Why is it that a 16year old girl can legally have sex with anyone over the age of 18 according to North Carolina State consent laws, but the age of consent does not matter when the man is a teacher? Why is he the only one prosecuted when the girl is legally "of age" with regards to making her own sexual decisions, and is not held responsible for her actions when SHE instigates the relationship?

The interpretation you gave of the law in North Carolina is not entirely accurate but is really not the point.

Public and private school teachers are adults in our communities who are in a significant position of influence, authority, and trust with kids. This places them in a category where exploitation could be a major factor and accountability is, and should be, VERY HIGH. Good judgment from the "Adult" teacher in our classrooms is demanded by our communities and our courts. No judge should look favorably on any adult teachers who violates that trust under any circumstance. If all teachers followed their urges with classroom crushes, we'd have no educational system and a lot of uneducated kids.

Public officials, Clergyman, Legal professionals, Medical professionals and teachers are all in chosen professions that are held to a higher standard under the law for very good reason. Teachers are at school to "Teach" NOT "Touch". If parents and communities can't trust "adult" educators to demonstrate "adult" behavior and good judgment around the raging hormones of there teenage children in the classroom and outside it, we've got a very serious problem.