Should this situation be called Sexual Harassment?

Question

My son, who is in 1st grade, was sitting on the bus with another 1st grader (who happens to be a friend of my daughter) when a bunch of older kids (4th and 5th graders) started teasing them about sitting close together. They started singing "sitting in a tree k-i-ss-ing" then said why don't you kiss her. Well he did (on the cheek).

The school kicked him out for a day and wrote him up for sexual harrassment. Today I found out that a kid in kindergarten was also kicked out for spanking another kid on the butt (like all the sports people do, all the time).

I understand that this is wrong behavior, but feel that the punishment was a little over the top and to call it sexual harassment?!

What do you think and has anyone else had a situation like this?

Answer 1

I think it is ridiculous to call that sexual harrassment.  People are just being so over-protective of children now, that the tiniest thing could be interpretted as sexual harrassment.  I also feel that, even though it is not necessarily a good thing for a 1st grader to be doing, it is not harming anyone if the girl did not feel violated (which I'm sure she didn't because of her age.  She was most likely just grossed out because "boys have cooties")

If that is considered harrassment, me, all my friends, and 99% of my school would be suspended for one harmless thing or another

Answer 2

it cant be sexual haarrasment coz no 1st grader has any feelings like that... them kissing a girl is not hormones spking.. they are just mimiking wat they see others do..

but def not sexual harrasment

Answer 3

It's ridiculous, speak to the school board & if they don't listen speak to the newspaper.. These things are noted in the child's school file that will follow him all the way through school. That's one h**l of a label for a 1st grader.. Those people are idiots.. And if the school had sense they'd require different bus seating (young in front & older in back) to try to thwart some of the teasing.

Answer 4

No, it is not sexual harassment, it is an obnoxious first grader.  Most first grade boys act like this on a regular basis.

Answer 5

WOW! where do you live? funny thing about children they do kiss and occ. spank one another. I have a 7 year old girl in the first grade and yes the kiss school and church as spooken to me about the school policy on kissing in school and on the bus. My daughter and her little friend have been "engaged" since they were 3 and kiss each other good bye everyday, its just a peck and neither children have been expelled, written up or accused of sexual harassment in fact when the school brought them in the office and told them they couldn't kiss at school my daughter said"we can kiss we're in love and were going to get married" Although after the talk with school counselor and principal the kids have stopped kissing at school.

If i were you i would fight the sexual harassment thing because your child will have this on file at school and unfortunatly hes probably already been labeled with the adhd i know my son is labeled and having an iep is a good thing but at the same time you run into the issue of your child being labeled.

Answer 6

The definition of sexual harassment states that the harassers actions must be unwelcomed by the victim.  If the girl had no problem with your son doing this, it is not sexual harassment.

Answer 7

It is not sexual harassment.   It is someones filthy mind at work.  Children that age do not know anything about s*x.  I think it is very traumatizing to a child to be accused of something like that.   I'd sew the school for traumatizing him.

Answer 8

wow.... that is nuts! i would definitely fight that. that doesn't make any sense. maybe they need to be reminded what sexual harassment really is.

Answer 9

Not sexual harrassment, just people taking "political correctness" to a completely retarded level.

I think that is way over the top

Answer 10

Sue the school district for gross stupidity and incompetence.  You're paying them mega bucks to exercise mature judgment, and they're just taking the money and hiding behind "policy."  A chimpanzee could have made the same decision and for a fraction of what these bozos are making.  Call them on it and don't let go.

Needless to say I'm sick of these lily-livered cretins running our schools while pretending that "zero tolerance" is a "brave stance" when in fact it's a coward's stance.  Run the SOB's out.

Answer 11

That's insane, I would be raising you know what!  The older kids were acting like normal kids that age and your son only kissed a little girl on the cheek for goodness sakes!  I wouldn't take this c**p lying down!  To be branded a harasser before he can possibly know what that means is crazy!

Answer 12

my sister rides the bus with her"bf" (shes in first grade) they hold hands and stuff. they have never got in trouble, i think its bull **** two kids of a oppistite s*x cant sit together as friends and get in trouble. u should dicuss this with a authority figure in the school board

Answer 13

it is getting ridiculous isn't it. In this politcially correct sueing nation kids can't do anything

Answer 14

I think it was extreme to suspend him but I can guarantee in the school handbook that they send out every year that they go over sexual harrasement and that there will be zero tolerance.  I had a boy in kindergarten that use to go around and give titty twisters to just me.  I am now 30 but can remember it plain as day and think that was harrasement even back then.  He knew what he was doing.  And I use to feel embarresed and ashamed even at such a young age for having " rose buds".    A kiss on the check no matter how innocent it is, if not wanted is harrasement.  I think he should have had a good talking to and maybe the parents called in but not suspension.

Answer 15

I think that the school needs to discuss these things with the parents because their are many reasons why the kids are acting the way they are. And that is not sexual harrasment to me because he did not bother her or keep following her. He should be told that that kind of behavior is not acceptable, but sent home.I don't think so, just explain to the child what he did that shouldn't have been done. I have had but it was with a teen and it was harrament so its sorda different than your situation yet similar.