Coworker Attacks

[JReducation]

I suppose this varies from state to state. At my school, if two teachers are having a conversation of a sexual nature and a third overhears, the third person could rightfully file a sexual harassment complaint if he or she was offended by the conversation.

I don’t know if the same applies if two people are overheard having a conversation involving racially or religiously bigoted remarks. I know in my school if someone overhearing it were offended and reported it, the two having the conversation would be reprimanded.

I agree that it probably varies from one jurisdiction to another. As a principal, I can tell you that the rules about harassment are not very clear. I have found that if someone has a good lawyer one can prove anything is harassment, which is unfair. On the other hand, if the rules are ambiguous, adminsitrators have a lot of room in which to move.

I work for a religious school, so we have another set of complications.

That’s why I always tell the staff, to avoid anything that is avoidable. It usually brings debates, confrontations, gossip and poor performance. The reason for a school is to serve the students, not the adults.

JR