Imagine a young girl about fourteen years old that is perhaps your sister or your daughter, who is having sexual relations with her male teacher at a middle school.

Not only did this teacher have sex with her one time, but repeatedly, until authorities eventually found out.

What would you do?

Would you demand the teacher’s removal from his job? Would you demand that not only would he never teach again, but also carry the burden of his conviction on his shoulders for the rest of his life?

Now consider the reverse.

Consider that the teacher is female and the student is your little brother.

Would you react any differently? Would there be a double standard?

Apparently a double standard exists … and not too far from home.

Annie Creighton Githens, an Urbandale schoolteacher who admitted having sexual relations with a student, will soon have a clean record if her treatment is successful.

This convicted felon will lose the conviction and may soon have the opportunity to return to the job market.

Would this have happened if the teacher had been a man? Probably not.

Did she acquire sympathy because she cried in the courtroom? Possibly.

Think about how frightening this is. Ms. Githens could be returning to a teaching job with a clean record in the near future.

She could soon be interacting with your little brother.

She could soon be in the presence of your son.