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In the News: Sexual harassment prevalent in schools
By: Cassandra West / November 08, 2011
Nearly half of 7th to 12th graders experienced sexual harassment in the last school year, according to a study scheduled for release on Monday, with 87 percent of those who have been harassed reporting negative effects such as absenteeism, poor sleep and stomachaches. (The New York Times)
On Monday, WTTW11 kicked off "American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen," a public media initiative supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to help local communities address the dropout crisis. CPB, in partnership with America's Promise Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is working with public media stations in 20 hub markets where the dropout crisis is most acute to raise awareness of the issue and coordinate action with community partners – all with the goal of helping students stay on course to graduate from high school. Chicago Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard appeared on "Chicago Tonight" to talk about the dropout epidemic and how CPS is working to change it.
Children and staff were briefly kept out of the Oscar Mayer Magnet School early Monday morning after police were called there for a suspicious package found outside the school, police said. (Tribune)
IN THE NATION
A former Teach for America corps member says he now believes, "TFA has participated in building a group of ‘leaders’ who, in my opinion, are assisting in the destruction of public education." (teachforus.org)
Forty percent of children in D.C. public schools now attend charters. (The Washington Post)
Washington-area schools confront the racial imbalance in gifted classes. (The Washington Post)
As litigation over Alabama's tough new immigration law continues, federal civil rights authorities have ramped up pressure on the state's public schools to show they are not violating federal law by denying students access to schooling because of their immigration status. (Education Week)
Students from 182 of Indiana’s public school districts have moved to private schools under the state’s new education voucher program, although only seven districts lost more than 100 kids. (Chesterton Tribune)
Unwanted Sexual Harassment While Walking to School
Many of the 7th, 8th and 9th-12th grade girls also experience unwanted sexual harassment from grown men as they travel from the trains, pass business strips and thru certain communities as they walk to school. A family member of mine (10th grade) was chased recently when exiting the redline/35th by a group of men in their 20's, demanding that she "Come Here" and even following her. She is very upset and frustrated by constantly being bombarded by strange men and boy's who make unwanted comments of a sexual nature. She is an honor student and also a conservative dresser and wants to get back and forth from her enrichment courses safely. Her mom was actually waiting for her outside, as she took her course, as she always does, but began to feel ill and told her daughter to catch the train to get back home. However her journey home alone was an encounter with a group of men in their 20's who wanted to overwhelm her with their unwanted gestures. When she was in 8th grade she said her female classmates were constantly approached as they walked to the trains afterschool as well. One child mentioned a grown man passing her and whispering a perverted comment in her ear as she walked and she was frightened as well. Afterward some of the boys in her class started walking her and many of the other girls to the trains after school.
sexual
I recently left a position in a grammer school in Bridgport after I reported a sexual harassment. The ongoing problem was with the "security" officer. I witnessed him grabbing 7th and 8th grade girls on their way to their tables during lunch. He would grab them under their arms while they carried their trays. He wispered in their ears and would come up behind them and startle them with a poke or a squeeze. I saw them try to get away from him and try to avoid him altogether. I told him to stop and he told me he was "playing with them". I advised him not to touch the children in such an inapropriate way. He said he was "inspiring" them. I'm sorry, but a 50-60 year old man dose not play with 12-14 year old girls. I reported him to the principal. She did not blink an eye. She told me it was my opinion and if I did not like it to leave. So I left. I was never told to fill out a complaint or write up an incedent report. I also made a call to the union. As far as I know this guy is still there up to his old tricks.
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