Policy 701

Department of Education POLICY STATEMENT 701
SUBJECT: Policy for the Protection of Pupils in the Public School System from Misconduct by Adults (Pupil Protection Policy)
EFFECTIVE: September 26, 1996
REVISED: September 8, 1998
AUTHORITY: Sections 3 and 30 - Education Act

1. PURPOSE

• To protect pupils in the public school system from abusive behavior by adults to which they may be exposed by virtue of being pupils including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and discrimination.
• To eliminate abusive behaviors through prevention and effective intervention.
• To define acceptable standards of behavior for adults who have responsibility for pupils in the public school system.

2. PRINCIPLES

The Department of Education is committed to providing learning environments which are safe, orderly, inviting and conducive to the pursuit of excellence. All individuals are intrinsically valuable and must be treated as such.

3. APPLICATION
3.1 To whom does this policy apply?
This policy is meant to protect all pupils who are registered in public schools in New Brunswick regardless of their age. This policy applies to all adults whose job or role places them in contact with pupils. They are thereby deemed to have conferred upon them a position of trust in relation to all pupils. This includes all employees in the school system, contract employees and casuals, as well as student teachers and volunteers.
3.2 Under what circumstances does this policy apply?
The procedures stipulated apply:

• Whenever a pupil is the responsibility of the school system;
• When an adult affiliated with the school system abuses any child, whether the child is in the public school system or not;
• Regardless of the involvement of external agencies