The best time to teach individuals about sexual harassment, boundaries, and appropriate behavior towards the opposite sex is when they are young. Children are quick learners and they tend to remember all that they are taught throughout their lives, especially how one should behave with another. The number one reason why sexual harassment is prevalent is that nobody taught individuals to distinguish between right and wrong behavior towards the opposite sex and have not addressed the problem when it took place.
It is important for schools to start teaching their students early about these sensitive issues. But the problem is that schools rarely talk about this issue and adopt weird ways of tackling sexual harassment among students.
After a series of sexual harassment complaints, a government-run school in West Bengal’s Malda district decided to address and solve the issue at hand. So they asked the girls and boys to attend school on different days!
According to sources, this bizarre decision was made by Girija Sundari Vidya Mandir in Habibpur area of Malda. The Principal said that they found this solution fitting as, after its implementation, school operations have been going on smoothly.
“It was, hence, decided that the girl students will attend school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while the boys will come on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays”, said the Principal.
Thankfully, state government officials stepped in and Education Minister Partha Chatterjee has ordered an enquiry.
“Such a decision can never be supported. We have asked the officials to inquire into the matter and it should be immediately withdrawn”, he said.
Instead of trying to avoid talking to students about sexual harassment, it is important for all schools across the country to address these topics directly and encourage a healthy respect for the opposite sex.