Sex abuse prevention experts: Brentwood Academy student policies may send troubling message

By Anita Wadhwani And Holly Meyer
Tennessean
August 18, 2017

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/08/18/sex-abuse-prevention-experts-brentwood-academy-student-policies-may-send-troubling-message/557941001/

Brentwood Academy entrance off Granny White Photo by Shelley Mays

At the center of allegations that a 12-year-old boy was raped in 2015 in the locker room of an elite Brentwood Christian school are questions about how school officials respond to student misconduct.

A review of a Brentwood Academy student handbook reveals a biblical-based approach to student conduct.

Sexual abuse prevention advocates said portions of that guidance may be sending a troubling message to students. 

And a comparison of Brentwood Academy student conduct and discipline guidelines to other local Christian and public schools shows a different approach to communicating how the academy responds to allegations of sexual misconduct.

The academy's "Student Conduct and Discipline" policy begins by quoting this version of Matthew 18:15-17 as its model:

"If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won the person back.

"But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.

"If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won't accept the church's decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt taxpayer."

Sexual harassment and misconduct are mentioned in one sentence elsewhere in the 11-page student misconduct policy but are not defined. Such offenses are described as "major infractions" that can lead to immediate disciplinary action, including possible immediate separation.

The policy also notes the school's position on consensual sex.

"Brentwood Academy expects students to respect their own body and others' bodies," the policy said, quoting a Bible verse that says in part: "It is God's will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality."

"It does not include guidance on what to do if you think you were victimized," said Rachel Freeman, executive vice president for the Sexual Assault Center. "How do you handle it when someone does something illegally to you? That requires more than a respectful conversation with your alleged offender."

What stands out, said Freeman, is the handbook made more mention of the school's religious stance on consensual sex than non-consensual sex.

"Leaving that out very often minimizes the experience of someone who is victimized," she said. 

The school's policy also states that all final disciplinary decisions on all misconduct rest with the headmaster.

Michael McSurdy, CEO of Family and Children's Services of Nashville, said he was troubled by that policy.

When it comes to sexual assault or other child abuse, it should be up to experts to determine what transpired. School officials and teachers are required by Tennessee's mandatory reporting laws to notify authorities of suspected child abuse.

"The policy works if you're talking about unkind behavior or cheating on a test or excluding someone from a party, but in the context of sexual assault it does not work," he said.

A spokeswoman for Brentwood Academy declined to provide any faculty handbooks that might outline other internal guidelines for handling reports of sexual misconduct or abuse. 

Headmaster Curt Masters has previously said that faculty and staff at the school comply with Tennessee's mandatory reporting law for all suspected child abuse.

Susan Shafer, director of communications, said sexual abuse prevention training "is part of our employee orientation and ongoing training during the year." 

Other schools' handbooks provide more detailed guidance on handling abuse allegations.  

The handbook from Father Ryan High School, a private Catholic school in Nashville, lays out its faith-based conduct expectations, noting:

"Father Ryan High School expects its students to behave in a Christian manner at all times. Our disciplinary policies exist to be a further form of education, helping the students to understand their Christian responsibilities and duties. At no time will Father Ryan High School tolerate infringement of the rights of the individual person, violation of his/her dignity, or tampering with private property." 

Father Ryan's handbook defines harassment as well as describing its consequences:

"Harassment in the school or at school-related functions will not be tolerated," the handbook says. "This includes harassment by students, faculty, staff, and/or other school-related personnel. Harassment includes menacing or threatening behavior (verbal or physical), or unwelcome sexual advances.

"Any student who feels that he or she is a victim of harassment by any student, faculty or staff member, or any other school-related personnel, has the right and responsibility to bring the matter to the immediate attention of either the President, the Principal, or the Dean of Students."

At Lipscomb Academy, a Christian middle and high school in Nashville, the student handbook says:

"Neither sexual harassment or sexual misconduct of any kind will be tolerated. Any sexual harassment or sexual misconduct will be subject to that policy, and none of the other procedures or guidelines outlined in this handbook will apply."

Lipscomb has a separate sexual harassment policy that applies to both the school and its affiliated college, which much comply with federal Title IX sexual harassment rules because it receives federal funding. 

On its Title IX rules pages, the school notes its policy is to "report all suspected child abuse or neglect to local law enforcement and/or to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services ('DCS'). The Institution must act quickly regarding all reasonable suspicions of sexual or physical abuse or neglect."

Public schools are required to follow state and federal rules on how to respond to reports of abuse, hazing, harassment and assault.

In Metro public schools, a six-page policy spells out exactly what process teachers and staff must follow, including mandatory reporting to authorities of any suspected child abuse.

A spokesperson for Battle Ground Academy, a private school in Franklin, declined to provide the school's handbook, instead providing this excerpt:

"All persons are required to make a report when they have knowledge of or reasonable cause to suspect abuse, neglect or exploitation of children."  

Boz Tchividjian, grandson of the famous evangelist Billy Graham and founder of Grace, an organization that works to prevent and respond to child abuse in Christian organizations, said that communicating a clear and consistent protocol on responding to suspected abuse is critical. 

"I find in churches and any sort of faith institution, there's two sorts of issues," he said. "There's the protection, preventative side and then the response side. I think if you walk into any group, whether faith-based or not, and say 'do we want to protect our kids and young people from being sexually victimized?' I don't think you'll have many people in that room saying 'no.'

"Where I see things going sideways is they may say they want to protect, but they don't really back that up with actions. Come up with solid training. Come up with solid policies and procedures."