Schools: In Trouble for Show and Tell
Newsweek
Roya Wolverson
November 16, 2007
An increasing number of kindergarteners and first graders are being suspended from school for behavior labeled as sexual misconduct that includes hugging, poking, and pinching classmates and staff. Last year in Ohio, 74 first graders were suspended for “unwelcome sexual conduct.” While some educational professionals are shocked by the rise in sanctions for such behavior among children so young, many schools specifically implement such policy to hedge against lawsuits. In other words, taking clear action against even remotely sexual behavior among students can decrease a school’s liability in court. Experts have a different take on the issue, however, and contend that schools are punishing normal developmental behavior. Nan Stein, a senior research scientist at the Wellesley Centers for Women, states that five- and six-year old children “need to touch.” Stein continues, “whether it’s ‘show me yours and I’ll show you mine’ or snapping each other’s clothes, let’s not confuse sexual behavior with sexual harassment.” For now, legal matters seem to be schools’ primary concern, and the long-term effects of this new, stringent policy on young students are yet to be seen.
The full article is available here.
|
