Blumenthal, State Board Of Education Ask State

Supreme Court To Uphold Law

HARTFORD — Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and the State Board of Education announced that they have asked the State Supreme Court to uphold state law criminalizing sexual relationships between high school teachers and their students.

New Haven teacher Van Clifton McKenzie-Adams was charged with second-degree assault for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. He is appealing his conviction to the State Supreme Court, claiming state law criminalizing such “consensual” relationships violates his constitutional rights.

In a brief filed with the court, Mr Blumenthal said that a teacher has no fundamental right to sex with a student. The power differential between a teacher and student renders it impossible for the student to freely consent to such a relationship, Mr Blumenthal said.

The court has characterized teachers as “surrogate” parents for their pupils, and has long recognized the relationship of trust and authority that a teacher has with students, Mr Blumenthal said.

Since 1983, 77 percent of the state’s teacher revocation proceedings have concerned teacher sexual misconduct.

“Claiming a constitutional right to sex with a student mocks both the Constitution the teacher’s position of trust,” Mr Blumenthal said. “A teacher acts as an authority figure with unique responsibility to effectively educate — not sexually exploit — our children. Our state criminalized these sexual relationships to ensure that elementary and high school students are protected against improper coercion and sexual misconduct by those entrusted with their education. Engaging in a sexual relationship with a student is a gross abuse of power and trust.”

Board of Education Chairman Allan B. Taylor said, “The state board voted to file a brief because we believe that the defendant’s argument in this case, if accepted, would weaken the very foundation of our education system. Successful education depends on parents and students trusting that teachers will use their authority to help their students learn. The very few educators who misuse that authority for their own gratification should be punished for the harm they do the individual.”