K-12 Schools: Proactively Adopt a Strong Anti-Harassment Policy
As the public discourse about sexual misconduct and bullying in schools grows, independent schools are wise to consider how to best position themselves if an explosive claim is reported to administrators - or, worse yet - in a viral social media post. Should that come to pass, there will be no quick one-size-fits-all approach to addressing the crisis. Responding to reports of sexual misconduct deftly will require patience, nuance, an understanding of trauma-informed principles and a clearly stated procedure.
Schools have historically preferred some vagaries in their disciplinary policies. While the flexibility such a policy affords administrators has its appeal, it provides little support in the face of a crisis. A robust anti-harassment policy should, at a minimum, unequivocally state the conduct that is prohibited by the school (including definitions and demonstrative examples), reporting requirements for staff, procedures for the investigation of possible violations of the policy and the range of possible disciplinary actions that may result.
Adopting such a policy offers several critical benefits to the school community:
It provides clear notice to students and parents and avoids disputes about what conduct constitutes a policy violation in the eyes of the school
It arms administrators with clear guidelines about how to respond to allegations which promotes consistency and guards against claims of bias
It can deter future misconduct by warning students of the consequences that might result from engaging in prohibited conduct
While no school wants to think that sexual misconduct or bullying is an issue among its student body, incidents of harmful conduct between students can have a devastating impact on the students involved and the larger school community. Getting ahead of a crisis by adopting a comprehensive anti-harassment policy is an effective way for schools to promote child safety and communicate a commitment to fostering a safe learning environment.
—By Alcalaw
This article was originally published as an National Association of Independent School’s Tip of the Week, written by Alcalaw.
Alcalaw assists schools drafting or updating anti-harassment policies.
