Elementary school & harassment

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Hi school nurses. One of the more challenging parts of being a school nurse is sexual behavior in young children. Here's a recent example:

Hey, we've been having some issues with our sixth graders (mainly). Yesterday, I suspended a boy and girl for sexual assault after finding out they have been touching classmates on the breasts.

There was a game being played, 'bean dipping,' where students flicked or touched girls' breast, even running their hands over them. That was revealed when a group of boys were caught talking about 'fingering' a female student, and that led to the revelation that there is some game where they stroke another student's throat and say, "Now you are my *****." I'm thinking that is some oral sex reference.

Girls have not been reporting these behaviors. We would like to educate all of them on sexual harassment and reporting.

We would like to have a discussion with all sixth graders, but divided by gender so each feels free to speak. Would you be available to join in this discussion?

It is frustrating to say the least.

What are your experiences and how do you handle it?

[uthscsa2011]

Honestly to my knowledge, that subject matter is something that needs the attention of the school counselor and administration, not the school nurse. I only attend meetings that are medical related. Sexual harrassment in the school setting is a topic for the counselor to discuss.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Some school nurses teach the sex ed classes so I was wondering about whether that meant the nurse was part of it too. We are Mandated Reporters for abuse as well.

Admin is involved. And the school psychologist.

Permission slips are going out to parents for us to have this conversation with the kids.

I'm sort of new at this - 3.5 years or so.

We recently had sexual harassment training as employees of the district. Wondering if there is a program for kids like that? It was a pretty good couple of hours that detailed what was harassment and what were the repercussions.

Thanks.

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I believe Discovery has a program or a class outline on teaching sexual harassment to students, but I believe it only applies to high school and/or middle school.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

We've come across a couple of videos on youtube (the principal did a search) but I don't like them. I'll check out Discovery. Thanks!

[AussiePupOwner]

I am at the elementary level and, so far, the touching and exposing issues go right to the principal and counselor. It would be good information to have on hand though. Good luck to you.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I am at the elementary level and, so far, the touching and exposing issues go right to the principal and counselor. It would be good information to have on hand though. Good luck to you.

We did the same thing. But it was becoming such a common incidence, that we needed to ratchet things up.

Since posting this, a young student from this school was killed while skateboarding. He skated right into the side of a bigrig in the middle of town. Many kids either saw it or the aftermath as it took hours for the coroner to get there. The counselors, school psychologist, and I all did debriefing of the teachers the next morning and then the kids all day. Easter Break was the next week so this past week we met again on Monday with the kids.

We've postponed the sexual harassment info. Seems like the kids are in a different place right now. It is a small town and a small school.

Thanks for the input.