Emilee Chaffin, Charger Staff
Love is in the air at CHS. Sexual harrassment, an issue which is often swept
under the rug for one reason or another, is a little unclear in some areas.
Since it is the season for love and affection, now is the appropriate time to
make such rules for showing affection clear.
What is sexual harrassment? In an interview with Mrs. Connie McBride, our school’s
harrassment complaint manager, she said, “Sexual harrassment is inappropriate
or unwanted touching, comments, jestures, or actions toward another person.”
How do I know when it is sexual harrassment as opposed to normal behavior?
McBride said a key word that girls use is “repeated” while telling
their experience.
If you have expressed your desire for the other person to quit and that has
not happened, that is also a reason.
What steps will I have to go through if I report my problem? First, girls should
go to Mrs. McBride and boys to Mr. Mark Gentry and tell them your situation.
They will write up what you tell them including the names of the persons involved,
when, and where, actions, and possible witnesses. They are then required to
report it to Mr. Shanks.
A meeting will then be held with an SRO officer and the two parties mentioned.
They will discuss the story from each perspective and explain the rules again.
If the accused is guilty of the charges, parents will be called for a conference,
which will result in a number of different consequences.
The consequences include punishments ranging from lunch detention to counseling
to suspension to expulsion from school depending on the degrees of the charges
brought against them. Restraints can be made against students but that will
be handled outside of school.
What if people find out what is going on? McBride wanted to express the concern
for confidentiality of the people involved and how seriously the school administrators
take a student’s right to confidentiality.
McBride said, “Confidentiality and trust is very important and students
should be able to trust their advisors.”
When all is done, will this whole thing be dropped? McBride and Gentry are
required to keep logs of the incidents and check it periodically to make sure
all complaints are handled.
Another situation which is not as frequent, but still occurs, is teacher-to-student
sexual harrassment.
Teachers are aware of the rules about what is proper and what is not. For example,
any back or neck rubs, sitting in laps or visiting houses privately is against
the rules.
If you feel you are being harassed, see Mrs. McBride or Mr. Gentry and they will guide you through the complaint process.
Home page | Archives | More February 2002 Articles