Teacher, 41, Leaves Wife for 18-Y-O Student. Okay? Or Big Mistake?

by Good Morning America Posted 2012/03/05 03:37:55

Related Topics: Teacher, Student, Lifestyle, Jordan Powers, James Hooker, Public Opinion, Weird News, Leaf, Leaves

38,039 votes
Read all 1,077 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Big mistake! This is disturbing.	33,174 votes	87%
	It’s okay, they’re both consenting adults.	4,865 votes	13%

A 41-year-old former teacher in California left his wife and kids -- and quit his job -- to be with his 18-year-old student, saying he knows that she's "the one." Are James Hooker and Jordan Powers in the right -- or is this all a big mistake?

+44

Add a comment above

Beautiful_Syn 2012/03/05 12:22:57

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+31
I saw the news report on this last week and honestly for the people to say it's okay and that they are consenting adults please remember a few facts...

-He has known her since she was 14 since she was his student.
-He says he was just a teacher to her until she was 18 yet any after school activity she was part of he was the teacher for.
-They say nothing sexual started until she was 18 however other students have snapped pictures of her sitting on his lap during class, over 8,000 text messages where sent before her 18th birthday as well as hotel receipts.
-For trying to protect her daughter a mother was almost arrested.
-He left his wife and children, an eldest daughter one year younger than his 'girlfriend'.

Now if you are okay with student/teacher relationships turning into boyfriend/girlfriend relationships do not be surprised or mortified when your son or daughter starts sleeping with their teacher no matter the age! (In other words please have your heads examine!!)
>> See Replies

More polls by Good Morning America

syl to lee 2012/03/06 20:41:45

I know-just think what he IS teaching!!

reply
lee to syl 2012/03/06 22:31:46

shudder.

reply
syl to lee 2012/03/07 18:44:06

IS he still getting to teach?

reply
lee to syl 2012/03/07 21:24:26

article didn't say he was being fired, or even under any review.

prolly just poor reporting... but, how does that question not get asked?

reply
syl to lee 2012/03/09 19:08:09

this should be getting the media attention, not all the insane uproar over the birth control deal.

reply
Chuck 2012/03/05 20:07:28

It’s okay, they’re both consenting adults.

Both good and bad situation. I was 43, but looked much younger, well built, and dated an 18 year old girl that was absolutely gorgeous and in my mind was the 'hottest' thing that ever walked down Broadway. She was madly in love with me, and I her. The only thing is, I didn't realize that I loved her so much and felt like I needed more of her type and had another two young ladies clinging to me that were equally beautiful but not quite as hot in the sack. Two of the three got pregnant within a couple months of each other and both ended in abortions. I lost respect for them and they lost their love for me, and I could never figure out why, but it seemed like the abortions changed everything between us. I ended up marrying the oldest of the three which is 17 years younger than I and we now have a 31 year old daughter that is getting married for the first time to her only boyfriend of the last 8 years. My wife and I are now and have always been best friends and lovers and at the ripe old ages of 77 and 60 respectively, we have no intention of ever separating. But I must confess, I still love the one that was 18 and hot a pepper shack, and yes, I even dream about her from time to time; like just last night, for example.

reply
Rebecca to Chuck 2012/03/05 21:00:07

+1
?

reply
Chuck to Rebecca 2012/03/06 17:21:30

What is the question mark all about?

reply
Rebecca to Chuck 2012/03/08 18:04:26

What isn't the question mark about? You don't seem to understand that the concern doesn't really lie in the age difference, but the fact that a teacher who is in a position of authority over his students, and is charged with their care took advantage of his situation and slept with one of his STUDENTS. And also the obvious, that his story about waiting until she was 18 was most likely complete bs. And perhaps legally she is an adult, but she is also a highschool student. And also the question mark is for everything else in your comment that equally disturbs me.

reply
Chuck to Rebecca 2012/03/08 19:56:46

Did you read my other comment about the father of Confuscius ? and about lao tsze ? and of mohammed? and yes of the christian God who fathered a child called Jesus of a young virgin Mary (only 16) that was already married? Men like to whore around all the time; it's the way they are programmed. When it comes to their own gratification, they would screw a pile of rocks hoping to find a snake inside. The idea of of screwing a well used whore is not too tempting, just a release, but the idea of a young virgin, beautiful, fresh, clean, sweet as honey and all the rest is exactly what the man was programmed to need, and want, and to lust after. The idea of teacher and student doesn't even enter into the real problem, for the real problem is how is everybody else going to condemn them, simply because of their feelings, without ever considering the fact that those sitting in judgment worship a God that also likes young virgins. It is really difficult for parents to just give away their children to society at any age, even if they are in their thirties, but somehow we have to be able to accept the fact that some young adults are very capable of making up their own minds and we have to let them experience life and make their own mistakes, IF it is truly a mistake for a teacher and a student to fall in love and have the hots for each other. IF no law has been broken then we need to just lighten up.

reply
Rebecca to Chuck 2012/03/08 22:28:12 (edited)

It is nice to know that I inhabit the same earth as creepy old men like you. really.

reply
Chuck to Rebecca 2012/03/09 21:57:25

You know, there was a time some 58 years ago that I met a lady that I was so humbled by her beauty and elite status that I felt like I was with a Goddess. The first 7 words I spoke to her was in the form of a question and her short, very tart reply consisted of a mere four words. And my come-back was another short 7 words. However . . . . . . After sharing our love making for about eight hours that night without hardly a break; it was the next morning that I was so disappointed and really disgusted; while thinking I was loving an 'angel' I felt like I had made love to the devil's mistress.. I cannot tell you on this site what happened or why I literally had to slip out of her house but I can tell you this, it made me realize that there are no queens or princesses in this world. I might be sounding like a "creepy" old man to you, but if there is ever a time that I felt dirty and really unclean, it was then. Censors, and lawmakers, had they been available would have willingly created laws forbidding her behavior. I'm an old farm boy and I have never witnessed an animal with less character. I love women, but trust me, the word 'creepy' belongs to them. (Generally speaking), present company may very well be excluded.

reply
mwf122090 2012/03/05 20:02:14

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+3
It's not disturbing in the sense of the age gap, it's disturbing that he would just leave his wife and children for someone else. I truly have a hard time believing that he feels "she's the one".

So much for the sanctity of marriage, huh?

reply
Marie to mwf122090 2012/03/05 21:36:38

+1

reply
mwf122090 to Marie 2012/03/05 22:41:00

+1
I'm thankful that my parents were faithful to each other. I can't imagine what his children are going through.

reply
k.l.white1 2012/03/05 19:54:01

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+1
WRONG, on sooooooo many levels

reply
Michael 2012/03/05 19:52:44

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+1
But, it proves there is hope for bald men! Snicker, snicker...

reply
MOMMA THOMAS 2012/03/05 19:51:45

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+1
DING DONG

reply
luisofsuburbia 2012/03/05 19:44:52

It’s okay, they’re both consenting adults.

+4
I guess if they're both happy then good for them, I don't like judging people so I'll leave it at that.

reply
stevmackey 2012/03/05 19:43:52

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

Sounds like idiots delight!

reply
Raven 2012/03/05 19:43:28

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+1
YOUR GOING TO GET LEGALLY RAPED

reply
vannuck 2012/03/05 19:43:25

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+4
He left his wife and 2 kids for this little girl....what an Idoit.

reply
Bratz 2012/03/05 19:42:54

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+1
that is so not right. he is a major pedifile

reply
Fang to Bratz 2012/03/05 20:56:28

Incorrect, the girl has past puberty.

reply
Bratz to Fang 2012/03/07 18:46:40

it's still not right.

reply
Fang to Bratz 2012/03/08 02:32:42

In your opinion.

reply
Tom 2012/03/05 19:41:41

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+1
He's already made a commitment to his wife and kids.
He should honor that.

reply
Resp 2012/03/05 19:40:39

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+3
He looks like a pedophile.

reply
*Mahoga... to Resp 2012/03/05 19:44:32

He kind of does lol

reply
Paul to Resp 2012/03/05 21:33:38

+1
what does a pedophile look like? What are you going to do, start profiling any male teacher 40 and balding, don't even go there.

reply
Resp to Paul 2012/03/06 02:55:12

Are you a male teacher, 40 and balding?

reply
seasmoke70 2012/03/05 19:37:48 (edited)

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+2
The way she's gawking at him with stars in her eyes is nauseating. She's young and naive, and he's apparently looking for someone to make him feel young and desirable again. Sigh...in a couple of years, the initial infatuation will probably wear off and hopefully she'll come to her senses and realize that they have very little in common.

reply
I NEED A HORSE 2012/03/05 19:37:03
cellophane 2012/03/05 19:36:03

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+2
It's a big mistake for two reasons.

1) James has a family - what the h*ll is he thinking!?!?
2) Give Jordan a year out of high school to get over any possible "teacher crush" she's carrying and then see if she's still interested.

Just because she's "the one" for him does not ensure that the opposite is true as well.

reply
lee to cellophane 2012/03/05 20:26:34

its almost assured he's not the "one" for her...

what's going to happen when she has two of his kids and he finds some other young girl to give him the "kind" of attention he thinks he needs.

this is just creepy all around.

reply
~ The Button ~ 2012/03/05 19:31:48

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+1
first he was in a position of authority over a depressed young girl, secondly the relationship started before she turned 18 and thirdly he has a daughter who is a classmate and only a year younger plus two other kids and a wife. he deserves jail. what she sees in him is beyond me. he's ugly and i doubt has much to offer in a many ways as he had to get someone much younger and more immature cause he obviously couldn't handle someone his own age.

reply
bob 2012/03/05 19:30:10

It’s okay, they’re both consenting adults.

+3
his wife is better off without him is my guess.

reply
Marie to bob 2012/03/06 14:48:36

+1
Depends if she gets good settlement!!! Kids are expensive to raise! Maybe she should ask- he have custody, 18 year old makes perfect babysitter!

reply
t.eliot, topbard 2012/03/05 19:29:52

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+2
It sounds as if there was a lot of inappropriate contact while the girl was in school.It's stuff like this that gives teachers (of which I am one) a bad name.
If he had a shred of ethics, he would not have done this. SHAME.
That said, she is now of age, so I guess it's legal, but the putrid tang of it is pervasive

reply
RJ~PWCM~JLA 2012/03/05 19:28:56

Big mistake! This is disturbing.

+2
He probably needs an 18-year-old because Viagra isn't covered on his health insurance policy.

reply