Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Sexual harassment policy OK'd Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 14:12:10 EST Message-ID: Lines: 67 \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD Sexual harassment policy OK'd \BY Matt Neufeld \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The Montgomery County Board of Education last night approved what is believed to be one of the first sexual harassment policies in the nation to prohibit harassment of students by other students. The policy also prohibits harassment among teachers and staff, who are covered by existing regulations, but the board decided in March to add students to the policy. After an hour and 40 minutes of debate last night, the board voted 7-1 to approve the policy. Board member Sharon DiFonzo voted against it, saying she supports its intent but thinks the board went too far in its implementation requirements, micromanaging the system. The board deleted a section that defined sexual harassment as "grabbing, touching, patting, sexual propositions . . . unwarranted flirtations or advances . . . graphic or verbal comments about an individual's body or dress." Board members said those definitions were too broad and could cause legal problems later on. Board members said there has been no "major opposition" to the policy since it was unveiled in March. "I believe this policy will ensure that staff and students can enjoy a working and learning environment that is free of intimidation, hostility and offensive conduct related to sexual behavior or communication," said Superintendent Paul Vance. "It will also assure parents that Montgomery County public schools will address concerns related to sexual harassment in schools and classrooms in a proper manner," he said. The policy encourages victims of sexual harassment or those who witness it to report it to supervisors, principals, "a designated representative" such as a counselor or an equal employment opportunity officer. Those officials shall make "every reasonable effort" to preserve the anonymity of the victim and the person who made the complaint, according to the policy. Attorneys advised the board that investigators sometimes must reveal identities to determine if a complaint is authentic. The biggest change to the policy came in September, when the board, at the urging of student board member Jonathon Sims, deleted a section that defined "repeated requests for dates" as a form of sexual harassment. The board then gave its tentative approval to the plan. Several county students interviewed at Richard Montgomery High School after that vote praised the policy. Most said then that they did not think it would interfere with casual flirtations or cut into their dating. Senior Pauline Sohn, 17, said there is a "fine line between joking and harassment," and classmate Mynor Zacarias, 18, said the policy may make students think before they say something "dirty" to a female student. "If they don't want to get in trouble, they have to think better and not say things like that," he said. A policy would make students more comfortable about reporting suspected harassment to teachers, he said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM