this isn’t simply about the age difference, although, like you acknowledged, there has to be cut off for statutory rape at some level, because it could be a slippery sloped into 15 or 14, or even 9 or 10. a society has to choose a point where we feel like the power imbalance generally makes relationships between adults and minors exploitative and inappropriate, and i know that personally i am more then ok with it being 18.
second and most paramount, it’s extremely inappropriate, unfair, unprofessional for a teacher to carry on a sexual relationship with one of their students. the teacher is in a position of authority and there is a power imbalance. students are there to LEARN, not be distracted by sexy teacher. and how does ANYONE (including the student they are having sex with, other students in the class, school administration, and parents) even know if the teacher is grading the student impartially and based on their work? that’s not fair to the student (who is there to LEARN and not have sex with and be distracted by their personal relationship with their teacher) and other students in the class with them? it’s just wrong on so many levels.
maybe based on your parents situation you have a different perspective on this, but i’m sorry, as a teacher, what your father did was unprofessional, PARTICULARLY having sex with a student on school grounds. he’s lucky he didn’t get caught by anybody at the time in the middle of having sex with student in his “art studio”, because he probably would have lost his job and maybe even ended up in jail with a criminal record. my father isn’t perfect either, and i while i love him, i STILL hold him responsible when he does something wrong. holding your loved ones accountable when they do something wrong or illegal doesn’t mean that you love them any less.
