If you're being sexually harassed by an adult in school, there IS something you can do.If a person feels there is nothing they can do, it is because they are frightened or intimidated; or they have been lied to or threatened. They also may not know their rights.
Sexual harassment is serious and illegal.
If the sexual harassment between an adult in the school community and a minor (meaning a student) involves physical contact of a sexual nature, that adult may be committing child sexual abuse or assault, potentially criminal acts.
It is very important for a student to speak to a trusted adult about the alleged behavior. It might be very scary to point the finger a t a particular adult- that adult may have power over a student's grade or be the person who would write them a letter of recommendation to college, for a job, or for a particular scholarship. That adult may be a popular person in the community, someone who brings pride and attention to the school. None of these are reasons enough to endure sexual attention or contact from an adult.
Please speak up for your own sake and for the sake of other students who over the years may have put up with these behaviors.
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Excerpted by permission from: Flirting or Hurting? A Teacher's Guide on Student-to-Student Sexual Harassment in Schools (grades 6 through 12) by Nan Stein and Lisa Sjostrom
Return to Flirting or Hurting Page
WGBY / WGBH Educational Foundation / www.wgby.org
