Only 22 per cent of females students think their school takes sexism seriously
(Picture: PA Archive)Female teachers have been issued with template warning letters to send to colleagues who make jokes about women or put their arm around them, in an attempt to tackle sexism in schools.
The National Education Union published the sample letter in a toolkit of resources to be used as part of the union’s ‘It’s Not OK’ campaign against sexual harassment and sexism.
The letter is aimed at teachers who want to take an “informal” approach to an incident of harassment, and its aim is to stop “first instances of sexual or sexist behaviour quickly without the need to use formal procedures”.
Teachers are encouraged to send the letter to call out colleagues who act inappropriately, suggesting the wording: “I am writing to ask that you stop…making broad criticisms about women/ intimidating me/ putting your arm around me/ touching me/ telling ‘jokes’ about women/ contacting me outside work on non-work issues/ using ‘sexist’ language in front of me/ making humiliating remarks about my appearance/ belittling older women workers/ making coarse sexual remarks.”
It suggests teachers say they find the behaviour “offensive/undignified/ intimidating/ hostile/ degrading/ humiliating”.
A spokeswoman for the NEU said the toolkit was a response to research and concerns from members that sexism and sexual harassment were far too common in schools.
It also includes posters for classrooms stating that 80 per cent of girls have been put under pressure to send sexual images of themselves, and only 22 per cent of females students think their school takes sexism seriously.
Teachers have also been supplied with a pledge to display stating “This school pledges to prevent sexism and sexual harassment”, as well as guidance and advice, and a sexual harassment survey which asks if teachers have been subjected to unwanted “leers, sexual images, comments, ‘jokes’, noises or gestures” in the workplace.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “Sexual harassment has become so normalised that it means for many girls, they don’t feel there is anything they can do about it, and that needs to change.”
He added: “The It’s Not OK toolkit will help schools to address sexual harassment and to plan how teachers and staff can take a whole school approach to gender equality and sexist, homophobic and transphobic stereotypes.”
Mr Courtney said teachers did not feel adequately trained or supported to take action.
