School Sexual Harassment
June 25, 2004
A San Francisco Youth Commission hearing in April regarding sexual harassment was recently called by none other than the Youth Commission. What had brought the issue into the limelight was a recent case at Wallenberg High School where a group of males had forced a young female into performing oral sex.At the hearing we heard from organizations and groups who had taken steps to alleviate sexual harassment. Most notable was SLASH or Student Leaders Against Sexual Harassment, which was formed by Peer Resources.
The group accomplished something very important: They have spread the word on what sexual harassment is and encouraged young victims to report it. Having peers speak to us about it makes us take it much more seriously.
Superintendent Arlene Ackerman did not like that the Youth Commission had taken these steps without notifying her or involving her staff. She thought that the commission was stepping into the territory of the school district. Furthermore, she did not like the fact that the commission had received the attention of the press, even though the SFUSD Student Advisory Council members had been on the panel.
The commission thought that it was just addressing a topic that affects youth throughout the city. It wasn’t the commission’s intention for the public and press to focus their attention on the SFUSD during the hearing.
A month later, in May, the SFUSD Student Advisory Council and the superintendent sponsored the first annual Youth Summit. The main focuses were sexual harassment, guns on campus and homophobia.
The SFUSD staff reported that 33 students had been suspended for sexual harassment, a 230 percent increase from last year’s rates. Dennis Kelly, of the United Educators of San Francisco, thought the percentage hike could be the result of increased numbers of complaints filed by students. Others, though, thought the report clearly showed a rise in actual incidents.
I asked the school district staff at the meeting whether staff, teachers and administrators may be reluctant to report every sexual harassment case because it may make their schools look bad in the eyes of the public and the superintendent.
Assistant Superintendent Frank Tom said he has given out many suspensions and it hasn’t hurt his career, his reputation or his standing with his superiors.
But Board of Education Commissioner Mark Sanchez said there are cases where problems get brushed aside: “There is a lingering perception that you’ll be dinged. If not an overt policy, it’s part of the inner workings.” Sanchez said a teacher had confided in him that at the school where he taught, delinquents were not being dealt with.
From my experience, sexual harassment has been rampant. Almost daily, I see male students pinching the behinds of female students and touching their belly lines. I’ve also heard numerous homophobic insults.
I know of a number of incidents. A SFUSD Student Advisory Council member was sexually harassed at Washington High by a football player and there was no disciplinary action. The council member said that reports had been made, but the staff had done nothing. Another girl I knew was date raped after being drugged but has been afraid to report the incident. And a gay male attending Washington High was beaten up daily. At the middle school I went to, Hoover, homophobic insults were rampant.
I have seen people report sexual harassment to staff, but nothing happens. (I am not targeting any schools on purpose; these are just the incidents that I have heard of or witnessed.) Many counselors, teachers, staff and administrators try to do their best to prevent such incidents. But as much as I hate to say it, these occurrences may not be preventable — that is, unless, teachers take every little problem seriously. Every time homophobic insults are heard — “faggot” or “gay” — teachers must report it. Ignoring it will only encourage students. Every time teachers hear slurs such as “prostitute” or “slut,” they must step in. Teachers, students, counselors, parents and administrators need to work together to report all incidents and bring the issue to light.
Alan Wong is the student delegate to the Board of Education and a member of the Youth Commission Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee. He can be contacted at Kaiwoon@Msn.com.
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