Incidents included a male pupil trying to kiss a female worker and pushing her head into his crotch,and boys trying to touch or slap a staff member’s bottom
By Lucy Ashton
Sexual harassment and sexism is “rife” in schools, with support staff complaining of physical advances and lewd remarks, according to a new report.
The local government workers’ union Unison said its study showed that one in ten female support staff in secondary schools revealed they have been sexually harassed, mainly by male pupils but also by male colleagues.
Responses from more than 2,000 employees across the UK working mostly in primary and secondary education, included teaching assistants, technicians, lunchtime supervisors and administrators, showed a number of incidents.
These included a male student trying to kiss a female worker and pushing her head into his crotch, boys trying to touch or slap a staff member’s bottom and a headteacher telling a female colleague to “stand here and look pretty, I’ll do the talking”.
Around one in seven school staff also reported they had witnessed sexual harassment in their workplace in the past five years.
Two in five staff who witnessed abusive incidents did not report them because they felt it was “pointless” or could affect their career, said the report.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Parents will be horrified to learn their children are being taught in such toxic environments. The danger is that language and behaviour learned at an early age stay with pupils as they become adults and go out into the wider world.
“Any male staff with such outdated attitudes need to think carefully about how they interact with colleagues and pupils. They must ditch such highly inappropriate behaviour immediately.
“But clearly, schools can’t tackle this huge problem on their own. Parents have a proper role to play too. Sexist and demeaning words have no place in the modern class or staff room.
“The role of misogynist influencers cannot be overstated. A solution must be found before this worrying issue spirals out of control.”
Nina Humphries of Feminista, which helped with the report, added: “It is deeply concerning that misogyny is so normalised in schools. This fuels violence against women and girls and limits the aspirations of all young people.
Meanwhile, also ,on Tuesday, the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board members, who include West Dunbartonshire Labour councillor Michelle McGinty, will consider their Anti-Sexual Harassment Programme Overview, which has been presented to them by the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, Mrs Anne MacPherson, for approval.
The paper highlighted the work that had taken place to promote a culture of zero tolerance to sexual harassment within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC).
The Board noted previously that a Short Life Working Group had been established to develop and promote a range of resources to support staff and managers across the organisation, which includes local hospitals and health centres.
They heard that a significant range of activity was taking place, with a key focus on ensuring there was a culture of zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Board members were asked to support the programme, which officers aim to be fully rolled out by November 2024 and would be launched with a communications campaign titled ‘Cut it Out’.
The Board were content to approve the programme.
Stand here and look pretty and I’ll do the talking sounds like a well meant comment.
Presumably, the girl or boy or it receiving the comment was potentially at sea with knowledge or competence or with some other issue and the craic was only to say you just drop it and I’ll step in for you.
But no, in the wokey, sensitive, I get hurt for the most insignificant of reasons this is a major, major issue.
How on earth have we brought up a population of cretins who cannot, do not have the sense to socially interact.
More diversity officers, more counselling, more grievance procedures, it’s a joke. But hey, there’s plenty of money for this in wokey council land.