They act like her life is completely over because of this. I somehow think that's up to her ... people have survived much bigger "tragedies"
Apparently I'm weird on this, but really. Is it that big of a deal? I agree that they shouldn't have been involved while he was in a position of authority. There is a lot that is strange about this particular relationship. But on general principle, I really don't have a huge problem with 16 year olds getting married, or with the age difference thing, or even with the student-teacher thing (it shouldn't happen WHILE the teacher is still the student's teacher, but afterward, who cares?).
[Of course, my dad was my mom's gym coach in HS, they started dating the summer after she graduated, and got married her sophomore year of college (there's an 11 yr age difference). They've been married for 27 years and I don't think she feels she threw her life away (although her parents certainly felt that way).]