| Colorado Springs School District 11 >>EOP&O>>D11 Brochures>>Sexual Harassment |
|
Equal Opportunity Programs & Ombudservices
|
 |
|
District 11 - EOP&O Contact Us Diversity Lesson Plans D11 EO Policies Diversity Links EO Brochures Mission Statement Privacy Policy What's New top |
AT SCHOOL-- BIG DEAL OR NOT? -A Student Guide- need to know anything about sexual harassment? Isn't that really an issue for adults? No! Sexual harassment can be a serious problem-in high school, middle school, even elementary schools. It can threaten a student's physical or emotional well-being and influence how well a student does in school. Beyond that, it's illegal--the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment. So schools are responsible for preventing and remedying sexual harassment and making sure everyone has a safe learning environment.
"sexual harassment" all the time. What is it really? There are two types of sexual harassment. One is called "quid pro quo." That is when someone causes a student to believe that he or she must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct to participate in a school activity. It can also occur if someone causes a student to believe that an educational decision will be made based on whether the student submits to unwelcome sexual conduct. So, if a school official or someone threatens to fail a student unless the student agrees to date that person, it is quid pro quo harassment. The other form involves a hostile environment. That is when unwelcome, sexually harassing actions are so serious that they affect a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an education activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment.
difference between kidding around and harassment? First, the action must be sexual in nature. Not all physical contact is. Second, the conduct must be unwelcome. That's if the student does not request or invite the action and feels that it is offensive or undesirable. It's important to understand also that whether the action is welcome can change over time. These are serious issues, nothing to kid around or joke about.
Some examples are: graffiti of a sexual nature displaying or distributing of sexually explicit drawings, pictures and written materials sexual gestures sexual or "dirty" jokes pressure for sexual favors touching oneself sexually or talking about one's sexual activity in front of others spreading rumors about or rating other students as to sexual activity or performance
Who can be guilty of this kind of sexual harassment?
sexual harassment happens away from school like at a game or on a field trip? The law protects students from sexual harassment in all of a school's programs or activities-at school, on a school bus, at a class or at a program sponsored by the school at another location.
What do schools have to do to prevent or stop sexual harassment? Whenever harassment occurs, a school must take immediate steps to stop it and prevent it from happening again. Harassing behavior, if ignored or not reported, is likely to continue and become worse, rather than go away. Sexual harassment may cause a student to have trouble learning, drop a class or drop out of school altogether, lose trust in school, become isolated, fear for personal safety or lose self-esteem. Under federal law, schools must have a policy against sex discrimination and notify employees, students, and parents of policy. That lets everyone know that sexual harassment will not be tolerated.
If I believe I'm being sexually harassed, what can I do? Any student (or his or her parent) who believes he or she has been sexually harassed should immediately report it to a responsible school official. This could be a teacher, principal, faculty member, administrator, campus security officer or the District 11 Title IX Coordinator/Equal Opportunity Officer. Or, if the student should let the harasser know that he or she does not welcome the conduct and wants it to stop.
When there is a sexual harassment claim, who chooses the consequences? Judgment and common sense are important in any response to sexual harassment, especially when dealing with young children. An appropriate response to unwanted sexual touching of an older student by another may be suspension. With very young children in the primary grades (K-2), however, the best way to deal with the situation might be a discussion of respect for others, including not touching them inappropriately.
Where do I go if I have questions about District 11's sexual harassment policy? Contact District 11's Title IX Coordinator at any time:
Equal Opportunity Programs and Ombudservices 1115 N. El Paso Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone: 719-520-2271 Fax: 719-520-2442 e-mail: ADAMSMR@d11.org If you'd like a copy of the physical brochure, contact the EO office at the above numbers and address . |
|
|
|
Colorado Springs School District 11
/
Privacy Policy Copyright © 2001 All rights reserved. |
| Web Design: IntelliTeam |