Confronting and Preventing
Sexual Harassment in School
A workshop prepared for the Pine Cobble School
By Elaine S. Hantman, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Pine Cobble:
Creating a Safe and Respectful
Community
Objectives
Teach students to do the following:
• Define the term “sexual harassment”
• Identify examples of sexual harassment and be
able to distinguish it from positive attention and
harmless flirting
• Consider appropriate responses to sexual
harassment
Pine Cobble Handbook
The Four Core Values:
Community
Character
Safe and Nurturing Environment
Passion for Learning and Teaching
• Promoting a safe and
respectful community
• Anti-bullying curriculum
Nine Pillars
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Respect
Responsibility
Gratitude
Compassion
Self Control
Patience
Honesty
Cooperation
Courage
Teachable Moments
Before You Begin:
Safety and Guidelines
• Ground rules:
– Be courteous
– Be respectful
– Listen without interrupting
– Everybody’s input matters
– Do not make inappropriate comments
– Protect confidentiality: Talk about situations and
people you know but without mentioning specific
names
Be Prepared
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Disclosures
Massachusetts State Law
Pine Cobble handbook policy and procedures
Refer
Be aware of stereotyping
Parent involvement
Create safety in the classroom
– Refocus to ‘put it in writing’
– Question box
Be prepared for after the lesson:
• Kids labeling ‘he’s harassing me’!
• Humor and patience
• Remember “unwanted” and “uninvited”
Let’s Brainstorm
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What is sexual harassment?
Verbal
Physical
Other
Invading personal space
Verbal
Gossip
Girls can harass boys too.
Definitions:
• Any unwanted physical or verbal
behavior that has sexual overtones
– Sexual jokes
– Touching in inappropriate ways
– Spreading rumors about another person’s sexual
behavior
– Cyber-bullying/texting/snapchat
Not to be overlooked…
How kids perceive adults
– Too Close Teacher, Parent Massage
– Kids Talk- Harmless Intention becomes Harmful
Gossip
Title IX
A law that protects you from sexual harassment
defined as:
• Unwelcome, unwanted sexual behavior, which
interferes with your right to get an education
• Threatening
• Any form of gender discrimination, which is
illegal.
• Any violation of your civil rights.
• Hostile or demeaning conduct targeting
someone's sex, sexual orientation, or gender
identity.
• A violation of laws that protect both male and
female students from harassment by members of
the same or opposite sex.
Title IX & Mass State Law
• Severe and Persistent
• Schools must ensure nondiscriminatory, safe
environments in which students can learn.
• Mass State Law: There are two types of sexual
harassment: "quid pro quo" harassment and
"hostile environment" harassment.
What is the percentage of students
who are targets of sexual harassment
in middle school and high school?
Prevalence of Sexual Harassment
in Schools
• Approximately 80% of students in U.S.
secondary schools report they have
experienced sexual harassment, but it also
occurs frequently in elementary schools
(American Association of University Women,
2010).
• 4 out of 5 students report being harassed
during middle school and high school.
Watch video
Confronting Sexual Harassment in Schools:
What Every Student Needs to Know
Human Relations Media, 2012
Summary and Discussion
• How this has raised all our awareness
• These are the years that kids are figuring our
who they are and where they fit in
• Elaine’s ABC’s of Adolescence:
• Acceptance
• Belonging
• Control
Summary and Discussion
• Hopefully you have a good working definition
of what sexual harassment
• Have some tools and strategies to offer
students
• Discussion and Questions