Really? Sexual Harassment?!

Okay, so the story goes:

A 6 year old boy (yup, you read that right) is sitting in class and decides to kiss this little girl's hand. He has been SUSPENDED from the school for sexual harassment.


You have GOT to be kidding me!

I am a mother. I have 3 girls and 1 son living in my house. I can guarantee you that my son has kissed a girl on the cheek at the age of 6. It is completely natural. In fact, I usually respond with "awww, how cute!" I do not think that a little boy kissing my daughter on the cheek (or hand) is grounds for sexual harassment claims.

No wonder our children are all messed up! Here is what I consider sexual harassment:

• Grabbing another students butt
• Teachers getting involved with their students
• Inappropriate touching between bosses and employees when unwarranted
• Having grabby hands on girl's boobs

Let's take this further. The actual LEGAL DEFINITION of sexual harassment is UNWELCOME advances. The mother claims that the children are "boyfriend & girlfriend" (that is a totally different matter that I have trouble with), which means it is likely the advances were welcomed. I want to know what the school's policy is about sexual harassment, because it is OBVIOUSLY not the same.

So ... My question is this (since it supposedly caused a disruption - which the teacher didn't realize until the students said something):

• Are hugs in the hallway considered sexual harassment too?
• What about students holding hands?
• What about passing notes?
• What about sports players slapping each other?

When will it end? I personally think that if you want people to take sexual harassment seriously (as it SHOULD), you have GOT to stop calling things that are far from harassment as such. "There was this boy who cried wolf, and the entire town came running ...." << This ... THIS is what you are causing. When a child really is harassed, who is going to come running?


Our local news station posted the KRDO/CNN article on their site, but I am sure you can find it other places.