can remain anonymous if you prefer. The Controversy wants to know your views on the essay above and on any other commentaries written on this blog. Just click on the word "Comments" below and write your thoughts in the box that appears. Make sure please that when you finish your statement that you click on the word "Publish." Thank you.
Copyright 2013 Gary B. Duglin and TheControversy.net. All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment