According to the October 26th Channel 5 News report, in the past two years:
· 175 students across Massachusetts were suspended for committing sexual assault in school and
· 1,877 students were disciplined for sexual harassment.
· In Boston, 263 cases of indecent assault and battery were reported, with 41 student suspensions.
The most startling discovery from this report: these numbers are most likely inaccurately low.
Many cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment are going unreported in Boston Public Schools because “the superintendent’s sexual assault policy for the district states its fact finding should be kept to a minimum and department employees “should not engage in a detailed investigation.”’ Thus, incidents of sexual assault are so mismanaged by schools that often authorities do not have the opportunity to investigate and parents may never find out.
Girls’ LEAP wants to hear from students in Boston Public Schools. Do you feel safe in school? Have you experienced or witnessed violence at school? Do you think your school does enough to protect you? Do you think the Channel 5 report is accurate?
Please comment! Comments should be submitted anonymously or with your first name only.
