Student tells Henrico board harassment and assault persist; urges mandatory education and stronger accountability

Jane Patrick, who told the board she attends school in the Henrico area, described repeated harassment and misconduct by students and some teachers over four years and urged the board to adopt proactive measures, mandatory education about consent, and stronger accountability mechanisms.

Patrick said incidents made her dread coming to school and that when she reported problems administrators sometimes dismissed her concerns or advised coping strategies. “Whether this teacher is sent home on suspension and comes back and makes the class uncomfortable … the teacher tells me to take it as a compliment or ask what I was wearing,” she said. “I am tired of feeling unsafe and unheard.”

She recommended mandatory curricula for students and staff on harassment and consent, stronger investigation procedures to prevent repeat offenses, and improved accountability. Patrick cited prevalence figures during her remarks: “When 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under the age of 18 face harassment, abuse, or assault, we should be taking more measures to make sure it is not happening at least in a school setting.”

Why it matters: Allegations of harassment and insufficient response affect student safety and the learning environment; calls for curriculum and accountability changes could lead to policy reviews or training initiatives.

Ending: The board did not respond to the speaker during the meeting; as with other public-forum comments, a Henrico staff member was described as the follow-up contact for speakers who requested additional response.