14 year old boys masturbating in class

[grinch45]

I am a regular education teacher.  I have two male students, age 14, who have,  masturbated in class.  One more frequently than the other.  They are not diagnosed with anything more serious than ADHD. I want them to get the help they need.  I also know that their behavior is obvious enough to impact the learning environment.  I have been told this is not the case because no parent has complained.  I feel that most 14 year olds find this behavior extremely embarrasing and will not mention it.  I have been told that they cannot be removed from my class.  Please help.

[Handy35]

i am appalled at what ive read from grinch45.  Not appalled at grinch45 but rather at whatever school he is employed at!  For the previous years teachers to not have handled it before reaching you is appalling in itself.  Second, for the school's administrators to brush this under the rug so to speak is even more apalling!  What the two boys are doing is NEVER acceptable in a classroom environment and without question, needs to stop!  I can't elieve your school isnt stepping up to help you deal with this and is asking you to allow it to continue as if nothing wrong is going on?  If it were me, I would prepare myself of the possibility of being fired because I would go above whomever i had to in order to find someone who is willing to do the right thing and bring this issue to an end for good!  I would go as high as i had to in order t get it dealt with, even if it meant going to the state level to find resolution!  Just what i would do because this is about right and wrong and these boys are starting to get into manhood and this CANNOT CONTINUE for another day!

[Sandman2]

       Hi Annie.  He did say that they were both ADHD.  And it is very common to have special ed kids mainstreamed.  
     I am reading between the lines, but I would assume that since he was instructed not to raise the issue to the parents that there is "history" from prior years and at least one of the kids does have an IEP.  Also guessing that the district is really frightened of a law suit.  But as I said, I am only guessing and going on what I have seen happen in my own district.
     And I agree completely that it would be very easy for a girl to file sexual harassment charges.   I've got a feeling that since that apparently has not been done, that the action is more bothersome to the teacher than to the kids.  But who knows?

[AnnieBrooke]

I am wondering where the teacher's union is in all of this.  A teacher should not be fired for making a legitimate complaint.  A masturbating student (that is not identified as special needs -- he said it is a regular classroom) that the administration will not deal with and instead threatens the teacher with job loss over, is a problem, and a bombshell from a legal point of view.  I am amazed that if the school is so fearful of a lawsuit from some special-education lawyer, it hasn't occurred to them that the parents of other students like Mary and Allie and Erin won't sue for sexual harassment or hostile classroom environment.  No judge would agree that as a condition of going to school, a girl has to sit near a boy who is masturbating.  There is also the question of how many teachers (one each year since this kid hit puberty) have been intimidated into silence by the administration -- they could ALL sue the school.  Even if it is a private school and there is no union representation, teachers do not leave their right to a non-hostile work environment at the door when they come to work.  No matter where they work.  I would certainly talk to an employment lawyer before just giving up.  It's hard on the teacher, but I can imagine it is even harder on the students, especially the girls.

[lisaob1]

grinch..you have had remarkable response from your previous post...and it has provoked some debation between others also...what concerns me is your lack of interest and opinion..,how is the situation now? has it been resolved? have any steps been taken?

[aheart]

   I think the administration is totally wrong in trying to swept this under the rug. When a child goes home upset because she or he has figured out what is going on all h*ll will break loose. This could be emotionally scarring to a child that is sensitive and when the parents put their heads together on this, well the administration better be ready for a battle. Right is right and wrong is wrong. When not making waves comes before the rights and care of each student, shame on them! I hope they learn a lesson from this.
Sorry for your posistion in the whole thing Grinch, but you tried.

[lisaob1]

thanks...,for understanding...x