First-grader suspended for sexual harassment

[Dr. Jack]

First-grader suspended for sexual harassment


By John Wilcox, AP

The first-grader was suspended for three days for sexual harassment after he put two fingers inside a classmate's waistband, school officials told his mother, Berthena Dorinvil. The boy told her he only touched the girl's shirt after the girl touched him.

Experts say only in rare, troubling cases can children that young truly sexually harass one another.

"The connotation is you're getting some kind of sexual gratification, or wanting sexual gratification, or are putting pressure on for some kind of sexual gratification, when a 6-year-old doesn't have that capacity," said E. Christopher Murray, a civil rights attorney who has handled school discipline cases.

Dr. Elizabeth Berger, a Philadelphia-area child psychiatrist, said this case seems to be an overzealous attempt to ensure students feel safe in school after years in which society was not attentive enough.

The boy's mother called the Jan. 30 suspension from Downey Elementary School outrageous. She said she can't even explain to her son what he did wrong because he's too young to understand.

"He doesn't know those things," she told The Enterprise of Brockton. "He's only 6 years old."

Brockton school officials have not commented beyond a statement from Superintendent Basan Nembirkow that said sexual harassment charges are always investigated and officials are trained to deal with them.

The Brockton School Committee defines sexual harassment among students, in part, as "uninvited physical contact such as touching, hugging, patting or pinching."

First-graders who repeatedly touch classmates need to be disciplined and taught what's appropriate, said Nan Stein, a senior research scientist at the Center for Research on Women at Wellesley College. But don't call the apparent discipline problem "sexual harassment" because first-graders just don't get it, she said.

There have been similar cases. In 1996, a New York second-grader was suspended for kissing a girl and ripping a button off her skirt — an idea the boy said he got from his favorite book "Corduroy," about a bear with a missing button. Earlier that year, a Lexington, N.C., 6-year-old was separated from his class after kissing a classmate on the cheek.

[Victor]

I sure am glad i`am not in school no more or i would be doing life without parole for all of the girls i touched and kissed in school lol. It makes you wonder who came up with these brainstorm laws for elementary kids.

[Keith]

sounds ridiculous I know, but as the parent of two elementary school girls, I would like to know that my girls are not going to be subjected to unwanted touching (particularly from boys). If I was told that a boy put his fingers in their pants (that is what the waistband is), I would want something done about it. I realize it is hard to know where to draw the line, but it has to be drawn somewhere.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Keith

sounds ridiculous I know, but as the parent of two elementary school girls, I would like to know that my girls are not going to be subjected to unwanted touching (particularly from boys). If I was told that a boy put his fingers in their pants (that is what the waistband is), I would want something done about it. I realize it is hard to know where to draw the line, but it has to be drawn somewhere.

I totally agree Keith!

[RanPicks]

I say give the kid some swats and no recess for a week.

I know that doesn't sound like much, but recess was damn important when I was little... Still is. LOL!

[Keith]

Originally Posted by RanPicks

I say give the kid some swats and no recess for a week.

I know that doesn't sound like much, but recess was damn important when I was little... Still is. LOL!

DEFINITELY wouldn't want someone giving my kid "some swats".

[RanPicks]

I know. Swats are no longer part of discipline these days. That's why a lot of kids are little shits. My deal was if I got swats at school, I would get twice as many at home - never got any.

So, we disagree on that piece, OK. Two weeks of no recess.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by RanPicks

I know. Swats are no longer part of discipline these days. That's why a lot of kids are little shits. My deal was if I got swats at school, I would get twice as many at home - never got any.

So, we disagree on that piece, OK. Two weeks of no recess.

don't get me wrong. As the parent, I think that swats may be appropriate under certain circumstances. But again, that is for me to decide.

The no recess I agree with.

[RanPicks]

I understand - just a difference of how we were both raised.

Two weeks of no recess would have been major back in my (little) days.

[RanPicks]

BTW: Love that part of the movie (Vinny) in your sig.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by RanPicks

BTW: Love that part of the movie (Vinny) in your sig.

thanks man. Not nearly as impressive as your avatar however.

[Romanowski]

Must be the food changing the hormones in first graders

[rio132]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jack

First-grader suspended for sexual harassment


By John Wilcox, AP

The first-grader was suspended for three days for sexual harassment after he put two fingers inside a classmate's waistband, school officials told his mother, Berthena Dorinvil. The boy told her he only touched the girl's shirt after the girl touched him.

Experts say only in rare, troubling cases can children that young truly sexually harass one another.

"The connotation is you're getting some kind of sexual gratification, or wanting sexual gratification, or are putting pressure on for some kind of sexual gratification, when a 6-year-old doesn't have that capacity," said E. Christopher Murray, a civil rights attorney who has handled school discipline cases.

Dr. Elizabeth Berger, a Philadelphia-area child psychiatrist, said this case seems to be an overzealous attempt to ensure students feel safe in school after years in which society was not attentive enough.

The boy's mother called the Jan. 30 suspension from Downey Elementary School outrageous. She said she can't even explain to her son what he did wrong because he's too young to understand.

"He doesn't know those things," she told The Enterprise of Brockton. "He's only 6 years old."

Brockton school officials have not commented beyond a statement from Superintendent Basan Nembirkow that said sexual harassment charges are always investigated and officials are trained to deal with them.

The Brockton School Committee defines sexual harassment among students, in part, as "uninvited physical contact such as touching, hugging, patting or pinching."

First-graders who repeatedly touch classmates need to be disciplined and taught what's appropriate, said Nan Stein, a senior research scientist at the Center for Research on Women at Wellesley College. But don't call the apparent discipline problem "sexual harassment" because first-graders just don't get it, she said.

There have been similar cases. In 1996, a New York second-grader was suspended for kissing a girl and ripping a button off her skirt — an idea the boy said he got from his favorite book "Corduroy," about a bear with a missing button. Earlier that year, a Lexington, N.C., 6-year-old was separated from his class after kissing a classmate on the cheek.

i never understood suspension as being a punishment...kids hate school...it is a free vacation...i remember in high school and they suspended me because i exceeded the amount of unexcused absenses they allowed...i was like...well cool...i did not want to be there anyway...that as the reason i skipped...school system in usa just blows

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by rio132

i never understood suspension as being a punishment...kids hate school...it is a free vacation...i remember in high school and they suspended me because i exceeded the amount of unexcused absenses they allowed...i was like...well cool...i did not want to be there anyway...that as the reason i skipped...school system in usa just blows

It's a punishment for the parents and by the time the kids realize it was a punishment for them - it's to late a lot of times

[Romanowski]

Originally Posted by rio132

school system in usa just blows

you are a prime example