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This is one of the "altruistic" traits we hope for among teachers . . ., whereas power seems to be something that many people strive to amass. I believe most politicians and CEOs have a lust for power. I think that all of us have experience with teachers who also seem to relish the power they have in the classroom . . . and they behave like banana republic despots. I hold, however, that real power comes when a person (teacher) is willing to relinquish the power and let someone else exercise it. Hence "power to the people" is an expression that will actually invest in the leader(s) -- or the deserving teacher -- a truer control, b/c acceptance of that control will have been instilled in the populace (or class of students) willingly.

There is also the whole question of the special status of teacher, just like there is that of the boss, when considering the question of sexual abuse. But that may lead to an entirely different discussion . . . .