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Happy Hump (Wednesday) Day! It’s also the 13th of April and this great A-to-Z Challenge I have embarked on with some of the most delightful bloggers I have met. I have chosen a tough set of topics – Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness – and am amazed by all the wonderful feedback and comments I have received from you all! Thank you!
So moving on… Post #11! Let’s address the issue of kids at school. Do you, parents and kids alike, know your rights?
In the United States, under federal law Title IX, schools are forbidden from any form of sexual discrimination. This includes:
- Pregnant students
- Parenting students
- Females in male-dominated fields of study (i.e. sciences & techonologies)
- Sexual violence
- Gender-based discrimination
- Sexual harassment
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| Credit: Know Your IX |
If you have been the victim of sexual discrimination (including rape, voyeurism, and/or harassment), my deepest sympathies! Please know that the law is on your side. Each campus is required to have a Title IX Coordinator whose contact information by law must be accessible on the school’s website. For instance, on the Newbury Park High School website, the information is available in a PDF giving a phone number and address for the district’s Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent.
It is the job of the Title IX Coordinator to manage complaints and even if you do not file a police report it is the duty (by law) of the school and coordinator to conduct a thorough investigation. If you are not happy with the result, you have the right by law to appeal the decision.
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| Credit: Know your IX |
Also, victims must feel safe and free to continue to their education at said institution. Schools are required to issue a no contact directive to the accused (no matter the decision) and provide any necessary changes to class schedules, housing, extracurricular activities, etc. so the student can continue at school without any further sexual harassment, violence and discrimination.
As of 3 February 2016, there were 81 sexual violence cases open for investigation in elementary and secondary schools across the country! That number is more than doubled in colleges with over 200 cases. For more information, visit”Title IX: The Basics“.
Do not let the school bully you into taking a “leave of absence”! Do not
feel like you have to attend mediation with the accused (this is
strictly forbidden for any allegations of sexual violence under Title
IX!) Remember the law is on your side! Ask your teacher and school administration if the have a procedure as required by Title IX. Let’s hold them accountable.
Miss yesterday’s A to Z Challenge post? J for Jungle Book.
This is such an important subject and one that many people don't want to face. Good for you for writing about it.
Meet My Imaginary Friends
#AtoZchallenge http://www.kathleenvalentineblog.com/
Thanks Kathleen! It's amazingly sad how early we have to be educated on these subjects. Joy
Oh wow, I didn't know the thing about mediation. Good to know! That is some valuable information 🙂
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
The Multicolored Diary
MopDog
Yes… It's interesting because my school when I was raped (at the university level) wanted me to go through mediation but it wasn't forced on me and I refused.
I remember hearing about this when the kids were in school; nice to see something like this is in place to help students that need it.
betty
🙂
Great informative post! It's scary to think that Congress has put Title IX at risk…we need it!
Indeed. Only touch it if they are going to make it better ! 🙂
The kind of information that is good to know, but you hope and pray you'll never need to know. Thank you.
Revisit the Tender Years with me during the #AtoZChallenge at Life & Faith in Caneyhead!
yes hope and pray but be prepared. i hope you never need to use it with your kids! x
Brill! Well done you, Joy. Catch ya soon, Caz a2z