Someone in the United States is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. That is over 880 people per day. On college campuses, one out of every five female undergraduates and one out of every 16 male undergraduates will become victims before graduation. Although this number of men and women are being assaulted, 89 percent of colleges report that there are no cases at their school, leading many to believe rape culture is being ignored and, therefore, furthered at colleges and universities all over the country. Although these schools are constantly in the spotlight, sexual assault does not start at the collegiate level.
Local high schools have made headlines as well. On February 2, a teacher at Central Dewitt was arrested for sexual exploitation and less than a month ago, a Geneseo High School teacher and athletic coach was charged with eight counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. In 2014, a Davenport North coach and special education teacher was sentenced after pleading guilty to several charges involving sexual contact with a student. Unfortunately, the list goes on. Cases like these have resulted in many school districts having strict protocols that must be followed if a student discloses that they are being hurt by others. Pleasant Valley is no exception.
Associate Principal Mike Peakin shared that there are no specific rules regarding teacher and student interactions, but advice is often given in presentations by School Administrators of Iowa and elected president Pleasant Valley Educational Association. Peakin commented, “There’s a tough balance between a professional and personal relationship since we encourage teachers to get to know students.” The administration does not encourage staff to be friends on social media if it isn’t for educational purposes and to watch interactions in general.
All teachers, counselors, and administrators are mandatory reporters and therefore required to report all complaints from students. If it is a parent or family member abusing a student, staff members are required to notify the Iowa Department of Human Services who would then begin an investigation. If the abuser is not within the family, a mandatory reporter would be required to notify a parent and the deputy. According to counselor Valerie Tucker, “You want enough people to be involved that can be helpful. A team keeping people safe is beneficial.”
Counselor Linda Noble believes students generally form a bond with some adult within the school in whom they could confide. She said, “The majority of students have someone they would be comfortable talking to whether it is the nurse or a teacher or one of us.” Noble also shared that the victim must be the one to come forward. If a student confides in a friend and he or she comes to the counselor, not much beyond finding a crisis hotline can be done. If a student is being harmed, he or she needs to report it him or herself.
Nurse Pam Cinadr shared Noble’s belief, saying “I have a lot of good relationships with students where I would feel like they would be comfortable coming to me and telling their friends that I am someone they could talk to.”
A poll by PV Publications on Twitter revealed that 82 percent of students feel safe at Pleasant Valley and sophomore Nate Martell agreed. “I feel safe at PV when it comes to sexual harassment. I have not had any firsthand experiences at PV, nor have I heard of anyone being advanced on. PV does a great job of keeping everybody safe,” Martell said.
PV Publications’ poll also revealed that the majority of students would feel most comfortable talking to a teacher if they had a problem. This response is natural, given that students spend more time with their teachers than any other staff member. Senior Madeline Patramanis agreed saying, “Teachers are more personal. Counselors focus more on my classes and schedule.”
Although the majority of PV students feel safe, junior Angela Pandit commented, “I believe there should still be a greater strive in educating the student body about this issue.” With as few as one in five victims reporting their sexual assault nationwide, all students should be aware of the resources available and protocol that is followed. All students and faculty members are resources in the Valley to keep students safe.
