Ridgefield High School

Official Board of Education Policy on Hazing
The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe learning environment for students and staff that is free from hazing.

Hazing is defined as an activity that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization sanctioned or authorized by the Board of Education. Hazing activities are seriously disruptive of the educational process in that they involve students and violence or threats of violence.

No student, teacher, administrator, coach, volunteer, contractor or other employee of the school district shall plan, direct, encourage, aid, engage in, permit, condone or tolerate hazing.

“Endanger the mental health” shall include any activity, except those activities authorized by law, which would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as prolonged sleep deprivation, forced prolonged exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, sexual harassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.

“Endanger the physical health” shall include, but is not limited to any brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics; exposure to the elements; forced consumption of any food, beverage, drug, or controlled substance; or any other forced physical activity which would adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual.

Any hazing activity upon which the initiation for admission or affiliation with an organization sanctioned or authorized by the Board of Education, directly or indirectly, shall be presumed to be a forced activity, even if the student willingly participates in such activity.

The policy is not intended to deprive school district authorities from taking necessary and appropriate disciplinary action toward any student or employee. The school district will act to investigate all complaints of hazing and will discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the school district who is found to have violated this policy. Discipline of appropriate action may include but not be limited to suspension, expulsion for students and remediation or termination for employees.

This policy is not meant to exclude voluntary team spirit activities planned with prior approval of the team coach and athletic director.

A copy of this policy may be included but not limited to the student handbook and furnished to staff, coaches, and captains.