It’s common for kids to have crushes on their teachers and Megan Rotar, a psychologist with the Mental Fitness Center in Rochester, New York, says that is entirely developmentally appropriate. “Crushes can be healthy and positive. Students might find someone who would be a good role model for them, spark an interest in learning and help (them) figure out their newly developing romantic feelings,” she told Metro Parent.
Adorable footage from a 1965 “Candid Camera” episode shows that being hot for teacher isn’t new. “Candid Camera” was a hidden camera show that first aired in 1948 where people were secretly filmed for their reactions to uncomfortable situations.
In this episode, a group of students who appear to be about 13 years old are introduced to a “new” teacher who the show refers to as “gorgeous.”
In the first clip, two girls are clearly taken by a male teacher with movie-star good looks. After he leaves the room, the girls murmur to each other with giddy excitement and fuss with their hair. “His eyes are …,” one girl said before bursting into laughter. “He’s young too. He must be at least 24,” she said.
The hidden camera crew also played the same trick on three groups of boys by introducing them to a new social studies teacher. The teacher was played by Miss Sweden 1961 Gunilla Knutsson.
When she leaves the room, one of the boys appears to belt out a curse word,” Oh sh**.” In the second group, one laughs so hard that he falls out of his chair. The boys in the final group can’t believe their luck, exclaiming, “Oh wow! And “Holy mackerel.”