ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, September 25, 1996 TAG: 9609250073
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON, N.C.
SOURCE: Associated Press
NOTE: Above
ALL LITTLE JOHNATHAN SAID he did was kiss a classmate. But school officials call it sexual harassment. No ice cream or coloring for Johnathan.
These days, a kiss isn't just a kiss - not even in the first grade.
A 6-year-old boy who kissed a girl on the cheek was suspended last week on the grounds of sexual harassment.
Jackie Prevette said the school overreacted to an innocent peck on the cheek by banishing her son, Johnathan, to a room apart from his classmates. Johnathan said the girl asked him to kiss her and that he was expressing friendship, according to his mother.
``Can't you just imagine children skipping down the hall holding hands? Isn't that Norman Rockwell America?'' Prevette said.
District spokeswoman Jane Martin said the policy is clear: ``A 6-year-old kissing another 6-year-old is inappropriate behavior. Unwelcome is unwelcome at any age.''
The rules are outlined in a student handbook given to each child at the start of the school year. Parents are asked to sign a form confirming that they explained the do's and don't's, Martin said.
A teacher who saw the incident reported it to the principal, who decided the first-grader should be punished. Johnathan missed out on coloring and playing with his friends. He also missed an ice-cream party honoring students with good attendance.
Prevette said she could understand a sexual harassment rule directed at older students. She said she will ask the School Board to make allowances for children in third grade and below.
``This makes children wonder `Should I hug somebody?''' she said. ``It's no wonder we have all these people with behavior problems.''
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Would you be harassed if Johnathan Prevette kissedby CNByou during class? His principal thinks so. color.