Topic : 10/19 Teacher Caught in the Act

I wasn't trying to compare Dr. Phil to Povich.  I understand that they are total opposites professionally, but what I am trying to say is that this entire subject creates such controversy and headlines that I constantly wonder how Povich can air shows that feature girls who became pregnant or had sex at ages 13 or even younger and no authority steps in and prosecutes the males for rape, etc.  Doesn't anyone but me notice that never is the subject of rape or underage criminal acts is brought up on these shows - I know they are edited, but these are crimes against underage girls and NO ONE ever speaks out on this side of the issue.  WHY?

As for today's show, I still feel the 24 year old woman is emotionally backward and she felt she was in love, in her extremely limited life experience.  And I still believe that the boy, one month from age 16, knew what he was doing.  He also felt there was nothing wrong is having sex with this woman - why?

Thanks for letting me share.

I will defend Janelle to the day I die. She IS my friend. Janelle and I taught Reading together last year in the public school system . You may not agree with what I have to say,  but that is purely your ignorance to the situation. Yes, Janelle committed a crime. But, to attack her personally and say things like she is a rapist, is wrong. That is not the case. Janelle made a mistake, but does that mean she is a bad person? I know her. I have spent time with her. She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. To see her in this position  breaks my heart. I can tell you, she is a better person than many of you. You can sit there and judge her for her mistake, but what about you? Her mistake is a big mistake, but why is she the only one to blame? What about that 15 year old boy..who, by the way, turned 16 during this fiasco. So, this 16 year boy is totally innocent? I think not. 

Janelle IS a good person who made a mistake. It doesn't mean she is a sexual predator, a rapist, or just a sick human being. SHE MADE A MISTAKE. A mistake that gives the public the right to throw obscene and rude comments in her face. Well, may your lifetime of mistakes one day be thrown in your face or put on display for the public to defame you.

Janelle WILL rise above this. I know that the time she spends paying for this crime will make her a stronger person.

I will defend Janelle to the day I die. She IS my friend. Janelle and I taught Reading together last year in the public school system . You may not agree with what I have to say,  but that is purely your ignorance to the situation. Yes, Janelle committed a crime. But, to attack her personally and say things like she is a rapist, is wrong. That is not the case. Janelle made a mistake, but does that mean she is a bad person? I know her. I have spent time with her. She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. To see her in this position  breaks my heart. I can tell you, she is a better person than many of you. You can sit there and judge her for her mistake, but what about you? Her mistake is a big mistake, but why is she the only one to blame? What about that 15 year old boy..who, by the way, turned 16 during this fiasco. So, this 16 year boy is totally innocent? I think not. 

Janelle IS a good person who made a mistake. It doesn't mean she is a sexual predator, a rapist, or just a sick human being. SHE MADE A MISTAKE. A mistake that gives the public the right to throw obscene and rude comments in her face. Well, may your lifetime of mistakes one day be thrown in your face or put on display for the public to defame you.

Janelle WILL rise above this. I know that the time she spends paying for this crime will make her a stronger person.

I applaud your defense of your friend;  you stand by her no matter what.  Not all of us have many people in our lives that would do that or would be willing to be that faithful.

I have no idea how the mind of a person operates unless they have the same opinions that I do.   I do not understand why she thought that sex with a minor was appropriate.  Maybe her starvation for feeling loved at the time clouded her judgement.  I'm sure that , at the time, she did not think that she was doing anything wrong.  Somehow she was able to justify it to herself  that maybe she was not wrong because it was, to her, love and not just sex. 

As a person who is bi-polar and was molested many times as a child and teenager, I do not believe that this can be classified as a "mistake".  She acted impulsively but she did not just fall on top of him.    Bi-polar people sometimes do act impulsively and I've done some things myself that I'm not proud of.  I've put myself in some very questionable sexual situations (some considered dangerous) but never with a minor.  She did something wrong and there are consequences.  I will not attack her as a person because I do not know her but I do believe that she should be accountable for her actions.

When I was 19 I went with a guy (off-duty cop) to a closed VFW to play pool.  He raped me.  My accountability with this is that I willing went with him to a place that I knew we would be alone.    I put myself in the situation but HE was the one responsible for the rape.  The young man may have put himself in the situation but it was her responsibility to not take action.

My heart really goes out to her family and friends who I'm sure are devastated by this.  Keep doing what you're doing and be supportive of her.  It does not mean that you approve of what she did, but believe in her as a person.