Is the PE teacher aware of this comment? That is clear sexual harrassment. This guy is going to keep pushing the envelope and keep stepping over the bright line. Something is going to blow up, sooner if not later. Just be thankful that he does not take you into confidence and whisper things that only you can hear. I am sure that there will be a groundswell of opposition to him before long.
Agreed…back to Elizium’s post about documentation. To the original poster: you could still gather documentation of the teacher’s comments…you may not feel as if you need to take action now, but perhaps you will decide differently a year or two years from now. If that point ever comes, you will have the information needed to raise a concern.
I agree in general with your viewpoint. However, depending on one’s profession and legal considerations surrounding that professions, gathering documentation can protect one against a legal backlash. In my current profession, there is a possibility that one can be sued for raising a complaint against someone that results in damage to that person’s professional reputation. If the complaint is determined to be unfounded, it would mean trouble for the person who filed the complaint.
I agree with investigation and documentation- I just don’t see how it is the OP’s job to do it, since he cannot do it without acting as some kind of undercover agent. He is not the homosexual teacher’s supervisor, after all. Investigation and documentation is properly the job of human resources in most organizations, and in a Catholic organization, there is generally someone assigned to this task, usually in the bishop’s office. Again, I would follow the chain of command, and report it ASAP to the proper authority before the verbal admissions of gay night-clubbing and homosexual attraction to another teacher- both highly problematic in themselves-develop into a case of overt sexual harassment or worse, molestation. If anonymous reporting is an option, that would be a great first step, but either way, action is required.
You are both right.
The OP indicated he is not in the US. In the US, anyone in an educational setting should report any inappropriate conduct, including these kind of comments, to someone in authority. But the same is not true of all countries. In some countries, there might be a strong culture against an employee doing anything, including reporting, against someone who is a peer, not a subordinate.Hmmm, well, not in the U.S. I’ve worked for more than several large organizations in the U.S., and numerous times I worked under policies that obliged employees to report issues of concern to a supervisor… however, we weren’t to report trivial concerns, and they had to be substantiated. Concerns reported to HR had to have documentation behind them.
Of course, he should document what he has witnessed. But documentation is different from investigation, which is not FidesetRatioFan’s job, and in fact could make it look like he has some personal agenda. Since the great scandals, most dioceses now have people who are highly trained in investigating allegations of sexual harrassment or abuse, and these are the proper authorities to conduct an internal investigation.
I think this is a vey prudent course of action. I would only add, parenthetically, that if a heterosexual Catholic school teacher similarly verbalized an unchaste life style, and referred to a teacher of the opposite sex in a similar manner as the teacher in question here has, he or she should also be reported. The Catholic school teacher must be absolutely above reproach, and far above the norm in behavior inside or outside the classroom. Being out on the town barhopping is unacceptable even for straight Catholic school teachers, as is sexual innuendo of any kind. When one works for the Catholic Church or a Catholic School one is never “off duty” in terms of behavior and personal conduct. The same should be true of public school teachers as well, I might add.
This is where I become extremely conflicted. Sexual innuendo’s, to whatever degree, and barhopping is something that I have found occuring in every staffroom including my current one. To be fair Catholic schools do tend to be more reserved and respectful but a certain amount occurs. It would not be uncommon for the male teachers to refer to a female teacher in an appreciative way similar to how my new colleague referred to another. I just found it shocking it was in relation to a male member of staff. I just worry that it is my own prejudices and beliefs clouding my judgement.
This is very much the case where I am. It is unheard of for somebody to report or document anything against ones peers. There are procedures in place but I have never ever heard of anyone availing of them.
What an excellent idea! Since chaplains are used to having to be discreet, this course of action seems especially wise.