Pedophilia deserves a more humane view

Our education system, too, is undergoing the effects of our toughened society, which even elaborates protocols for interaction between students ans teachers. I recently read in a school protocol that a teacher who wants to speak to a student in private should do so with the classroom door wide open, and keeping several metres' distance between himself and the students. An unhealthier situation is barely imaginable! In my experience, children always used to have an excuse to stay on for a while after schooltime. Cleaning the board, watering the plants, straightening the books and so on. Their real aim was to get the schoolmaster's (or schoolmistress's) attention for a while, to romp with them a bit. They wanted to be touched a while, within their own limits. In other words, not to be 'grabbed' by people with evil intentions, who abuse their power and position to satisfy their own lust. Pedophilia usually isn't one-way traffic from an adult towards a child. In my experience as a teacher, there were children who felt strongly attracted to their male or female teacher and who actually fell in love. Teenagers, too, showed such feelings. Dealing with this as an educator is an art.

source: Article 'Religion and raising boys - Pedophilia deserves a more humane view' by Jac Gerlofs (retired teacher and principal of a school); Koinos, no. 53; 1st quarter 2007