Sexual harassment is something we deal with every day. It occurs everywhere, including most high schools. It is said that almost 75% of those who are sexually harassed have sexually harassed others. It affects any student, regardless of sex, race, or age. One student claims that she has been harassed since 5th grade. Sexual harassment can influence a student’s performance in school, as well as physically and psychologically.
Preventing and remedying sexual harassment in schools is essential to ensure nondiscriminatory, safe environments in which students can learn. This law is often overlooked, not always intentionally. One administrator believes that ‘students should feel safe and comfortable walking down the halls of his or her school. School is a place for learning and growing. Sexual harassment stops that process.’ Sexual behavior is much too often carried too far simply because not enough people are informed about it and don’t know how to stop it. Harassing behavior usually gets worse if not reported…
Sexual harassment can occur in two different forms. The first form is called quid pro quo. This occurs when a school employee causes a student to believe that he or she must take part in unwanted sexual conduct to be able to participate in school activities and programs. It also happens when an employee causes the student to believe that the employee will make an educated decision based on whether the student submits to the sexual conduct. Whether the student agrees to it or not, it is still sexual harassment and is illegal.
The other type of sexual harassment occurs when unwelcome sexually harassing conduct is so severe or persistent that it affects a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment. This is called hostile environment harassment. A hostile environment can be created by a school employee, another student.
Sexual Harassment can take many forms, including a request for sexual favors, unwelcome sexual advances or other unwelcome verbal, physical, or visual conduct of a sexual nature made either explicitly or implicitly. This illegal conduct may occur in housing or publicaccomomadation, training programs, hotels, restaurants, most often it occurs in the workplace.
