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Inappropriate touching....feel sick

deleted_user
deleted_user
This situation happened at school today.

Im a teachers assistant at a large urban high school.The teacher had stepped out of the classroom for some testing.The teacher told the kids that they could hang out and visit before they were called out to be tested.

I got up from my chair to grab a tisssue and when I turned around this kid was sitting in my chair.I told him to get out,he knew I was sitting there....he replied"but its so nice and warm" When he finaly gets up he then grabs the sleeve of my sweater...and says "OOOHHH soft" and proceeds to pet my arm.
I told him loudly 3 times not to touch me.... Then another boy jumps up and does the same thing.
Then I really yelled.....I got really angry and the kids all backed away.
When it happened I could see the perimeter closing around me,(the kids all probably looking to see what the commotion was) and paniced a bit.
Thing is this whole thing is not only a huge trigger to me but I felt like a cat in a corner today.I feel SOOOOO uncomfortable about the situation.

I dont know If Im over-reacting,if I should report this or what?

Sorry for being so long winded.I'd appeciate any insight.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The best thing to do is look at the situation from an outside perspective if that helps. What would you tell someone else to do if this was the same situation and the question was given to you?

I'm not going to go into a rant or anything because I do find this whole set of behaviors deplorable and I would hope that someone would bring something like this to the appropriate parties if this happened and my son was involved. I would have no problem with taking him behind the wood shed and giving him some "school of hard knocks" education.
dobiedots
dobiedots
You're not overreacting!!!!
I would have been terrified.
What actions can you take? Who can you talk to? Authority wise.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I could talk to the teacher in charge at the time OR I could tell my immediate supervisor OR I could talk to admin.....If I was to report it then I should probably go up the ladder,bottom up.
This means I should have told the teacher right away.

Its just Im always second guessing myself AND I thought I would "blow"while telling the teacher.

I thought I might tell my immediate supervisor but she knows of my bp so I was worried she might crack it up to just that.

Thanks for the support guys...just getting to vent makes it a little better.
Community Leaderacuriousfish
acuriousfish
I don't think you are over reacting. we will all have different definitions of what we feel would be inappropriate touching but if my boundaries were crossed I would find it unpleasant and no doubt threatening.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hey!....any touching in a public school in the United States is inappropriate.

I taught for four years in Massachusetts. We are told not to touch at ALL. Those who teach the little kids often can prevent it, but in the older kids schools, not even a high five, fist bump or pat on the back is allowed.
it is a pretty sad state of affairs, but pervert teachers and priests and other humans have created a hands-off society...also, the threat of lawsuits makes it a really good idea to avoid touching...

so obviously, this was WAY across the line..you should feel ill and distrubed...
good luck with it
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm like everyone else, I don't think you are overreacting at all. Quite frankly, I would have been pretty afraid. That situation, as I see it, could have gotten out of hand. You were absolutely right to do whatever necessary to get the situation under control.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Update
I talked to the teacher in charge as well as my immediate supervisor.....it went FINE and both agreed that they were out of hand,both were thankful that I told them.
However.....nothings going to happen to the boys .....but they will be watched more closely .

Its just as well....wasnt really into having my tires slashed or my house egged.

What a world we live in,no wonder I get "tired".
Hapless
Hapless
Hell yes. You report this. Kids get away with too many things at school these day. There is absolutely no excuse for anyone to continue touching someone when they have said no.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Now I'm no expert, but in my experience with children that age, when you tell them to stop doing something firmly and they don't, it means they have no respect for you. As a teacher's assistant you have authority over them! In my opinion, those kids should have been reprimanded at least in some way! Not enough to "incur their wrath", but enough to get their attention. They need to learn who is in charge when the teacher's out! LoL, either way, you need the soul of a saint to work with other's kids!
deleted_user
deleted_user
You did not overreact at all. I think you should report this to the principal immediately. The kids were wrong to do that, and they need to be told. I had the same thing happen to me (I used to teach) and I told the kid to back away now, and I wrote it up and reported it right away. I did not want to give him any impression that he could do that, because then he could have developed a crush, or continued to act inappropriately, and could have even spun a story to get me in trouble. Sorry that happened to you-def. talk to the principal and document it.
sanb
sanb
Turn the little bastard in---he is at an age he knows good and well what he's doing. If it were me--I'd slap his damn head off! HA!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had a similar experience w/an employee when I was still working. Definitely report the incident before the students make an effort to retaliate by turning you in for inappropriate behavior. These 2 kids obviously know what they're doing and may have done it to others. They need to be dealt with firmly NOW before someone down the road - another student? a teacher or aide? serious gets harmed by them.

Namaste,
Trish
deleted_user
deleted_user
If you were uncomfortable then yes report it. Good luck
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