You call this a Sexual Predator???

CassandraBurgos83

I am being heated over this as I have the sweetest most affectionate 2 yr old boy who loves handing out kisses and hugs:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/first-grade-boy-suspended-for--sexual-harassment-171045972.html

A 6-year-old was suspended from school in Canon City, Colo., after kissing a girl on her hand. School officials said the smooch was sexual harassment, KRDO reports.

Hunter Yelton reportedly had a crush on a female classmate. So he planted a smooch on her hand as a way to show his affection. A smooth move, no doubt. Unfortunately for Hunter, the school didn't agree. The kiss was seen as a kind of harassment. Hunter was sent to the principal's office and suspended.

Hunter's mom Jenny Saunders told KRDO that the subject of Hunter's affection was OK with the kiss. Other kids told the music teacher about the sneaky smooch.

Saunders told KRDO:

"That was the day I had the meeting with the principal, where she first said 'sexual harassment'. This is taking it to an extreme that doesn't need to be met with a six-year-old. Now my son is asking questions… what is sex, Mommy? That should not ever be said, sex. Not in a sentence with a six-year-old."

Both mother and son told KRDO that Hunter isn't exactly an easy kid to have in class. He's been suspended before for "roughhousing" and for kissing the same first-grader on her cheek.

KRDO reports that the school district is sticking to its stance. The superintended told the station that Hunter's kiss fits the district's definition of sexual harassment.

His mom isn't happy that her 6-year-old now has that mark on his record.

"How can you do this? How can you say this about my child?" she said. "Remove sexual harassment, remove it from his record. I'm going to stand up and fight for him because that's not the case, that's not what happened at all."

goalss4nika

That is terrible! Schools are going way overboard Poor little guy

CassandraBurgos83

Rules/guidelines or not this is overboard... What judgement process or lack there of did the principal and superintendent use? This situation may have some serious scarring on this child if it is not corrected now.

6ronXtreme9

this world ain't rainbow and sunshine.its a very nasty place - rocky...I'm really sorry about that child.

HertfordshireRose

I don't believe a child that young has the mental capacity to understand sexual harassment. How can a child be guilty of something if they don't understand it? We use the same defense for adults who lack the capacity to understand, but we then usually lock them up in a low-security psych facility. Maybe that's what we should do to this kid? If we're going to use adult terms to describe the behaviours if children we should treat them as adults. Right?

This is a symptom of a school system terrified of being sued by the girl's parents which is a symptom of an even greater sue-happy disease infecting the United States.

They're children! Let them be children! We cannot treat children as adults with these things. Childhood is the time of discovery.

Now, to the mother. This is a great time to start talking to your kid about sex. There are age-appropriate sex education methods available for kids his age, and he should learn and continue to learn even after he's had sex the first time.

tzig00

That's absurd! I know my little 6 year old holds the hands of his "girlfriends" at school, is that going to be the next sexual harrassment? I think what he did was sweet.

sixout

1. Saying something is sexual harassment isn't the same as someone saying they are a sexual predator. Stop being sensationalist.

2. There's this:

Both mother and son told KRDO that Hunter isn't exactly an easy kid to have in class. He's been suspended before for "roughhousing" and for kissing the same first-grader on her cheek.

Not saying that it's not all overkill, but maybe she should control her son a little. I mean, if they already suspended him for something the same lines, plus other things, at 6, don't you think the parent should step in and say, "Maybe I need to do a better job of parenting."

rml_16

I remember when it happened the first time. It's beyond ridiculous.

TavistockToad

Both mother and son told KRDO that Hunter isn't exactly an easy kid to have in class. He's been suspended before for "roughhousing" and for kissing the same first-grader on her cheek.

souds like there is a lot more to it....

rml_16

1. Saying something is sexual harassment isn't the same as someone saying they are a sexual predator. Stop being sensationalist.

2. There's this:

Both mother and son told KRDO that Hunter isn't exactly an easy kid to have in class. He's been suspended before for "roughhousing" and for kissing the same first-grader on her cheek.

Not saying that it's not all overkill, but maybe she should control her son a little. I mean, if they already suspended him for something the same lines, plus other things, at 6, don't you think the parent should step in and say, "Maybe I need to do a better job of parenting."

Do you remember being that age?

We used to chase each other around, kiss each other and the boys would try (and often succeed) to pull girls' skirt sup. And sometimes they succeeded because the girls let them do it.

sixout

1. Saying something is sexual harassment isn't the same as someone saying they are a sexual predator. Stop being sensationalist.

2. There's this:

Both mother and son told KRDO that Hunter isn't exactly an easy kid to have in class. He's been suspended before for "roughhousing" and for kissing the same first-grader on her cheek.

Not saying that it's not all overkill, but maybe she should control her son a little. I mean, if they already suspended him for something the same lines, plus other things, at 6, don't you think the parent should step in and say, "Maybe I need to do a better job of parenting."

Do you remember being that age?

We used to chase each other around, kiss each other and the boys would try (and often succeed) to pull girls' skirt sup. And sometimes they succeeded because the girls let them do it.

And you have to remember that now is not then. Kids are sexualized at a young age. If I had a daughter, I'd be furious if I knew teachers were letting little boys pull her skirt up. Once seems like it can be forgiven, but it seems that this was a recurring thing, since he'd be suspending before for it.

I think at some point, a parent has to take some responsibility and stop saying "kids will be kids".

rml_16

1. Saying something is sexual harassment isn't the same as someone saying they are a sexual predator. Stop being sensationalist.

2. There's this:

Both mother and son told KRDO that Hunter isn't exactly an easy kid to have in class. He's been suspended before for "roughhousing" and for kissing the same first-grader on her cheek.

Not saying that it's not all overkill, but maybe she should control her son a little. I mean, if they already suspended him for something the same lines, plus other things, at 6, don't you think the parent should step in and say, "Maybe I need to do a better job of parenting."

Do you remember being that age?

We used to chase each other around, kiss each other and the boys would try (and often succeed) to pull girls' skirt sup. And sometimes they succeeded because the girls let them do it.

And you have to remember that now is not then. Kids are sexualized at a young age. If I had a daughter, I'd be furious if I knew teachers were letting little boys pull her skirt up. Once seems like it can be forgiven, but it seems that this was a recurring thing, since he'd be suspending before for it.

I think at some point, a parent has to take some responsibility and stop saying "kids will be kids".

Kids are not sexualized. Adults ae putting meaning on something that isn't there.

Kids experiment and play around. There's judgment you have to use. You have to, I don't know, remember what it was like to be that age? You never played "doctor"? You weren't curious?

There is NOTHING wrong or out of the ordinary about a little boy kissing a little girl on the cheek. From what I read, the little girl wasn't even upset about it. This is ADULTS reading ADULT themes into children's games that are a normal part of development.

ren_ascent

1. Saying something is sexual harassment isn't the same as someone saying they are a sexual predator. Stop being sensationalist.

2. There's this:

Both mother and son told KRDO that Hunter isn't exactly an easy kid to have in class. He's been suspended before for "roughhousing" and for kissing the same first-grader on her cheek.

Not saying that it's not all overkill, but maybe she should control her son a little. I mean, if they already suspended him for something the same lines, plus other things, at 6, don't you think the parent should step in and say, "Maybe I need to do a better job of parenting."

"Maybe I need to do a better job at parenting." I don't know what kind of parent she is, but you need to realize every child is different. My son is an example of a child who has spent the majority of his life struggling with his emotions and tendency to behave inappropriately. Through intervention and an excellent school system he is almost 100% functional in a classroom. At age six he was not but they considered him a work in progress. This child sounds like he needs the same kind of support.

sixout

1. Saying something is sexual harassment isn't the same as someone saying they are a sexual predator. Stop being sensationalist.

2. There's this:

Both mother and son told KRDO that Hunter isn't exactly an easy kid to have in class. He's been suspended before for "roughhousing" and for kissing the same first-grader on her cheek.

Not saying that it's not all overkill, but maybe she should control her son a little. I mean, if they already suspended him for something the same lines, plus other things, at 6, don't you think the parent should step in and say, "Maybe I need to do a better job of parenting."

Do you remember being that age?

We used to chase each other around, kiss each other and the boys would try (and often succeed) to pull girls' skirt sup. And sometimes they succeeded because the girls let them do it.

And you have to remember that now is not then. Kids are sexualized at a young age. If I had a daughter, I'd be furious if I knew teachers were letting little boys pull her skirt up. Once seems like it can be forgiven, but it seems that this was a recurring thing, since he'd be suspending before for it.

I think at some point, a parent has to take some responsibility and stop saying "kids will be kids".

Kids are not sexualized. Adults ae putting meaning on something that isn't there.

Kids experiment and play around. There's judgment you have to use. You have to, I don't know, remember what it was like to be that age? You never played "doctor"? You weren't curious?

There is NOTHING wrong or out of the ordinary about a little boy kissing a little girl on the cheek. From what I read, the little girl wasn't even upset about it. This is ADULTS reading ADULT themes into children's games that are a normal part of development.

You sure kids aren't sexualized?

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/oct/21/puberty-adolescence-childhood-onset

Kids are learning about sex at a younger age, and are maturing a lot more quickly these days. Puberty is being reached at a way younger age than when we were all kids.

It may not be out of the ordinary to want to experiment, but that doesn't make it right to happen at school, or if they've already been in trouble for it before. Times change, humans change. Things aren't like they were 10 years ago.

sixout

1. Saying something is sexual harassment isn't the same as someone saying they are a sexual predator. Stop being sensationalist.

2. There's this:

Both mother and son told KRDO that Hunter isn't exactly an easy kid to have in class. He's been suspended before for "roughhousing" and for kissing the same first-grader on her cheek.

Not saying that it's not all overkill, but maybe she should control her son a little. I mean, if they already suspended him for something the same lines, plus other things, at 6, don't you think the parent should step in and say, "Maybe I need to do a better job of parenting."

"Maybe I need to do a better job at parenting." I don't know what kind of parent she is, but you need to realize every child is different. My son is an example of a child who has spent the majority of his life struggling with his emotions and tendency to behave inappropriately. Through intervention and an excellent school system he is almost 100% functional in a classroom. At age six he was not but they considered him a work in progress. This child sounds like he needs the same kind of support.

And that's fine. It seems like you're doing a good job of parenting, because you realized there needed to be something done, and you worked towards a solution. This woman (from what's shown in the article) hasn't. If something had been done, then she could turn around and say the school knows about issues, and things of that sort. From an outsider perspective, it looks as if she's upset that he's been disciplined, instead of being upset that he was doing something worth being disciplined for.

ren_ascent

Whew, I guess I got off easy when I was a kid. Kissed a boy in kindergarten (later kicked the same boy for saying something stupid). Often displayed tomboyish behavior where I threatened another kid for being mean to an animal. Threw sawdust in another kids eyes. . . I was a threat to society. Lucky I don't have a criminal record for all my elementary school antics.

sixout

Times change. Apparently people don't realize this.

Also, this kid will not be labeled as a sexual predator when he grows up. Or even next year. The title of this topic is dumb.

LorinaLynn

It's been ~35 years, but I remember a kid in my kindergarten class being sent home for unwanted hugging and kissing of many girls in our class. I was one of them. The term sexual harassment wasn't, to the best of my knowledge, being tossed around then. He was just considered a pest and disruptive.

He didn't change as he grew up, though, and was held back more than once before 6th grade, and last I heard, maybe 15-20 years ago, was arrested for shooting someone.

Personally, I'd call it harassment, but not sexual harassment. It's not like it's open mouth kissing and groping.

ItsCasey

I don't like that they put a "sexual harassment" label on a 6-year-old, but that's the problem with zero-tolerance policies. They're for people who can't think for themselves and would rather absolve themselves of responsibility for decision-making and say "Hey, it's policy. My hands are tied," than to have to evaluate individual circumstances and decide them on a case-by-case basis.

But it does sound like this kid needs to be told once and for all that he has stop kissing girls at school. The one he has a crush on may not care, but other girls might be very uncomfortable with it, and at that age, they might feel like they'll get in trouble if they say anything about it. What if you had a very young daughter who came home from school, saying that some boy kissed her and she didn't like it? I'd be irate. Girls shouldn't be subjected to that sort of thing at school and have administrators wave it off as "just what kids do." When there's no authority figure telling them to stop, it turns into 5th and 6th grade boys grabbing girls' butts, trying to unhook the bra of the girl who sits in front of them ... things that actually do qualify as sexual harassment.

rml_16

I don't like that they put a "sexual harassment" label on a 6-year-old, but that's the problem with zero-tolerance policies. They're for people who can't think for themselves and would rather absolve themselves of responsibility for decision-making and say "Hey, it's policy. My hands are tied," than to have to evaluate individual circumstances and decide them on a case-by-case basis.

But it does sound like this kid needs to be told once and for all that he has stop kissing girls at school. The one he has a crush on may not care, but other girls might be very uncomfortable with it, and at that age, they might feel like they'll get in trouble if they say anything about it. What if you had a very young daughter who came home from school, saying that some boy kissed her and didn't like it? Girls shouldn't be subjected to that sort of thing at school and have administrators wave it off as "just what kids do." When there's no authority figure telling them to stop, it turns into 5th and 6th grade boys grabbing girls' butts, trying to unhook the bra of the girl who sits in front of them ... things that actually do qualify as sexual harassment.

If the little girl is bothered by it and says something, obviously an adult needs to step in. But otherwise, no, adults need to step back unless they see something truly worrying, which this doesn't seem to be. But it's possible there's way more to the story than is being told.

Grimmerick

WOW when I was in kindergarten a kid touched my butt and showed me his peter, they didn't do anything to him besides tell him not to do it............why........because he was a KID, and kids do weird crap, btw I exacted my own revenge and kicked him in the nads........WHAT?! I was a kid too you know.

Collier78

WOW when I was in kindergarten a kid touched my butt and showed me his peter, they didn't do anything to him besides tell him not to do it............why........because he was a KID, and kids do weird crap, btw I exacted my own revenge and kicked him in the nads........WHAT?! I was a kid too you know.

QFT! I have a 6 year old son...He and I had a talk about keeping his hands out of his pants because he likes to just sit with his hand down his pants cupping his daddy parts...His side " It's mine, why can't I touch it??"...I had to explain to him that it is inappropriate behavior because those are our private areas, and doing it in public can make others uncomfortable. He no longer does it in public, but I still find the kid sleeping with his hands down his pants..have I corrected that?..No...he isn't in public and I don't want him to be weirded out by his own junk or think it isn't ok in the right setting...Kids say off the wall stuff and do off the wall things..BECAUSE..ding ding ding..they are KIDS!

I once embarrassed the hell out of my mother by telling my teacher at a conference that she had just had a hysterectomy...I didn't know that was private information...I WAS A KID...

Truly mean children, children that bully, or if the affected children are uncomfortable should be handled, but most kids have no clue at that age what they are saying or doing. They see us as parents show affection by hugs and kisses and they want to show others affection...I'm not about to stop hugging and kissing my kids so that they don't show affection that way to others..

sheenarama

Okay.. the topic of this thread is dumb. Sexual predator is not the same as sexual harassment. I think that has been established. I have 5 and 7 year old sons. Their schools have "barriers assemblies" every two weeks where kids are taught appropriate touch. My boys are very affectionate with myself and other kids. Every since they were in preschool they would hug their classmates goodbye. Some of the other kids were a little surprised when approached for hugs, but later they would be the ones approaching my son for hugs. Some of the parents even said that their kids were not affectionate and were surprised by that behavior. Other parents were supportive of this. Kids should learn what is appropriate for our society.

rml_16

When I was 7 or 8 (about 29-30 years ago) and in third grade, another third grader told me he wanted to park his Corvette in my garage. I'm traumatized to this day.

Hornsby

I agree with the folks that think the term "sexual harassment" is a bit much, but yea, times have changed so who knows what that boy was thinking. Kids learn too much too soon these days.

BeckyMBisMe

It's so stupid!
My nephew lost a job when he was 19 after being accused of harrassment. He has always been a hugger, he hugs everybody! Well, I guess he hugged the wrong person one time. Was NEVER told or warned that it was unwelcome and he was out. You just never know for sure.

sixout

It's so stupid!
My nephew lost a job when he was 19 after being accused of harrassment. He has always been a hugger, he hugs everybody! Well, I guess he hugged the wrong person one time. Was NEVER told or warned that it was unwelcome and he was out. You just never know for sure.

Well, when you're on a job, any kind of touching is off limits. Simply because it could lead to a lawsuit that could cost the company a ton of money. So yea, while he may be affectionate, he also needs to know what's socially acceptable. Stepping into someone's comfort zone and touching them, even if it's just a friendly hug, is not something that is going to fly at any job site, unless your job is to hug other people at work.

Collier78

I agree with the folks that think the term "sexual harassment" is a bit much, but yea, times have changed so who knows what that boy was thinking. Kids learn too much too soon these days.

I agree they learn too much too soon...I feel it's my job as a parent to keep as much of that as possible from happening..I have a 13 year old that JUST received her first cell phone, and only recieved it do to the necessity of calling after extracurriculars for rides etc. She has limited internet access, and we don't have cable television. She hears enough stuff from her friends, I don't need to bombard her with it at home. She comes to me with questions, and when I tell her something (ie. a song, show) is inappropriate or unacceptable I explain why.

It is my job as a parent to control what I can and explain what I can't control. So far so good..I have a pretty well adjusted 13 year old that knows the basics, isn't afraid to ask questions, but doesn't dress like she's 20 or try to be older than 13..I am scared of what the next few years might bring though..not gonna lie..

just_Jennie1

It's so stupid!
My nephew lost a job when he was 19 after being accused of harrassment. He has always been a hugger, he hugs everybody! Well, I guess he hugged the wrong person one time. Was NEVER told or warned that it was unwelcome and he was out. You just never know for sure.

Yeah sorry but I'd be weirded out if someone I worked with came up and just hugged me.

You just don't do things like that in any kind of job. That's why they have handbooks and HR departments because things like that aren't socially acceptable in that sort of environment.

just_Jennie1

I'm glad I'm not a kid now days. It's bad enough that I was scarred for life for getting my name on the board with a check mark next to it for talking in class. That right there made me the painfully shy person I am today. I'd hate to be suspended for something innocent. But I also think that schools and society in general takes things a little bit too far. I can see if he held her down and was fondling her while trying to kiss her but he wasn't. Not only that but he kissed her on the cheek before so obviously they "like" each other.

Kids can't be kids any more and do the kid things that we used to do when growing up. It's really sad.

FatHuMan1

There is no way a 6 year old should be labelled a sexual predator. This is beyond ridiculous, it's potentially damaging. SMH