North Yarmouth Academy asserts in its mission statement that it emphasizes values of mutual respect and trust. Accordingly, our school seeks to create a community that is free of verbal or physical conduct that harasses, offends, disrupts, or interferes with an individual’s educational or professional performance or that creates an intimidating or hostile environment. NYA’s policy encompasses all forms of unlawful harassment, i.e., harassment based upon an individual’s race, color, age, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability, but school policy goes further than the law mandates. NYA’s policy prohibits any harassment that has the effect of interfering with a student’s educational environment, even if the harassment is not based upon the student’s legally protected status.
Sexual harassment in particular warrants a clear, specific definition. Sexual harassment is an unwelcome or unsolicited behavior with sexual content or directed at an individual because of his or her gender that is severe or persistent enough to create a hostile environment. It encompasses a wide range of behavior including but not limited to unwanted touching and grabbing, demeaning or sexist comments, implicit or implied threats accompanied by sexual advances, or suggestive or sexual gestures and communications. Sexual harassment can be between people of the same or different genders. Unlawful harassment of students may be perpetrated by other students, faculty members, coaches, administrators, bus drivers, employees, volunteers, contractors, or others who have access to students at school.
Hazing is a form of harassment that also warrants a clear specific definition. Hazing is an intentional action taken, situation created, or any conduct or method of initiation into any school organization, club, or team under direct school sponsorship that denies a person his or her individual rights or results in mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, ridicule, or endangerment. Hazing should be understood to include any forced treatment or physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any student, or which subjects a student to extreme stress. Additionally, hazing can include exaggerated or excessive teasing. The fact that a hazing victim may seem willing or may even agree to participate in some form of personal embarrassment or physical/mental danger does not change or lighten the responsibility of the one who is doing the hazing. In addition, any person who knowingly witnesses or fails to report knowledge of any incidents of hazing may be considered to be a participant in the hazing.
Cyberbullying is the use of any electronic device to convey content of a harassing or intimidating nature to an individual or group. These communications can be text, audio, video, or image that is intended to harm, embarrass, insult, or threaten in a repeated or unwanted manner. Examples of this type of harassment may include but are not limited to the following: threatening or insulting postings on internet sites; posting or sending of embarrassing or mocking photographs or videos; use of a person’s email or cell phone to send embarrassing or threatening messages; perpetuating harassment by forwarding harmful or mocking content.
Students who believe that they have been harassed or students and parents who have information about harassment of others should report to any of the following: their Advisor, Head of School, Health Services Coordinator, Dean of Students, Director of Athletics, Head of Upper School, Head of Middle School, or Director of College Guidance. Care should be taken to preserve any evidence of the harassment (copy of emails, texts, or online postings) if at all possible.
North Yarmouth Academy will promptly, thoroughly and as confidentially as possible investigate all reports of harassment and will take appropriate action to prevent recurrence of the harassment. Every reasonable effort will be made to protect from retaliation any student who comes forward in good faith to report harassment.
Harassment may be considered to be a severe misconduct, jeopardizing a student’s position in the school, and requiring his or her appearance before the Judiciary Committee.
