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Policy

He 'Enjoyed His Time in the Birth Canal a Little Too Much'

Jacob Sullum | 4.16.2008 11:39 AM

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Playing off stories about preschoolers and first-graders facing sexual harassment charges under idiotic "zero tolerance" policies, Rogier van Bakel gives us a preview of the not-too-distant future.

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NEXT: Snoop Kabobs

Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason.

PolicyCultureNanny StateSexEducation
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  1. Taktix?   17 years ago

    Two years ago in Texas, a four-year-old was punished for sexual harassment after a teacher's aide accused the pre-schooler of pressing his face into her breasts during a hug.

    I think this speaks volumes about the teacher's aide for deriving a sexual connotation from this.

  2. MK2   17 years ago

    Basing one's thinking and analysis of such matters on the most outrageous examples simplifies everything so nicely doesn't it?

  3. Danny   17 years ago

    MK2,

    Did he say it was commonplace? No. But the fact that it happens at all--that is, charging children with sexual harassment--says that it will continue to happen unless it is brought to light and made to stop happening. He did the first part, now who's going to do the second?

  4. Michael Ejercito   17 years ago

    If laws against sexual harassment were abolished, this would not happen at all.

  5. ChicagoTom   17 years ago

    Basing one's thinking and analysis of such matters on the most outrageous examples simplifies everything so nicely doesn't it?

    I agree completely. Zero Tolerance policies that are put in place in response to outrageous and uncommon occurrences do simplify matters quite a bit for the schools and make life more difficult for the students.

    Oh that's not what you meant?

  6. Danny   17 years ago

    Michael Ejercito,

    So true! Harassment has always been a crime, hasn't it? Why did we need to add sexuality to it, and did that really add anything to original harassment laws? Now, strangely, somebody can tell somebody that they have beautiful eyes and the receiver of that compliment could claim sexual harassment. If you are that insecure, you have some work to do.

  7. rana   17 years ago

    "Two years ago in Texas, a four-year-old was punished for sexual harassment after a teacher's aide accused the pre-schooler of pressing his face into her breasts during a hug.

    I think this speaks volumes about the teacher's aide for deriving a sexual connotation from this."

    Taktix, beat me to it.

  8. Naga Sadow   17 years ago

    A four year old was actually punished FOR sexual harassment? Call me skeptical but does a four year old actually understand the sexual nature of motorboating a teachers aide?

  9. Geoff   17 years ago

    of the not-too-distant future

    ...in the not-too-distant future, Next Sunday, A.D....

  10. Ska   17 years ago

    Well, Naga, they mght know they're enjoying it. I remember one specific teacher I'd call over to help me with my work, and that was in 1st grade.

    But yeah, the idea that a 4-yr old is capable of understanding what sexual harassment is, or that what they're doing is wrong, that is just insanity.

    It's so ridiculous it's hard to believe that people don't see how insane it is to say a 4-yr old is capable of sexual harassment.

  11. Sam Grove   17 years ago

    I've certainly enjoyed my time in a birth canal, but as an adult.

  12. GG   17 years ago

    Two years ago in Texas, a four-year-old was punished for sexual harassment after a teacher's aide accused the pre-schooler of pressing his face into her breasts during a hug.

    If that were my four-year-old, I would harass that cold bitch in any number of ways.

    (Speaking of child abuse, has reason addressed the Texas government's kidnapping of all those FLDS kids, which turns out may have been based on a prank call?)

  13. GG   17 years ago

    Nevermind -- I see Balko's just posted something on it.

  14. Mad Max   17 years ago

    According to certain officials in the government schools, sexual harassment is something students do. We all know that teachers themselves would never behave inappropriately with students.

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