"When I was harassed I had an awful time. It was the worst time
of my life at this school. When it was being sorted out
it was done very well and very quickly."

...Year 8 student

Our school is a long-established independent school for boys (K-12) in which female teaching staff make up about 25 per cent of the total secondary school staff members.

Where It Began... Harassment of female teaching staff by students was identified as an issue that reflected broader harassment among the student body. Our school was addressing these issues only in an ad hoc manner.

Getting Started... Female staff broke the silence by speaking up to confront the problem of harassment. A Turnaround Committee was established to develop a formal harassment policy for the whole school, generate wider support for change and create a safer and more supportive environment through the implementation of a range of strategies.

How We Went About It... Staff brainstormed concerns and strategies. They involved students in identifying the issues as they saw them and contributing to the solution. Students also participated in focus groups to prepare a policy and they advised on how to involve everyone in tackling the issues.

A range of strategies were implemented to support the whole school policy.

• Pastoral care discussions were introduced that included a Men's Health unit for Year 9 students.
• Primary school teachers used existing programs to introduce concepts of harassment to their classes.
• A survey identified pockets of harassment but also found that the level was less than could be expected for a boy's school.
• An anonymous bully-reporting e-mail address was established.
• A behaviour management policy was developed which includes guidelines and procedures for staff dealing with reports of harassment.
• Outside advice and professional development were introduced through staff and student workshops.
• The school community is kept in touch with the issue through school assemblies and newsletters. With support from our parent community we have been able to go public on this issue.
  
  

What We Are Learning... Our journey has been several years long with the process as important as the final outcome. Not only have we raised awareness of the issue of harassment but more students feel empowered to report incidents. Since the issues have been openly discussed female staff feel supported by administration and colleagues, the overall incidence of harassment has been reduced and there is greater consistency in staff responses.

What's Next... These issues need to be regularly revisited. Other programs are being trialled in conjunction with Kids' Helpline (peer skilling) and Mission Australia (working with victims and perpetrators). Some teaching staff are working towards the next essential element of our journey: examining the construction of gender through the curriculum. Meanwhile, we continue to 'plug away' with a range of methods and opportunities.