I’m speechless, OK–I’m not. What the fuck is this about?!
Well—they’re on the ball, aren’t they?
Now, this story had few details but my first reaction is to be outraged. Why were these boys arrested but this girl was a victim? She was in a room full of people–and possibly a teacher. Unless this turns out to be a “the crowd cheered them on” or a “they had her locked in the storeroom with them” type-thing (In which case I retract this–and let those boys fry in hell) I’m betting she was as involved as they were. I remember being 14, I knew what sex was, and I knew that the middle of class surrounded by people was NOT the place for it.
Or whether he was even actually there…?
This is insane! God, can you imagine being a student in that class? [cornyjoke]Talk about a hands-on approach to learning![/cj] And these boys–what were they thinking? I’m disturbed, really.
From your link:
After a weeklong investigation that included interviewing students, Alvin D. Jones, 18, DeRidder, and Harles Smart III, 17, of DeRidder, both 11th-graders, were booked into the Beauregard Parish jail.
At least one of the boys was a man. I have no idea what the age of consent is in Louisiana, but it’s probably not 14. Unless it is, the girl in question was unable to give her consent legally.
And it’s really not that uncommon for girls to be sexually assaulted in school, although most of it probably involves groping/fondling rather than penetration or oral sex.
Why does the headline read “Two football players accused of oral sex in class”? Who cares what game they play? What’s wrong with “Two students accused of oral sex?”
Unless, of coure, the writer wanted to convey the impression that two football players were engaged in oral sex with each other.
I agree. That’s exactly what I thought the story was about just from reading the headline.
I get the impression that there’s more to this story than what’s in the link. I mean, yes, where was the teacher when this was going on? And why did the principal wait 3 days before reporting it?
Yeah, I understand about age of consent/not legally mature/unable to make a rational decision…BUT… I just can’t quite picture this girl in a room full of other people, not only getting to the point where she is unclothed enough to permit this, but also in the position to allow --erm, acess, without being a willing participant. I know 14 seems young, but given the circumstances (what few are outlined in the story)–I just don’t see this girl as a 'victim". Unless she was mentally disabled or something, she knew what she was doing. And these boys were just that–boys. Maybe an older (20 +) man, or one in the position of authority could manipulate a girl that age, but these were just fellow students. And if hero-worship for football players is so great that this girl somehow felt she was elevating herself socially by allowing this–well then it seems to me that she’s got some issues that need addressed, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t allow it at the time. These boys will be labeled as sex offenders because they didn’t know the letter of age of consent laws? I think what they did (all three of them) was pretty stupid, and borderline expulsion-worthy, but not necessarily criminal.
I hate hearing “blame the victim” cliches in rape discussions, but I just don’t see that she’s a victim here–other than in a technicality. I think labeling something like this an assault diminishes the reality of the experience for survivors or rape and assaults. Just my opinion, but it bothers me a lot.
Borderline expulsion-worthy? It crossed the border when either of the participants touched the other in a sexual manner.
…not necessarily criminal? No, it is necessarily criminal. While a 14 year old may be knowledgable to the ways of sex, she cannot legally enter into a sexual relationship with an 18 year old anymore than she could legally be sold a set of encyclopedias by a door-to-door salesperson.
As a current high school student I can say that this stuff does go on in schools. Most of the time people are at least smart enough to go in one of the bathrooms to do it though. If that girl was willing to do it, which I assume she was, she was no victim. I would consider the boys to be the real victims here. They’re the ones who are now going to have to deal with the stygma that a sex offender carries all of their lives. But still that was really stupid, and the school should discipline them for that.
Sigh…the most interesting thing that ever happened in my science classes was that time Kyle Hanemaayer burnt his eyebrows off…
This high school student has never heard of anything like this happening on school property. I just run with the wrong crowd, I guess.
Perhaps the fact that the boys are football players is why this was allowed to go unpunished for a few days, before sombody blew the whistle (no pun intended). That may be the insinuation in the headline.
I don’t feel too sorry for these boys. There’s a HUGE difference between 14 and 18. The girl may have been a stupid ninny and consented, but she was consenting to an 18 (and 17) year old.
I remember when I was 14. (Many eons ago.) An 18 year old boy was in a different stratosphere than me. Maybe things have changed now, but I seriously doubt they’ve changed that much, at least for some kids.
Also, we don’t really know the environment in the classroom. I remember in some of my classes, some students openly bullied me (or others) and no one did a damned thing. The teacher looked the other way too. Granted, the “bullying” didn’t include a sex act, but still - some people just don’t give a damn. For all we know, the environment in the class (which I assume had no teacher present at the time) was encouraging to the boys, which further pressured the girl to give in, or gave her the impression it was useless to resist. (Or, maybe she was eager to participate - either way, she’s still a ninny of a 14 year old, and at least one of the boys is still an ADULT.)
I think we need more facts. I would like to know what degree of coercion, if any, was involved before I get behind any criminal charges. Yes, I know that per the letter of the law charges are a matter of course, but they are not necessarily in the best interest of any of the three participants. I’m very much in agreement that disciplinary action should be taken, but am less sure about criminal charges.
The age of consent laws are a quite necessary, but when the participants are close in age (despite being on opposite sides of the imaginary line) and in the same school, I think it some discretion is called for.
I remember the girl I had a crush on when we were both in grade nine opted for the grade 13 senior. Nobody seemed to take much notice.
Also, since becoming a parent of a child who has gone through the teen years, I have rarely never met an 18 year old who didn’t exhibit a great deal of immaturity leading to an inclination for making stupid choices.
Thirdly, as a senior teen, I can recall many 14 year old girls that were as aggressive sexually as my peers. Girls do mature both physically and mentally several years ahead of boys.
There is every reason for me to believe that she instigated the event. Boys don’t normally instigate for public display. Why I’ll bet the reason the teacher didn’t intervene is that she might have had something on him.
There are at least 4 people implicated in this event, and the probability that one weird girl with a history of aggressive sexuality is the most plausible scenario.
That is not to suggest that the 3 males involved are without blame. However the kneejerk reaction assigning victimhood to the girl is not right.
They’re guilty (or could be) of statutory rape. Statutory rape means that the minor girl cannot, legally, ever say “yes.” She could be the aggressor, she could tie him down, she could be on top, she could yell “yeeehaw! giddieeup horsey!” and she has still never given legal consent to have sex.
Are you suggesting she forced a football player’s head into her crotch? Or that the 17 year old football player couldn’t stop a 14 year old girl from fellating him in class?
I’m soooo confused.
As others have said, the article is so vague that it leaves many questions unanswered. Was she, ahem, orally pleasing them or vice versa? Why was she referred to a victim’s program? Where was the teacher? Why was a 14 year old in the same class as a 17 and 18 year old anyway? Is it just me or would you find it very difficult to get in the “mood” with 30 other students watching?
An 18 year old 11th grader is at least 1 year (possibly 2) behind in school. AND he’s a football player. Probably not the sharpest pencil in the drawer.
The teacher is not being investigated by the police… this tells us something about what went on.
Would recieving a bj from a minor constitute “felony carnal knowlege”? Seems like it would have to be the other way around.
I remember when I was 18. Even a girl of 14 was in a different stratosphere than me.
Anyway, I agree with what seems to be the general consensus that more information is needed. Important details are missing. Until I learn more about this, I’m reserving judgement.
Why does the headline read “Two football players accused of oral sex in class”? Who cares what game they play? What’s wrong with “Two students accused of oral sex?”