NOS Stories asked secondary school students about their experiences with sexual harassment and sexual violence at school. Nearly 4,000 responses were received. The editorial team spoke with more than 50 of them about their experiences. These ranged from sexually suggestive remarks to sexual assault.

“We are shocked by the results. Sexually transgressive behavior by teachers toward students is unacceptable. There can be no ambiguity about that,” responds Marinus Schouten, program manager at Stichting School & Veiligheid. It is good that – as Minister of Education Arie Slob indicates in the documentary – the legislation concerning sexual harassment is being amended. “Frameworks are important. But within those frameworks, what is especially essential is how schools ensure the prevention of sexually transgressive behavior.”

Being aware of your professional role

Sexual boundary violations can involve a look, a (casual) touch, infatuation, but also sexual assault or even rape. It is important that teachers remain aware at all times of their professional role as teachers and continually ask themselves what effect their actions have on a student. How does a student experience a pat on the shoulder? We call this ‘sexual integrity’: dealing consciously, respectfully and responsibly with one’s own sexuality and gender and those of others.

Open culture

In a closed school culture in which little attention is paid to this subject and sexuality is avoided, the risk is particularly high. But sexually transgressive behavior can occur in any school. To counter this, the school leadership must promote an open culture in which active efforts are made toward sexual integrity. This means that teachers dare to reflect on their own actions, discuss them with one another, make clear codes of conduct, and dare to give each other feedback.

Discomfort

Getting to work on this subject can feel uncomfortable. As a teacher, you can set a good example within the team and toward the students. This allows both students and school staff to practice having conversations about it.

Discomfort can arise, among other things, because of the ‘gray area’ surrounding sexual boundary violations. The gray area might involve, for example, a teacher who unintentionally crossed a student’s boundaries but had absolutely no ill intentions.

What should you do about it as a school?

So it is by no means always easy or clear. How can you support a teacher without denying the seriousness of a situation or making a student feel that they are not being taken seriously? These very dilemmas provide a starting point for taking action. As a school, you need to address this:

  • When it comes to prevention: creating a sexually integrous climate.
  • In cases of suspected or actual sexually transgressive behavior: taking appropriate action.
  • In the case of teachers who have been wrongly accused of sexually transgressive behavior: ensuring rehabilitation.

Would you like to know how? Read more here: