CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Maybe the media is finally starting to get it.

For the past several years, EAGnews and other Internet-based outlets have been reporting on the stunning number of K-12 teachers across the nation who have been sexually abusing students of all ages.

We’ve also been reporting that a high percentage of these incidents start with social media contact between teachers and eventual victims.

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Now the Chattanooga Times Free Press has published a story, indicating that so-called mainstream journalists are finally catching on:

The number of public school teachers facing disciplinary action in Tennessee is on the rise, and social media could be partly to blame.

A Chattanooga Times Free Press review of disciplinary data over the past decade data shows teachers are increasingly failing to maintain appropriate boundaries as the proliferation of social media facilitates constant communication between teacher and student.

The review found that 160 teachers have been disciplined for crossing the line with students or other minors since 2004. Some were caught sending inappropriate messages. Others had sexual relationships with their students. Many lost their teaching licenses after they were convicted of crimes like child abuse or statutory rape.

In all, records show the Tennessee State Board of Education has taken action against 434 teachers in the past 10 years, but the numbers have been increasing. In 2005, the board disciplined 33 teachers. In 2013, the number was 51. Already in 2014, the board has taken action against 27 teachers.

And while the percentage of Tennessee’s 65,000 public school teachers facing discipline is small, advocates say some cases — particularly those involving sexual misconduct — come at a high cost to vulnerable children.

Terri Miller is president of the national advocacy group Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct and Exploitation. She said that while tracking of such cases is poor, it’s clear that too many teachers get away with sexual misconduct. Statistics gathered by school attorneys show that perpetrating teachers offend an average of three times before facing punishment.

Miller said social media and texting are causing even more problems between teachers and students because people will text or type something that they aren’t willing to say in person.

It’s been frustrating to watch the media all but ignore this epidemic over the past few years, and act as though each of the thousands of incidents are isolated and not indicative of a larger problem.

Perhaps the Chattanooga newspaper article is a sign that a few eyes are starting to open, and a huge issue is waiting to be investigated and reported.

Better late than never.