Legal Question in Education Law in New York

Harassment in a all boys private school from the teachers

I attend a private all boys private school. Today i experienced a teacher yelling at a fellow classmate of mine to show him his tongue. I took this as harassment, because the teacher has no authority to force a student to show his tongue. The teacher was checking for a tongue ring, however in the schools rule book it states that external piercings are prohibited, not internal (tongue). I have been studying law on my own for two years now and was intrested if this was sexual harassment. The teacher was using profance language towards the student and instucting him to show his tongue. Well please respond and assist me on my case. I need some information to present to the Headmaster on this subject. thank you for your assistance


Asked on 12/05/00, 5:54 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Prof. David C. Bloomfield The City University of New York

Re: Harassment in a all boys private school from the teachers

In a private school, most of these matters are the subject of contract so you are right to refer to the school's rules -- but make sure you check them all and not just the provisions that support your position (for example, there may be discretionary language that allows the teacher to take any action meant to prevent disruption). This does not sound like harassment since the action is not gender-based, but rather having to do with the piercing -- but an investigation into the totality of facts (past behavior of the teacher or school toward male students) might prove otherwise.

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Answered on 12/07/00, 8:59 am


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