CCBC-Net Archives
[CCBC-Net] Lucky
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: T Werner <trewerner>
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 11:57:09 -0500
I have worked in the corporate world for 20 years and have been involved in a sexual harassment situation. A male employee that worked for me was harassing a female employee who worked for me. Sexual harassment is a form of intimidation and discrimination. It is very serious. And I believe, has nothing to do with reading a word that describes a body part to a classroom.
The use of a word in a classroom and the explanation of that word is education. And whether parents like it or not, kids will hear the word. So, to hear it used correctly in a story and the proper explanation by a teacher is no where near harassment. The intent is not to intimidate. Or to discriminate. In addition, in the context of The Higher Power Of Lucky, it has no sexual meaning at all.
I have copied below the definition of sexual harassment in schools from the Office for Civil Rights. I'm also included the link if anyone is interested in learning more.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment can take two forms: quid pro quo and hostile environment.
Quid pro quo harassment occurs when a school employee causes a student to believe that he or she must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct in order to participate in a school program or activity. It can also occur when an employee causes a student to believe that the employee will make an educational decision based on whether or not the student submits to unwelcome sexual conduct. For example, when a teacher threatens to fail a student unless the student agrees to date the teacher, it is quid pro quo harassment.
Hostile environment harassment occurs when unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an education program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment. A hostile environment can be created by a school employee, another student, or even someone visiting the school, such as a student or employee from another school.
Regardless of which type of harassment occurs, a school must take immediate and appropriate steps to stop it and prevent it from happening again. The judgment and common sense of teachers and administrators are important elements of any response. However, the school is responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure a safe learning environment.
From: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/qa-sexharass.html
I hope that we are all not so scared of lawsuits that we choose to ignore a good piece of literature.
Teresa Werner
SLIS Student at UK
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of David Richardson Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 11:20 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] Lucky
Food for thought.
Brian is right. They are the medical terms for certain body parts.
My wife, being a nurse, we hear all the medical terms quite a bit. But when
I brought this topic up, my daughter (15) said, "Do you mind? I'm trying to
eat." And my son(12) replied, "Yeah, Dad. Couldn't we talk about breasts
instead?"
Yet, I'd venture to say if Brian were to start throwing terms around the
faculty lounge and lunchroom like vagina, scrotum, penis, and breast, it
wouldn't be long before his principal sat him down for a little chat about
another term: sexual harrassment.
Medical term or not, sexual harrassment trumps freedom of expression every
time.
Say it to adult colleagues and it's called sexual harrassment. Say it to
children in a captive classroom and it's called education. (At least until
some smart lawyer figures out he can make money by calling it sexual
harrassment too.)
keep writing,
dave r
_________________________________________________________________
Mortgage rates as low as 4.625% - Refinance $150,000 loan for $579 a month.
Intro*Terms http://www.NexTag.com
_______________________________________________
CCBC-Net mailing list
CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Mon 19 Feb 2007 10:57:09 AM CST
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 11:57:09 -0500
I have worked in the corporate world for 20 years and have been involved in a sexual harassment situation. A male employee that worked for me was harassing a female employee who worked for me. Sexual harassment is a form of intimidation and discrimination. It is very serious. And I believe, has nothing to do with reading a word that describes a body part to a classroom.
The use of a word in a classroom and the explanation of that word is education. And whether parents like it or not, kids will hear the word. So, to hear it used correctly in a story and the proper explanation by a teacher is no where near harassment. The intent is not to intimidate. Or to discriminate. In addition, in the context of The Higher Power Of Lucky, it has no sexual meaning at all.
I have copied below the definition of sexual harassment in schools from the Office for Civil Rights. I'm also included the link if anyone is interested in learning more.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment can take two forms: quid pro quo and hostile environment.
Quid pro quo harassment occurs when a school employee causes a student to believe that he or she must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct in order to participate in a school program or activity. It can also occur when an employee causes a student to believe that the employee will make an educational decision based on whether or not the student submits to unwelcome sexual conduct. For example, when a teacher threatens to fail a student unless the student agrees to date the teacher, it is quid pro quo harassment.
Hostile environment harassment occurs when unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an education program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment. A hostile environment can be created by a school employee, another student, or even someone visiting the school, such as a student or employee from another school.
Regardless of which type of harassment occurs, a school must take immediate and appropriate steps to stop it and prevent it from happening again. The judgment and common sense of teachers and administrators are important elements of any response. However, the school is responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure a safe learning environment.
From: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/qa-sexharass.html
I hope that we are all not so scared of lawsuits that we choose to ignore a good piece of literature.
Teresa Werner
SLIS Student at UK
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of David Richardson Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 11:20 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] Lucky
Food for thought.
Brian is right. They are the medical terms for certain body parts.
My wife, being a nurse, we hear all the medical terms quite a bit. But when
I brought this topic up, my daughter (15) said, "Do you mind? I'm trying to
eat." And my son(12) replied, "Yeah, Dad. Couldn't we talk about breasts
instead?"
Yet, I'd venture to say if Brian were to start throwing terms around the
faculty lounge and lunchroom like vagina, scrotum, penis, and breast, it
wouldn't be long before his principal sat him down for a little chat about
another term: sexual harrassment.
Medical term or not, sexual harrassment trumps freedom of expression every
time.
Say it to adult colleagues and it's called sexual harrassment. Say it to
children in a captive classroom and it's called education. (At least until
some smart lawyer figures out he can make money by calling it sexual
harrassment too.)
keep writing,
dave r
_________________________________________________________________
Mortgage rates as low as 4.625% - Refinance $150,000 loan for $579 a month.
Intro*Terms http://www.NexTag.com
_______________________________________________
CCBC-Net mailing list
CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Mon 19 Feb 2007 10:57:09 AM CST
