This question is for teachers. I am a teacher and I had a horrible experience this morning!?

Question

This is my second year teaching and I teach second grade. First thing this morning as students were coming in and handing in papers, one boy handed me a note and said it was from another student in my room. I looked at this other student and I smiled and asked him if he had a note for me and if that was it and he said no. Well, I opened it and it said-You are sexy... I want to have sex with you....I want to feel your boobs... etc. I took it to the counselor who said she would be gone the rest of the day and then handed it and my students' journals (to compare writings) to the assistant principal. None of the other students knew what was going on. The two boys were taken out by the principal and assistant principal a couple of times. Still, I don't know what they found out. What is going on? Has anyone ever experienced this before. This makes me feel sick. I wonder if the child is being abused at home.

Answer 1

To me, it sounds as if these children may not have even written the note. They may have been told by an older student to give it to you, or they might have found it. I know that most second graders don't do these sort of things, especially since a large majority of them can't even read and write properly.

Taking it to the counsler was a good move, though. It is possible that they could be having problems at home, and through the counsler (and maybe a guidance counsler if you have one at your school), you might be able to find out if they are being abused or if they are in a harsh environment. I applaud you on not ignoring the note.

Now, I'm not neccisarily a teacher, but I do tutor and teach high school students who are both younger and older than myself. I've seen many odd notes carried around that have been given to teachers, and I've seen many cases of sexual harrassment carried out by people as young as ten. Still, though, I have never heard of someone so young to be caught in the middle of this. I truely hope that this case gets solved quickly and proficiently.

Best of luck.

-Lella

Answer 2

I am a teacher, too. You did the right thing by contacting the counselor and the principal right away. Can you contact this child's parents? That's something that I would do. I strongly disagree with the replies to your question that imply that this is no big deal, or that the kids are just messing with you, or that it's normal. I am a laid-back, progressive teacher, and I incorporate a lot of arts and drama into my classroom - that is to say, I am not a strict disciplinarian-type. However, what this child did was inappropriate, and he needs to know that right away, and be given a logical consequence for his behavior. It's possible that he should also receive counseling and maybe even switched to a different classroom for the rest of the year. There needs to be a parent conference with you, the child, a counselor, and a principal.

It is definitely your responsibility to establish clear boundaries and expectations and to maintain professionalism at all times in the classroom, and it would be unethical to let this go or to treat it as acceptable behavior.

Answer 3

I am not an instructor. I work for a college.

You did the right thing. Abuse or too little interaction or overview from a parent may also be possible (no one monitors the games, tv, songs, books, etc.) and the kid is out of control.

It is unfortunate that our children are now sexualized before they can even spell the word. Yeah, it's becoming a sicker & sicker world.

Answer 4

i'm not a teacher, so hopefully you don't mind me answering your question anyways. i'm sorry to hear about your experience, i understand how that could be traumatic.

while it is possible that the child is being abused at home, its more than likely a result of something else. sadly, younger and younger children are becoming sexually active. this is due to many reasons: things they see at home, things they see on tv because their parents don't think it affects him, or aren't watching closely enough, or things they hear/see from otlder brothers and sisters

parents say and watch a lot of things and think their children aren't paying attention, and you'd be suprised how much they pick up on. whether the child is being abused or not.. something is definitely not right at home, or he has friends who have things that aren't right at home.

it's sad, but don't expect this to be the last time you see it happen. even when i was in 2nd grade (i'm 20 now) little boys would look down my shirt and try to touch me. it's going downhill though. my sister was being propositioned for sex before she knew what sex was...

just let it show you how to raise your kids!!

Answer 5

Former teacher here: Someone is playing a prank on this kid, most likely. You did the RIGHT thing by turning it over to the higher-ups. Don't obsess over worrying about the what-if's. Ask THEM everyday what progress and prognosis they have for the situation. You are a young and inexperienced teacher and they should realize that your situation needs immediate attention for your guidance and for the possible well-being of the child. My gut goes with the prank, but you can never be too careful (or caring) these days. Don't get yourself sick over it, but be persistent with the higher-ups who have the training and the experience to recognize symptoms. Make sure that you get a sit-down explanation from one of them when a decision for action/non-action is made, and that you're comfortable with the sincerity of their background checking.

Answer 6

If this child has older siblings that are sexually active the child will feel more mature by saying these things to another older person. on the other hand abuse may be the cause too

Answer 7

relax this is normal and quite common,I taught several years and got the same from girls, young children often repeat what they see and hear from Friends and the TV most times they really don't know the meaning of what they are saying, just daring each other,young men often fall for a female teacher, just be glad it is not high school, where they aren't fool in around

Answer 8

wow. hang in there and talk to your principal.
Child abuse? possible. I had been abused as a kid and this is not a behavior that I would display. But there is abuse and abuse!!!
Sounds more like a big brother put the younger brother up to it! does the kid have sibblings?

Answer 9

I'd make a HUGE deal out of this (to the kid, admin, parents).
The boy may be abused, or not. Regardless, this is a big deal.

Answer 10

maybe an older sybling wrote it. or recieved it and the student thought it was something good not knowing what it actually said. maybe it was his sisters and she liked it so he took it and gave it to you thinking you would like it... it could happen.