Harassment In School

Q: i find it incredible that Elizabeth Goodwin, president of the Des Moines School Board, would consider anti-gay comments "are what I consider fad words at this time" ("Gay Slurs Abound, Students Say," March 7). Where has she been hibernating for the past 30 years? Further, she thought it would be difficult for a teacher to stop a class and immediately address the issue when such a slur was said; "I think the teacher would be heckled." When does she believe it SHOULD be addressed? Ye gads! For the president of the school board to take the position that a teacher should not address a problem for fear of being heckled is, indeed, sad, and demonstrates extremely poor leadership. Any disciplinary problem should be corrected at the time it occurs. I was a student in the '40s, and teachers did not hesitate to discipline immediately, and firmly. It was understood by all that discipline would be swift and firm.

A: School districts focus on gay harassment PETALUMA, Calif., March 26 (UPI) _ Petaluma school officials are working on regulations and training to halt harassment of gay, lesbian and bisexual students. While the district's policy is not as elaborate as cities like San Francisco that offer support services specifically for gay students, Deputy Superintendent Kim Jamieson said today (Wednesday) that the program hopefully will halt harassment of sexual minorities. Jamieson says discussions about a district-wide policy began in January 1995 when 15-year-old Robin Reed, a gay Petaluma High School sophomore, leaped to his death from the Golden Gate Bridge after years of torment by his peers. Jamieson says a Wisconsin case in which a school district paid $900, 000 last year to settle a federal lawsuit over harassment of a gay student also created concerns. Jamieson says, ``We've had people address the

school board on the issue of harassment and the negative impact that it has had on their lives in terms of self-image and health.'' The Petaluma board's policy, similar to those in San Francisco and Los Angeles, prohibits any harassment that appears to be motivated by prejudice, based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, disability, gender or sexual orientation. The proposed regulation goes one step further _ requiring staff training and student education on harassment of sexual minorities. Petaluma officials say there have been several incidents on campus, including students' use of a slur against homosexuals in a cheer during a basketball game.