Where is the disconnect here? v. 6yr old suspended for singing provocative song.

I'm not going to argue that the child understands it's sexual harassment. Clearly, he doesn't understand that. He shouldn't be expected to. He's six...

Also, I'm not stating this kid should be treated as a kid ten years his senior would. I would expect that a 16 year old kid who continually sexually harasses a girl would have more than a suspension to deal with.

That doesn't change that it was inappropriate, he disobeyed the school after being warned, and the school is not outside of their bounds in suspending him.

There's definitely an over-reaction going on here, but it is not propogated by the school. It is being propogated by the people who are blaming the school for handling a situation. It's not like they threw this kid in prison. They sent him home for a few days...

 

Even amongst adults, it took ages for sexual harassment to be recognized, much less taken seriously. And still, again, the sound of whistle-blowing gets followed close behind by attempts to discredit the whistle blowers.

Children and many adults soak stuff up like sponges. Part of what they need to soak up are the links between behaviour and consequences, and, if need be, a taste of the consequences themselves. The priority, however, is that they need to soak up zero tolerance-plus-conditioning response, regardless of their level of understanding or stated intent. Understanding can, may or may not come later. Until then, unequivocal and enforced 'DON'T' will have to do.

Otherwise they grow up with 'wiggle room' to become apologist to own and others' wrong deeds. And history, once again, gets written by the loudest or the winner, and once again, she was a tease or the boys were just having fun and she was just being oversensitive etc.

Me, I jump for joy that that little girl was given the teaching that some things are valid cause for concern, that even if she made no objection today, there may come a time when she might, and that there exists a world around her that might support her objection if she made it.

Today, the school was defending a principle on her behalf.
Tomorrow, she may have to defend it for herself.
Thank feck she'll have today's memory with her when she does.

 

It seems kind of backwards, though, that this kid was suspended and so many bullies get away with terrorizing classmates. Imho, children at that age understand fear and bodily harm WAY better than the lyrics to songs laced with sexuality.