Responding to #MeToo in the Educational Environment and elsewhere
Before you turn away because this message will be political, I promise it won't be. Don't believe me? Keep reading, and I'll prove you wrong.
Since the beginning of October, the subject of the news has largely surrounded the #MeToo Movement and has begun a discussion of sexual assault and harassment in this county. Everyday Americans see prominent figures being accused of the most disturbing of crimes. So how do we take the lessons of this movement and apply them to society, before the movement is long forgotten and press coverage has moved on? More importantly, how can we ensure that the lessons of the movement are not only learned by those in power now but by younger generations so that we can attempt to more effectively fight this issue for the long-term future.
I think the answer to that last question is by addressing the issue within the educational environment, by talking to students in pre-school through post-secondary school and giving them the skills to not only protect themselves from sexual assault and harassment but their peers as well.
Now, before I get too far into this I want to clarify: I don't pretend to be an expert when it comes to best practices in responding to a culture wrestling with one of it's biggest demons-- sexual assault and harassment. (Nor do I claim to be an expert in anything, for that matter, except perhaps sleeping.) This is a big deal that we grapple with and if you, like I am just coming to terms with the issue then I dare you to learn more and more until you become an expert. However, if you are an expert, and you are by chance reading this, please take these ideas and RUN, no SPRINT with them if you think that they will help you make a difference in confronting this issue that plagues every single one of our communities.
Realizing that this issue does impact everyone in the nation on a local level, I think, is the first step towards effectively combating it. I mean that's the whole point of the #MeToo movement, isn't it: to say that sexual harassment and assault is not only happening in Hollywood, but it’s happening in small towns in Kansas, Kentucky, and rural Colorado too. It is happening everywhere- on a large scale. I mean just take a look at the news. Because of this, we need to work to find both local and national solutions because it impacts us all, not just a few of us. If we work to change the culture both from the top down and the down up, we will meet in the middle a lot faster.
With a local issue, you need local solutions. This will only make your impact in fighting this issue that much stronger, and its impact last that much longer. (Take a look at famed Grassroots Movements, #MeToo included.) Local solutions are key: and the most critical proposed solution is tackling this issue in the educational environments of our children and students. School is not only a place for academic learning but a place for civic learning too, learning how to be responsible in our global 21st Century world. Classrooms need to be a place where students are confronted with an issue such as this and be taught, that it is okay to speak up, even when told to be silent, taught how to talk to a trusted adult about the challenges they are facing (challenges including, sexual assault and harassment) and taught what to do if a peer or a friend is confronted with this issue. If we foster these skills, promote skills over the thirteen years (plus) that students are involved in the education system then we can more likely see the existence of these skills over a lifetime, including in the workplace when these students become adults.
As a parent, does it make you uncomfortable to have a school, teachers you might not know well talking to your child about such challenging and mature issues such as these? Well then, I challenge you to begin a discussion with your student prior to the age at which school would start talking about the issue. If you’re really brave go to a local high school and set up a meeting with the teacher which would be discussing these issues with your child and find out what the school is saying. It is never too early for prevention. Take the first step into the awkwardness and know that you are, at the end of the day, doing your child the biggest favor their life: preparing them to battle the inevitable evils that they'll face in this world.
Our goal, in both schools and at home should be to instill in our children that:
• They are one of a kind, precious, incredible people, and therefore their bodies are theirs-- no one else.
• They can always, always show emotion, no matter their gender or age.
• They can always ask for help.
• They are never alone, even during the times when it feels lonely.
• They are resilient and strong.
• They can always SPEAK UP for themselves, but if they need us too we can SPEAK for them.
• They always have someone cheering them on.
Education about these issues doesn’t have to be graphic, or uncomfortable. But it does need to provide the facts, and empower students to use their voice and instill the statements above.
If we are serious about ending sexual assault in this country, then let’s get serious. Let's hold ourselves accountable for the change we wan. This change begins with educating kids on how to protect themselves and their peers, giving kids the facts about the issues they face, and telling kids that they are more than worthy of support, love, and help- always no matter the situation. This change begins in partnership between schools, communities, and parents, this change begins in the words spoken between parents and children at the dinner table, and this change begins with the first step of saying this is enough, this is not the world I want.
No matter your views on the millions of issues our world argues about, I think that we can find unity in the opinion that one person being sexually harassed, assaulted, abused, is one person too many. Let's rally in that, let's fight TOGETHER to end the realities we don’t want to be true, to end the realities we wished didn’t exist.
Until next time, keep illuminating the darkness,
Jacob
Since the beginning of October, the subject of the news has largely surrounded the #MeToo Movement and has begun a discussion of sexual assault and harassment in this county. Everyday Americans see prominent figures being accused of the most disturbing of crimes. So how do we take the lessons of this movement and apply them to society, before the movement is long forgotten and press coverage has moved on? More importantly, how can we ensure that the lessons of the movement are not only learned by those in power now but by younger generations so that we can attempt to more effectively fight this issue for the long-term future.
I think the answer to that last question is by addressing the issue within the educational environment, by talking to students in pre-school through post-secondary school and giving them the skills to not only protect themselves from sexual assault and harassment but their peers as well.
Now, before I get too far into this I want to clarify: I don't pretend to be an expert when it comes to best practices in responding to a culture wrestling with one of it's biggest demons-- sexual assault and harassment. (Nor do I claim to be an expert in anything, for that matter, except perhaps sleeping.) This is a big deal that we grapple with and if you, like I am just coming to terms with the issue then I dare you to learn more and more until you become an expert. However, if you are an expert, and you are by chance reading this, please take these ideas and RUN, no SPRINT with them if you think that they will help you make a difference in confronting this issue that plagues every single one of our communities.
Realizing that this issue does impact everyone in the nation on a local level, I think, is the first step towards effectively combating it. I mean that's the whole point of the #MeToo movement, isn't it: to say that sexual harassment and assault is not only happening in Hollywood, but it’s happening in small towns in Kansas, Kentucky, and rural Colorado too. It is happening everywhere- on a large scale. I mean just take a look at the news. Because of this, we need to work to find both local and national solutions because it impacts us all, not just a few of us. If we work to change the culture both from the top down and the down up, we will meet in the middle a lot faster.
With a local issue, you need local solutions. This will only make your impact in fighting this issue that much stronger, and its impact last that much longer. (Take a look at famed Grassroots Movements, #MeToo included.) Local solutions are key: and the most critical proposed solution is tackling this issue in the educational environments of our children and students. School is not only a place for academic learning but a place for civic learning too, learning how to be responsible in our global 21st Century world. Classrooms need to be a place where students are confronted with an issue such as this and be taught, that it is okay to speak up, even when told to be silent, taught how to talk to a trusted adult about the challenges they are facing (challenges including, sexual assault and harassment) and taught what to do if a peer or a friend is confronted with this issue. If we foster these skills, promote skills over the thirteen years (plus) that students are involved in the education system then we can more likely see the existence of these skills over a lifetime, including in the workplace when these students become adults.
As a parent, does it make you uncomfortable to have a school, teachers you might not know well talking to your child about such challenging and mature issues such as these? Well then, I challenge you to begin a discussion with your student prior to the age at which school would start talking about the issue. If you’re really brave go to a local high school and set up a meeting with the teacher which would be discussing these issues with your child and find out what the school is saying. It is never too early for prevention. Take the first step into the awkwardness and know that you are, at the end of the day, doing your child the biggest favor their life: preparing them to battle the inevitable evils that they'll face in this world.
Our goal, in both schools and at home should be to instill in our children that:
• They are one of a kind, precious, incredible people, and therefore their bodies are theirs-- no one else.
• They can always, always show emotion, no matter their gender or age.
• They can always ask for help.
• They are never alone, even during the times when it feels lonely.
• They are resilient and strong.
• They can always SPEAK UP for themselves, but if they need us too we can SPEAK for them.
• They always have someone cheering them on.
Education about these issues doesn’t have to be graphic, or uncomfortable. But it does need to provide the facts, and empower students to use their voice and instill the statements above.
If we are serious about ending sexual assault in this country, then let’s get serious. Let's hold ourselves accountable for the change we wan. This change begins with educating kids on how to protect themselves and their peers, giving kids the facts about the issues they face, and telling kids that they are more than worthy of support, love, and help- always no matter the situation. This change begins in partnership between schools, communities, and parents, this change begins in the words spoken between parents and children at the dinner table, and this change begins with the first step of saying this is enough, this is not the world I want.
No matter your views on the millions of issues our world argues about, I think that we can find unity in the opinion that one person being sexually harassed, assaulted, abused, is one person too many. Let's rally in that, let's fight TOGETHER to end the realities we don’t want to be true, to end the realities we wished didn’t exist.
Until next time, keep illuminating the darkness,
Jacob
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