One theory circling sexual interactions between students and teachers stems from a belief that the 1960s sexual revolution has advanced to the point that sex and school are integrated. Michael Rudinski, president of the Maryland Association of School Resource Officers, said teenagers do whatever they think their peers are doing, whether they are or not. "The thing about young people is when they see things in the mass media and they think it's going on, they start doing it. They see an appeal in being sexual and rebellious, especially in an academic setting."
Other possible explanations:
• Two-breadwinner families mean children have more unsupervised time to be preyed upon.
• Cell-phone technology, text messaging and e-mail afford opportunities for teachers and students to communicate privately
• The explosion of hardcore pornography, especially online, has resulted in the exposure of children to graphic sexual images to a far greater degree than at any time in history.
