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Topic: Girl sexually assaulted in high school bathroom: teachers do nothing about it
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Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
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posted 30 June 2007 04:53 AM
I'd say it's "unbelievable" but it's really not. quote: The principal and two vice-principals at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate didn't notify police after being told a 14-year-old female student was sexually assaulted in a school washroom, sources have told the Star.A teacher told administrators about the alleged assault, in which a young teen was forced to perform oral sex on a male while another stood guard outside the door last October, sources say. But that teacher was told there was "no evidence" to support the claim and did not pursue further action, it is alleged. The female student, who is Muslim, did not receive – nor was she offered – any counselling and the two male students remained at the school, said several sources. She was "apparently chosen because (Muslims) are less likely to report it, because of their strict parents" and cultural taboos, said a source, who added: "It's a series of sexual assaults that have happened at the school in which no action, or little action, was taken to protect the victim." The three administrators were put on "home assignment" on Wednesday after the allegations emerged during an inquiry into conditions at the school following the May shooting death of Grade 9 student Jordan Manners. It is not clear if they will return to work in the fall, although they continue to be paid.
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
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Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
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posted 30 June 2007 05:03 AM
Also, I don't think much of this: quote: Teacher Bruce Miles, head of special education at Jefferys and who was also Manners' homeroom teacher, said he was approached by a female student last October and was told that "her friend" had been forced into a bathroom to perform oral sex by others students at the school.Miles said he urged the female to go to the office and call police. "Once they go to the office, we assume it's looked after," Miles said.
Really? He assumes that? It seems to me that teachers are not allowed to assume that, are they? When it comes to a suspicion that a child is being abused, teachers are required to report it directly to the Children's Aid Society, and to never assume that someone else will do so. It's professional misconduct for them not to do so. You would think the same thing would apply to reports of sexual abuse at school by other students - that you don't just assume that it's being reported to someone, you report it YOURSELF. I realize it's a hard job, but you know, teachers don't get paid the way they do for nothing. They're professionals and they should damn well act like it when they're confronted with a situation like this one.
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
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500_Apples
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 12684
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posted 30 June 2007 08:17 AM
quote: Originally posted by remind:
I agree completely, it would be a good start and not after the fact. It shouild be pre-emptive not post event.
Like sex education, ideally around age 12 or a bit before (I think). That's preemptive.
From: Montreal, Quebec | Registered: Jun 2006
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remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
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posted 30 June 2007 08:21 AM
quote: Originally posted by 500_Apples:
Like sex education, ideally around age 12 or a bit before (I think). That's preemptive.
I was wondering if not a bit earlier, like Gr 1, as I know bullying starts right in Gr 1, and perhaps it could actually be part of the curriculum like in sicials, or something like that. And by Grade 2 the boys and girls are chasing each other around, so 12 might be a bit old.
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
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500_Apples
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 12684
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posted 30 June 2007 08:32 AM
quote: Originally posted by remind:
I was wondering if not a bit earlier, like Gr 1, as I know bullying starts right in Gr 1, and perhaps it could actually be part of the curriculum like in sicials, or something like that. And by Grade 2 the boys and girls are chasing each other around, so 12 might be a bit old.
Oh, I don't know enough to provide a precise number. That's for professionals to discuss, it might be a few interventions at different ages. One thing I remember, was that around age 13, I all of a sudden started to feel empathy in a way I didn't before, I think it's an emotion that develops later on. And the nature of bullying/harassment does change a lot around age 13; focuses a lot more on sexual innuendo for example. Eight year olds, to the best of my knowledge, don't have the same rates of anorexia, of muscle dysphormia, of suicide. We actually had such a professional come to our school, following a parent's complaint of prank calling. People were nicer... for a while. There was one other peson, let's call him "Larry" (changed name), who got a lot of harassment. A classmate, I remember, said to me, that it's ok to keep harassing Larry, because the sensitization we were learning only applied to other humans. The mentioned start would be helpful in some cases but not globally sufficient. Now back to the case of these two teenage boys. They were completely dissasociated from the humanity of the female victim. They had reduced her to some attributes - she's muslim, and some statistics, she's less likely to report. The guy in the bathroom was playing a game, not responding to any facial or bodily cues of fear from her. The guy outside was probably satisfied by the prospect that he could curry favour with his friend by holding the door. They knew it was wrong to the extent they didn't want others to know, which is a very superficial level of knowing something is wrong. Future incidents of the like won't be prevented unless their understanding - both rational and emotional - runs far deeper than knowing that some adults won't approve. [ 30 June 2007: Message edited by: 500_Apples ]
From: Montreal, Quebec | Registered: Jun 2006
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unionist
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11323
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posted 30 June 2007 08:39 AM
quote: Originally posted by remind: Cannot one also be fired for gross negligence that causes another injury/harm, or derliction of duty, without progressive discipline?
Absolutely, and it happens all the time - first offence. And it doesn't need to be as serious as that. Defrauding the employer out of some money, e.g. abusing sick leave, is dismissible first time out (depending on remorse, length of service, etc.). So is serious insubordination (refusing to obey an order). So is organizing an unlawful strike. Certainly, harassment of various kinds; defamation of the employer; conflict of interest... There are innumerable instances of dismissal on the first offence. "Progressive discipline" isn't used for very serious infractions. It simply means that an employer should not fire an employee for a minor offence (e.g. arriving 15 minutes late without justification) the first time around. You start with a warning, then maybe a written reprimand, then a 1-day suspension, etc. But if you've gone through that progressive process and the employee keeps coming late, they can ultimately be fired. In a non-union workplace, of course an employee can be fired any time, with or without cause, except for violations of human rights legislation. If it's without cause, the only recourse in most jurisdictions is money in lieu of notice - and where the dismissal has been abusive, the courts will order more notice (i.e. more money). But non-union employees generally don't have the right to reinstatement, even if the dismissal was completely unfounded. In short, CLD's comment does strike me as being a tad uninformed. A school official who knowingly tried to cover up what they knew to be a case of a student forced to engage in nonconsensual sexual acts should (and would) be fired and never allowed to be employed in an educational role again. ETA: Corrected CLD's name - sorry. [ 30 June 2007: Message edited by: unionist ]
From: Vote QS! | Registered: Dec 2005
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remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
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posted 30 June 2007 08:41 AM
Good points about the empathy level onset age, I wonder if it is different for boys than it is for girls? .Okay, found a fairly goodly amount.There is no time given that I could find otherthan as early as possible quote: Researchers have identified relationships between the use of certain parental childrearing practices and the development of empathetic feelings, understanding, and social behavior in children:
Researchers have also identified childrearing practices which are NEGATIVELY related to the development of empathy: quote: Empathy and "benevolent selfishness" are two intertwined traits that make up the heart of self-directed children-those who rely on their own inner voice rather than outside influences like peer consciousness, rap song lyrics, and the media. For self-directed children to make the right choices concerning those around them rather than make choices tainted by their need for approval and acceptance, they must develop a strong sense of empathy for other people.
http://www.myparentime.com/articles/articleS140.shtml [ 30 June 2007: Message edited by: remind ]
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
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remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
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posted 30 June 2007 09:48 AM
quote: Originally posted by Martha (but not Stewart): 1. One single multiple offender (and I suspect that most offenders are multiple offenders) can produce very high stats. If 3% of the male population each assaults 10 women in one year, the that can produce quite high assault statistics.2. Do you have the statistics? A link? A source?
I think you suspect wrong. Though I cannot find repeat offenders stats that stand alone, though did not try too hard, the following link's numbers speak for themselves. quote: 51% of all Canadian women have experienced at least one incident of sexual or physical violence. Close to 60% of these women have survived more than one incident of violence. (Statistics Canada, 1993, "Violence Against Women Survey", The Daily, 18 November, p. 1, 3)62% of the victims who reported being sexually assaulted in 1998 were under the age of 18. (Statistics Canada, Juristat, Vol. 19, No. 9) In 2000, women made up the vast majority of victims of sexual assault (86%) and other types of sexual offences (78%). (Statistics Canada, 2001, Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile, 2001) 80% of sexual assaults occur at home; 49% in broad daylight. (Sexual Assault Care Centre, 1999, Myths and Facts About Sexual Assault,
http://www.metrac.org/new/stat_sex.htm [URL=http://www.womenshealth matters.ca/facts/quick_show_d.cfm?number=65]Stats and info[/URL]
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
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Fidel
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5594
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posted 30 June 2007 11:22 AM
quote: Originally posted by remind:
http://www.metrac.org/new/stat_sex.htm Stats and info
Perhaps more insight would be gained by looking at how many women never report sexual assaults and what the attitudes toward rape are. Statistics wrt convictions probably don't reflect actual number of assaults. There was a group of young hockey players from Canada who did something to a girl in Michigan while billeted in her parent's home last year. It was smoothed over, and the young men got slaps on the wrists because the girl and her family didn't want anything more to do with it. [ 30 June 2007: Message edited by: Fidel ]
From: Viva La Revolución | Registered: Apr 2004
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kropotkin1951
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2732
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posted 30 June 2007 12:25 PM
Another site also had some really good suggestions.NYC Allaince Against Sexual Assault quote: actsheets: What Men Can DoStopping Rape: What Men Can Do All men can play a vital role in rape prevention. Here are a few of the ways: Be aware of language. Words are very powerful, especially when spoken by people with power over others. We live in a society in which words are often used to put women down, where calling a girl or woman a "bitch," "freak," "whore," "baby," or "dog" is common. Such language sends a message that females are less than fully human. When we see women as inferior, it becomes easier to treat them with less respect, disregard their rights, and ignore their well-being. Communicate. Sexual violence often goes hand in hand with poor communication. Our discomfort with talking honestly and openly about sex dramatically raises the risk of rape. By learning effective sexual communication -- stating your desires clearly, listening to your partner, and asking when the situation is unclear -- men make sex safer for themselves and others. Speak up. You will probably never see a rape in progress, but you will see and hear attitudes and behaviors that degrade women and promote rape. When your best friend tells a joke about rape, say you don't find it funny. When you read an article that blames a rape survivor for being assaulted, write a letter to the editor. When laws are proposed that limit women's rights, let politicians know that you won't support them. Do anything but remain silent. Support survivors of rape. Rape will not be taken seriously until everyone knows how common it is. In the U.S. alone, more than one million women and girls are raped each year (Rape in America, 1992). By learning to sensitively support survivors in their lives, men can help both women and other men feel safer to speak out about being raped and let the world know how serious a problem rape is. Contribute your time and money. Join or donate to an organization working to prevent violence against women. Rape crisis centers, domestic violence agencies, and men's anti-rape groups count on donations for their survival and always need volunteers to share the workload. Talk with women... about how the risk of being raped affects their daily lives; about how they want to be supported if it has happened to them; about what they think men can do to prevent sexual violence. If you're willing to listen, you can learn a lot from women about the impact of rape and how to stop it. Talk with men... about how it feels to be seen as a potential rapist; about the fact that 10-20% of all males will be sexually abused in their lifetimes; about whether they know someone who's been raped. Learn about how sexual violence touches the lives of men and what we can do to stop it. Organize. Form your own organization of men focused on stopping sexual violence. Men's anti-rape groups are becoming more and more common around the country, especially on college campuses. If you have the time and the drive, it is a wonderful way to make a difference in your community. Work against other oppressions. Rape feeds off many other forms of prejudice -- including racism, homophobia, and religious discrimination. By speaking out against any beliefs and behaviors, including rape, that promote one group of people as superior to another and deny other groups their full humanity, you support everyone's equality. Don't ever have sex with anyone against their will! No matter what. Although statistics show most men never rape, the overwhelming majority of rapists are male. Make a promise to yourself to be a different kind of man -- one who values equality and whose strength is not used for hurting.
[ 30 June 2007: Message edited by: kropotkin1951 ]
From: North of Manifest Destiny | Registered: Jun 2002
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remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
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posted 30 June 2007 02:19 PM
quote: Originally posted by Makwa: IThe immediate allusion to a racialized crime and the juxtaposition of 'rap' as a suggested cultural identifier given that 'rap' music bothers me as it implies a racial profile which is not being made explicit. How is it assumed that the attackers are of a different 'race' than the victim? Certainly a different religion is implied, but not explicitely stated. I find such a set of assumptions troublesome in the absence of any investigation.
I was speaking of the lyics contained in the music, in actual fact. About a month or so ago, well actually it was after the Iverson incident, that Oprah had a special about it, along with the women Professors from Spelman, and some other professionals on discussing the rammifications of word use. They were speaking about the violence against women contained in the lyrics and how some of it normalizes the violence as acceptable, plus other aspects of it. One of the links above gives a small amount of information about the violence contained in lyrics, and not just towards women, plus some other info about those who it may or may not affect. I was not bringing race or religion into that phrase at all. here is some info and links: quote: Some rap groups, such as Arrested Development or Queen Latifah, have expressed their message through a remarkable artistic medium, combining poetry and syntactic elements of language into a powerful message depicting everyday life of black youth in the United States. Rock groups such as Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden have express their music in the light of positive influences, stressing communication and cooperation in dealing with life's problems.Other varieties of hard-core rock and rap have accentuated vulgar messages of violent encounters with women, often depicting debasing sexual acts. Advertisements for hard core rap and rock usually portray women compromising their dignity: models scantily dressed and displayed in sexually submissive positions. The verbal messages are equally destructive, debasing women as nothing more than sexual objects to be abused and degraded. Do recording industry promoters and producers have a moral obligation to deny the marketing of socially debasing music? Should the Supreme Court be only a barometer by which generally accepted values are challenged by new forms of expression? Censorship of ideas is unconstitutional under First Amendment rights, and music has always been a reflection of the human conditions which exist. But there is a clear moral statement not to accept the post hoc, ergo propter hoc supposition. Women shouldn't tolerate or condone music which debases their character or dignity
Rap Music and violence against women quote: GANGSTA MISOGYNY: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE PORTRAYALS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN RAP MUSIC, 1987-1993*by Edward G. Armstrong Murray State University Gangsta rap music is often identified with violent and misogynist lyric portrayals. This article presents the results of a content analysis of gangsta rap music's violent and misogynist lyrics. The gangsta rap music domain is specified and the work of thirteen artists as presented in 490 songs is examined. A main finding is that 22% of gangsta rap music songs contain violent and misogynist lyrics. A deconstructive interpretation suggests that gangsta rap music is necessarily understood within a context of patriarchal hegemony.
http://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/vol8is2/armstrong.html*bold mine quote: Violent Attitudes and Deferred Academic Aspirations: Deleterious Effects of Exposure to Rap MusicJames D. Johnson, Lee Anderson Jackson, Leslie Gatto The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of exposure to rap music on the attitudes and perceptions of young African-American males. Subjects u were exposed to violent rap music videos, nonviolent rap music videos, or no music videos (controls). They read two vignettes, involving: (a) a violent act perpetrated against a man and a woman, and (b) a young man who chose to engage in academic pursuits to achieve success, whereas his friend, who was unemployed, "mysteriously" obtained extravagant items (i.e., a nice car, nice clothes). Results indicated, first, that when compared to subjects in the nonviolent exposure and control conditions, subjects in the violent exposure conditions expressed greater acceptance of the use of violence. Second, when compared to subjects in the control condition, subjects in the violent condition 'reported a higher probability that they would engage in violence. Third, when compared to the controls, subjects in the violent exposure condition expressed greater acceptance of the use of violence toward the woman. Finally, when compared to the controls, subjects in the rap video exposure conditions were more' likely to say that they wanted to be like the materialistic young man and were less confident that the other young man would achieve his educational goals. Possible basis for and implications of these findings are discussed.
study on Rap Music and Vioolence against women. Now I am not saying that was the case with these young men, I was discussing it from a broader societal function, as violence against women, particularily young women, has been increasing after years of decreasing.
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
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Makwa
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 10724
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posted 30 June 2007 02:35 PM
quote: Originally posted by remind: Now I am not saying that was the case with these young men, I was discussing it from a broader societal function, as violence against women, particularily young women, has been increasing after years of decreasing.
Sorry remind, I do not wish to minimize the horror and violence of such an assault, and I do agree that some aspects of youth culture may contribute to mysogynistic violence. If the school officials failed to act to protect the young woman or to investigate it is vile, and suspension is merely a necessary first step. However, you did specifically state "it is a racially motivated sexual assault. Unfreaking believable, yet it is not". Without evidence, I find this assumption very troublesome. Perhaps this is not an appropriate discussion in the FF, so I shan't pursue it.
From: Here at the glass - all the usual problems, the habitual farce | Registered: Oct 2005
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remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289
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posted 30 June 2007 03:05 PM
quote: Originally posted by kropotkin1951: The stats I have found claim that 3% of men admit to sexual assault and 12% of men actually commit it. Sexual Assault Quiz The stats also show that between 10% and 20% of men are sexually assaulted. so when generalizing about men and rape you end up stero-typing about the same number of victims as rapists as their are real rapists. I have know idea whether it is related to the trauma of being sexually assaulted but I can't stop the emotional response that invokes in me and I bristle as a victim when I get lumped in with the rapists.
My apologies if you felt I was lumping, I am not, and feel terrible that you would perceive so, again my apologies. But do have a look at the ones I provided in regards to sexual assault against women by their spouse or significant other. It says that 80% are in the home, and I provided another that says 86% of women have been sexually assaulted. That alone takes the stats well beyond 12% of men. Found numerous other studies citing around the 85% of women they found that have been sexually assaulted, so it appears to be fairly accurate across societies. If you want to find out more use epidemiology and sexual assault in Google scholar. Beyond that and back to your stats show 12%, I actually came across a report that said they found 10-20% of men have been sexually assaulted. http://www.springerlink.com/content/x577347318g146w1/ I also found a clinical site that has dozens of rape links from all aspects including against immigrants.Page with multiple stats links Home page of the above link that is very usefull
From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004
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Tommy_Paine
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 214
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posted 01 July 2007 04:10 AM
It seems to me that there is no shortage of law in this country.The teacher who brought his or her information to the administration, and the administrators should surely be charged with something. Accessory after the fact? How about rape? Works for me. Then they can be fired for absenteism when their asses are in jail for a few years. But they are professionals. They dress, and talk and look like Judges snd crown atourney's, so they just have to display thier "get out of jail free card"-- the same one given to politicians, and administrators in the Catholic Church, I surmise, and they are free to slime back under their homey damp rocks. I know what I would have done. And I don't think I am a brave man, particularly. Maybe it just looks that way because cowardice is the mainstay of the professional class.
From: The Alley, Behind Montgomery's Tavern | Registered: Apr 2001
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