Student-to-Student Harassment: The Impact of Davis v. Monroe

Although sexual harassment is generally seen as a significant problem warranting attention in the workplace and in schools, a Supreme Court decision in Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education could be interpreted as encouraging schools to “ignore” the problem of student-to-student sexual harassment. This article focuses on student-to-student harassment, because it occurs frequently and because it is likely to be overlooked or excused. The article discusses incidents of harassment in schools, the effects on students, and the reasons it occurs in schools. The legal framework is reviewed with particular attention to the new legal standard established by the Supreme Court ruling. Finally, the article discusses the implications of all this for social work practitioners, with particular attention to the two more neglected aspects for intervention: informal school culture and student reluctance to confront issues of harassment.