There have been so many "teachers having sex with students" stories lately that we tend to skim right over them. But if we stop and read one once in a while, we might find a couple of points to ponder:
1. The teacher here won't face additional charges because the parents of the victim don't want to go through the ordeal of a widely covered and televised trial. Those of us in the news business have been pushing for a long time to get more cameras into more courtrooms, for some good reasons (such as making the workings of the criminal justice system more available to more people). But we do need to acknowledge (and address) the concerns of those who resist such a development. People behave differently even when there are just print reporters around. TV cameras alter the proceedings even more profoundly.
2. If the teacher indeed suffers from bipolar (more commonly known as manic-depressive) disorder, she deserves some understanding, which is not the same as saying she shouldn't be held accountable. Bipolar is not one of those pretend mental disorders some people use to get out of taking responsibility for their actions. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain, and, until it is diagnosed and treated (which it can be), people in the manic phase can engage in some truly scary activities.
