Schools are supposed to be safe sanctuaries where students can learn from their teachers. But sadly that’s not always the case as seen by the near-record number of public-school teachers in both Japan and the United States accused of sexual misconduct with their students. Although the laws regarding the matter differ between the two nations, certain similarities emerge.
Japan reported the second-highest number of cases of sexual misconduct at 273 for fiscal 2019, according to a survey by the education ministry. That was only nine less than the record for fiscal year 2018. In the United States, nearly 3.5 million students between 8th and 11th grade reported physical sexual conduct from either a teacher or coach, according to the Children’s Center for Psychiatry, Psychology and Related Services.
Most experts agree that the alarming surge in Japan and the U.S. is largely the result of the prevalence of social media and text messaging that provide an open gateway to sexual predators. Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat didn’t exist 15 years ago, nor did cell phones belong to so many young people. The combination is ideal for improper relationships out-of-sight of parents and principals.