Harassment/Bullying/Discrimination/Hate Speech

Alcuin School is committed to creating caring and compassionate communities. Our ongoing approach to promote tolerance and cooperation includes:

• Maintaining an environment in which all kids believe they have worth, are capable human beings, are expected to serve and can resolve conflicts nonviolently;
• Developing a spirit of devotion and enthusiasm among members of a group for one another, their group, and their purpose;
• Going beyond values clarification and/ or moral reasoning to teach character education;
• Encouraging awareness and respect for differences among people
• Training staff to recognize and respond to harassment and bullying consistently and sensitively                              

Alcuin supports students learning the processes of conflict resolution so they are prepared to solve their own problems; however, we also recognize that these types of actions falling under the category of harassment are rooted in larger issues of discrimination and subjugation and require a responsive approach. To protect the safety of the community and provide equality of opportunity for all, each situation must be addressed individually to achieve reconciliatory justice, healing people and relationships. Our approach includes age and circumstance appropriate constructive alternatives and defined consequences.

Harassment, including hate speech, includes conduct (oral, written, graphic, or physical) against any person or persons because of their race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, or disability that has the effect of creating a demeaning, threatening or hostile environment.

Bullying occurs when there are repeated incidents of a student using his or her verbal, social or physical power to control or hurt another. Bullying includes actions such as teasing, name-calling, excluding someone from a group, spreading rumors, hitting, or taking someone’s things. Cyber-bullying is bullying that takes place through online communication tools like social media sites, websites, texting and chat. Examples include posting false or embarrassing information and sending threats or taunts.

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome advances, making remarks or spreading rumors of a sexual nature, and sexually-suggestive jokes or images.

All concerns relating to harassment or bullying should be reported immediately to the Division Head. When the School administration becomes aware of harassment or bullying, the situation will be promptly investigated. Any student found to have violated this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include dismissal from school. No adverse action will be taken against any person who makes a good faith report of harassment or bullying.

Steps that are taken when an infraction has occurred:

• All members of the Alcuin community are expected to discourage, prevent, intervene, report and otherwise appropriately address any harassment or bullying behaviors.
• All possible occurrences of harassment or bullying are to be recorded by the staff member who observes or becomes aware of the behavior and reports to the Division Head.
• Information about any incidents will be gathered at school from those directly involved.
• In cases of bullying, intervention will follow the tiered disciplinary response outlined in the Disciplinary Procedures section of this handbook.

Additional Resources:  Coloroso, Barbara.  The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander. Bullard, Sara.  Teaching Tolerance.