Saturday, June 16, 2001

Crackdown on sexual harassment in Texas schools

AUSTIN - Four of five students, boys and girls, experience some type of sexual harassment in school, according to a recent report. These numbers are disturbing, but not surprising. Anyone who has visited a middle school or high school has probably seen it.
   The report was based on a national survey of 2,064 public school students in 8th through 11th grades conducted by Harris Interactive for the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation.
   ''Sexual harassment is part of everyday life for boys and girls at school," said Jacqueline Woods, AAUW executive director.
   Although sexual harassment is a serious problem facing students, even more troubling is that this type of behavior can lead to more aggressive actions against the opposite sex. Yet, many solutions put forth to deal with the problem in public schools haven't worked.
   But a different approach in Texas could be at the forefront of reducing sexual harassment in public schools. A new approach is needed because school sexual harassment policies clearly aren't working.
   Students are aware of the rules and simply ignore them, often believing their comments and actions are harmless. In essence, some kids think they are cool when they demean and belittle the opposite sex - especially in front of their friends.
   But the victims of sexual harassment can carry the burden for life.
   ''While school shootings grab headlines around the world, our sons and daughters endure the overlooked torture of sexual harassment on a daily basis,'' said Sherry Boyles, executive director of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault. ''Sexual harassment can derail a student's academic career, causing victims to lose interest in school or even drop out entirely.''
   Texas is looking at innovative ways to approach this issue. Boyles' association is working with other groups, such as the Texas Parent-Teacher Association, to create a pilot project in which students will develop a new peer-led curriculum designed to address sexual harassment in Texas schools.
   New effort is first of its kind
   ''Our research indicates that young people are more likely to heed advice from their peers than from teachers, parents or celebrities,'' Boyles said. ''This new curriculum will be the first of its kind in the country.''
   The pilot project for Students Taking Action for Respect (STAR) will bring together 100 high school boys and girls from Central Texas for a weekend retreat in late July at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos.
   The program will train students to lead workshops and school assemblies on sexual harassment and build an environment of respect in schools. Depending on the success of the pilot project, organizers hope to expand the program statewide after the 2001-'02 school year.
   "With the STAR program, Texas has the opportunity to become a national leader in the effort to eliminate sexual harassment from our schools," Boyles said. The program is based on the idea that students are more willing to listen to their peers than teachers or other adults - even celebrities.
   "Hearing from teen-agers who are experiencing the same things as they are and have the same interest, same worries and concerns, has a far greater impact on them than having anybody else come in and talk to them,'' said Chris Lippincott, a spokesman for the Association Against Sexual Assault.
   Instead of focusing on sex, Lippincott said, the program will teach students about respecting one another. This is important because sexual harassment is not about sex. It is usually driven by a lack of respect for or power over the opposite sex or a particular person.
   It's too early to tell if the new effort will be successful. But everyone involved should be commended for the innovative approach to confront this significant problem facing public schools.
   Ty Meighan is chief of the Scripps Howard Austin Bureau and can be reached at 512-334-6640 or meighant@scripps.com.
  
  

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Ty Meighan is chief of the Scripps Howard Austin Bureau. You can reach him by phone at (512) 334-6640 or by email at meighant@scripps.com.

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