Sexual harassment has been a problem in the workplace and in schools across the country for decades now, and it does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. It seems as if sexual harassment cases popup in the news at least a couple of times per week, especially ones involving major figures across the nation. For example, Herman Cain recently removed himself from the bid for the presidency based on allegations of sexual harassment. In other news, the former chair of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was accused of sexual harassment as well.
Companies and schools alike do what it takes to reduce the amount of sexual harassment, to the point where they can say it has been eliminated from their buildings. Many experts feel that sexual harassment cannot be stopped completely in some places, but it can be reduced to a point where workers and students can feel comfortable. Sexual harassment is not a joke, and the repercussions of such accusations come with hefty fines and penalties, including multiple years in prison if convicted of any charges. An interesting story hit the news earlier this week when a nine year old student was suspended from school for a case of sexual harassment. The child was overheard telling a friend that a teacher in the building was ‘cute.’ The conversation was overheard by their substitute teacher. The student’s name is Emanyea, and he was placed on a two-day suspension for sexual harassment according to the Huffington Post and WSOC TV.
The mother of the child, Chiquita Lockett, talked with reporters from WSOC TV, saying that she did not agree with the school’s punishment for the comment.
“It’s not like he went up to the woman and tried to grab her or touch her in a sexual way,” Lockett told WSOC TV. “So why would he be suspended for two days?”
The code of conduct for the school does not list or mention sexual harassment anywhere. Instead, the school’s code of conduct does mention the possession of any type of gun, rifle, pistol, firearm, prohibited substance or the assault of an employee as the basis for a long-term suspension from the property.
On the heels of this case, a seven year old student from Boston is under investigation for sexual harassment. The reason for the investigation is that the boy allegedly hit another boy in the groin according to the Boston Globe. In this case, the mother of the boy, Tasha Lynch, claims that her son was defending herself because the boy he struck had choked him previously in another incident.
“I think my kid was right to fight back,’’ Lynch told the Globe. “He wasn’t doing anything except protecting himself.’’
Matthew Wilder, the spokesman for Boston public schools, said he could not issue a comment but that the school has issued an investigation as to who should be punished, if anyone.