Grade-School Sex Harassment

* Re “Juvenile Sex Harassment,” July 4:

As a mother of a girl, 9, and boy, 11, and a product of the Downey Unified School District, I was outraged upon reading your article, and particularly the vice principal’s response.

Morality ultimately begins at home. Adults with whom the children come into contact often have an obligation to enforce and reinforce certain basic values, such as treat others as you would like to be treated. Kids who are not made accountable for their actions against another person learn too quickly that the offensive behavior will be tolerated. They do not deserve respect if they do not give it.

The vice principal certainly did not understand the seriousness of the boys’ crime as evidenced by questioning Jennifer Reichert and then saying “to respect the boy.” The correct and important response should have been to explain that this behavior will not be allowed and what course of discipline will follow.

These boys unless properly and sharply disciplined will probably go on to other offensive behavior. Jennifer Reichert and her mother must be assured that the school district’s disciplinary policies will deal with these boys and their parents also.

The Reicherts must seek justice in order for their daughter to rebound from this assault against her.

C.W. BURNS

Culver City

* I was stunned by the school’s and especially school district Supt. Edward Sussman’s lack of sensitivity in the issue. As a mother of a toddler yet to enter the public school system, I find something very wrong with the picture painted. We have a child being sexually harassed and the school tries to ignore it or worse finds the girl guilty of truancy when she’s getting death threats.

Sussman tries to place blame on the mother--as if why can’t she just go along with the status quo like all the other parents. No wonder people are afraid to send their children to public schools. As long as we keep people like this in positions of authority, we’ll never fix our ailing school system. Further, this school is setting itself up for a lawsuit in which everyone loses, including the taxpayers.

TAMARA KATO

Monterey Park

* The devastating consequences of sexual harassment in elementary and secondary schools have been hidden or dismissed for far too long. Sexual harassment in any context is usually surrounded by myths and stereotypes that prevent the education and action that is necessary to stop it. Laws are designed to dispel those myths and provide the necessary tools for action.

California does have specific laws addressing sexual harassment in education. In 1995, the California Women’s Law Center prevailed in a lawsuit against the State Department of Education demanding that the department issue regulations under those laws governing sexual harassment. The breadth and complexity of sexual harassment in a school setting require consistent and thorough response from schools throughout California. We are currently waiting for the department to respond to the court’s order by issuing regulations governing additional definition, guidance on grievance procedures and the scope and application of the law.

ABBY J. LEIBMAN

Executive Director, Women’s Law Center

Los Angeles