Teacher resigns after kissing student in Akita

Friday 08th August, 10:21 AM JST

AKITA —

A part-time teacher in his 20s resigned on Thursday after he kissed his female student, the Akita Prefectural Education Board said. According to the board, the part-time teacher kissed the student inside his car in a park in July after she finished school. He also kissed her at school on another day.

The board said her parents reported the teacher to the school after seeing him drop their daughter off at home late one night. The teacher was quoted by the education board as saying, “We liked each other. I didn’t see any harm in a kiss.” The girl’s age was not revealed.

The school principal said, “Apparently, the two had been contacting each other by email. The girl said she liked the teacher and that he didn’t force himself on her. But his behavior was still inappropriate, so we would like to apologize to the student and her family.”

Latest 15 of 21 Total Comments Show All

telecasterplayer at 12:04 PM JST - 8th August

I'm assuming she's a high school girl? The articaly doesn't mention the girl's age nor what type of school she attended.
flammenwerfer at 12:18 PM JST - 8th August

If she is an 18 y.o 3rd grader of high School, then all he had to do was keep it on the down low until she graduates in April and then he would have been good to go, BUT he had to act on his impulses now. Foolish.
Molenir at 01:54 PM JST - 8th August

We liked each other. I didn’t see any harm in a kiss.

And you call yourself a teacher? A teacher of what? Like Serindipity said, sounds a lot like grooming.
hidinginjapan at 02:01 PM JST - 8th August

Teacher/student relations are rife in this country. I'm not a religious person, but there are a whole lot of values and ethics embodied in them which contribute to a society that makes ethical decisions. Japan, a religious void, could probably use some kind of teaching in this area and why these kinds of relationships are improper. At the same time, I'm sure many a parent is concerned as to what kind of mongs are custodians and supposed educators of their kids.
medievaltimes at 02:24 PM JST - 8th August

I have talked to several public school teachers about this topic and they have ALL said teacher-student relationships are quite common, sometimes ending in marriage.
Altria at 02:37 PM JST - 8th August

Akita's kind of conservative - he should come teach in Saitama.
dennis0bauer at 03:24 PM JST - 8th August

well he is only 20 but he should have known better but now he can persue her.
white_rabbit at 04:10 PM JST - 8th August

not 20, in his 20s
kavikahi at 05:04 PM JST - 8th August

They communicated through email, this is not grooming. She was interviewed by the dean. "The girl said she liked the teacher and that he didn’t force himself on her." Most of the foreign teachers I have met were no exception to teacher student relations.

How about this; You wouldn't know love if it blew a kiss in your face or read it in the newspapers.

He resigned, for her? Love?

Grooming? sick.
cwhite at 07:48 PM JST - 8th August

he should of at least been more careful. Even geinoujin manage to keep things relatively quiet even when dating under the age of 18
presto345 at 08:30 PM JST - 8th August

Well, let's hope it doesn't turn into a Romeo & Juliet kind of thing. People of all ages do fall in love and they sometimes make the wrong decisions as love is blind(ing).
kavikahi at 11:12 PM JST - 8th August

The one thing in his favor : He wasn't hiding his feeling for the girl, she reciprocated. I'd go with the two love birds if I had to choose. Condone posters imagination? No! Love? Yes!!
HonestDictator at 06:36 AM JST - 9th August

Well, I don't think its such a bad thing. C'mon, its Japan. And as most of you have said even the teachers don't see it as uncommon. Now if this were happening in the states (which it is) I'd be a bit more upset.
kavikahi at 05:22 PM JST - 9th August

It is possible that teacher student relations occur less frequently and more sincerely here than in the states.
kavikahi at 05:43 PM JST - 9th August

Some of these figures are quite shocking and make one wonder how accurate, none the less, http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49389