To learn more about schools' experience with sex abuse allegations, the Globe contacted 224 private schools across New England by phone and email and asked them to fill out a short questionnaire. For instance, the Globe asked schools whether they were aware of any allegations that staff members sexually harassed or abused students. The Globe followed up with schools that did not initially respond. But of the 224 schools the paper initially contacted, only 23 agreed to answer the questions. Some schools that declined to fill out the survey provided more general statements about their experience or agreed to answer more specific questions about particular allegations. But many schools declined to provide any information at all. Private schools gave various explanations for declining to answer the survey questions. For example, Middlesex School in Concord and Pingree School in Hamilton suggested that answering the survey would “undermine efforts” by educators to create a safe and nurturing learning environment. Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire said "these are complex issues and do not lend themselves to a survey." The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools told its members they "do not have any legal or moral obligation to respond to questions from the press.” And St. Paul’s School, a New Hampshire boarding school that acknowledged it has dealt with a number of allegations over the years, accidentally forwarded an internal message to the Globe that said: “We want to be polite but don’t want to add anything new to the conversation.” Longer versions of their statements are attached below. The following schools answered the survey questions: The Academy at Charlemont, Atrium School, The Bement School, Boston College High School, The Center School, The Chestnut Hill School, Common School, Deerfield Academy, Epiphany School, Fayerweather Street School, The Forman School, Friends Academy, Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School, Hillside School, Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island, Kents Hill School, The Learning Project, Northfield Mount Hermon School, Phillips Academy in Andover, School One, Sophia Academy, Tenacre Country Day School, and Waldorf School of Lexington. The following schools declined to answer the survey questions or did not respond: Academy Hill School, The Advent School, Amherst Montessori School, Andover School of Montessori, Applewild School, Austin Preparatory School, Bancroft School, Bay Farm Montessori Academy, Beaver Country Day School, Belmont Day School, Belmont Hill School, Berkshire School, Berwick Academy, Birches School, Boston Trinity Academy, Boston University Academy, Brewster Academy, Brimmer and May School, Brooks School, Brookwood School, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Buxton School, Cambridge Friends School, Cambridge Montessori, Cambridge School of Weston, Cape Cod Academy, Cardigan Mountain School, Carroll School, Cathedral High School, Catholic Memorial School, Chapel HillChauncy Hall School, Charles River School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Cohen Hillel Academy, Commonwealth School, Community Preparatory School, Concord Academy, Cushing Academy, Dana Hall School, Dedham Country Day School, Derby Academy, The Derryfield School, Dexter Southfield School, Dublin School, Eagle Hill School, Eaglebrook School, Esperanza Academy, Falmouth Academy, Fay School, The Fenn School, The Fessenden School, Fontbonne Academy, Gann Academy, Glen Urquhart School, The Gordon School, The Governor's Academy, Groton School, Harborlight-Stoneridge Montessori School, The Hartsbrook School, Heritage Academy, High Mowing School, Holderness School, Hyde School, Inly School, International School of Boston, Jackson School, JCDS Boston's Jewish Community Day School, Kingsley Montessori School, Lander Grinspoon Academy, Landmark School, The Laurel School, Lawrence Academy, Lesley Ellis School, Lexington Christian Academy, Lexington Montessori School, Lincoln School, Malden Catholic High School, Maple Street School, The Meadowbrook School of Weston, Middlebridge School, Middlesex School, Milton Academy, Miss Hall's School, The Montessori School of Northampton, Montrose School, Moses Brown School, Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center, Mount Alvernia High School, Nantucket New School, Nashoba Brooks School, The Newman School, Newton Country Day School, Newton Montessori School, Noble and Greenough School, Notre Dame Academy - Hingham, Notre Dame Academy - Worcester, Oak Meadow School, Odyssey Day School, The Park School, The Pennfield School, Phillips Exeter Academy, The Phoenix School, The Pike School, Pine Cobble School, Pine Hill Waldorf School, Pingree School, Pioneer Valley Montessori School, Pomfret School, Portsmouth Abbey School, Providence Country Day School, The Putney School, Quest Montessori School, The Rashi School, Riverbend School, The Rivers School, Riverview School, Rocky Hill School, The Roxbury Latin School, The Sage School (Gifted and Talented), Saint John's High School, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, School Year Abroad, Shady Hill School, Shore Country Day School, Shrewsbury Montessori School, Solomon Schechter Day School Inc., St. Andrew's School, St. George's School, St. John's Preparatory School, St. Mark's School, St. Mary's High School, St. Michael's Country Day School, St. Paul's Choir School, St. Paul's School, St. Sebastian's School, St. Stephen's Armenian Elem. School, Stoneleigh-Burnham School, Striar Hebrew Academy, Summit Montessori School, Tabor Academy, Thacher Montessori School, Thayer Academy, Tilton School, Touchstone Community School, Tower School, Tremont School, Ursuline Academy, Waldorf High School of Massachusetts Bay, Waldorf School at Moraine Farm, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Waring School, Waynflete School, The Wheeler School, The White Mountain School, Wilbraham & Monson Academy, The Williston Northampton School, Willow Hill School, The Winsor School, The Woodward School, Worcester Academy, Xaverian Brothers High School, Avon Old Farms School, Canterbury School, Cheshire Academy, Fryeburg Academy, George Stevens Academy, Gould Academy, Hampshire Country School, Hebron Academy, Indian Mountain School, John Bapst Memorial High School, Kent School, Kimball Union Academy, Lee Academy, Lyndon Institute, Maine Central Institute, Marianapolis Preparatory School, Miss Porter's School, New Hampton School, Rumsey Hall School, Salisbury School, South Kent School, St. Johnsbury Academy, St. Thomas More School, Suffield Academy, The Ethel Walker School, The Glenholme School, The Greenwood School, The Gunnery, The Hotchkiss School, The Loomis Chaffee School, The Marvelwood School, The Oxford Academy, The Rectory School, The Taft School Connecticut, The Winchendon School, Thornton Academy, Vermont Academy, Washington Academy, Westminster School, Westover School. The Globe obtained the list of 224 schools it contacted by consulting the membership list of two prominent industry groups, The Association of Boarding Schools and the Association of Independent Schools in New England. a Middlesex Kathleen C. Giles Head of School March 13. 2015 Ms. Meagan Dion Mr. Todd Wallack Delivered via email Dear Ms. Dion and Mr. Wallack, We received Ms. Dion?s email dated 319(15 regarding The Boston Globe sin-vey, as well as the voicemail Mr. Wallaclt left on 311515. For future reference, please direct all inquiries directly to me at mealtime or (973) 3?1-553?. Middlesex School respectfully declines to participate in the survey. Providing a safe and nurturing learning environment for all students is indeed our top priority, and we do not believe that participating in this survey will advance our efforts to those ends. To the contrary, participating in this survey would likely undermine our efforts. as NEH as our ethical and legal responsibilities. by unreasonably intruding upon the privacy of students. alumni. and current and former employees. imiividuals who choose to make public their own personal experiences can make decisions about their own history and privacy that institutions cannot. We further note that the methodology, interpretive framework, and uses [or the information requested are unspecified and unclear. In these circumstances. we do not believe that participation is in the beat interests of em- students. alumni. or school community. We appreciate your understanding. Sincerely. MC. .41? Kathleen C. Giles Head of School 11m Johmon tmernger-zugiv Thu. Mar 31. 2015 at 8:3? AM To: Wm. Todd" ctoddm?aolt??obecom: Good running. Todd, 'l'hankyou forthereminrlerahwlyousmey meet. I Waympatlence. as uremonbrealtlact week. Pryce School is dedcated to the math. and atoll-being ol adolescents. and student solely to our Mgr-eel prlodty. Our po?cles and procedures re?ect this and follow Massachusetts low. Your topic is critically Important; Ihe envoy melt-redolon and request language for dare us me. a safe and supportive learning emirorment is My: ou goal. We we cemented. hm. that participating in this particular envey may melamine rather that actuate ow ellons towards that goal. Phgree Schod wil not be canplethg the smog. Sincerely. Tim 'l'l'malhy M. Johnson earl of ml Pingree School pl agree. org Head of Schod Blog @crmuLtim 'Dwdl in [Insibilihau' limit) We nominee layout presence.? war wm "El-er tried. Ewr hilt-d. Nu nutter. Try again. Fail again. Fail hotter." Samuel Beckett LII: Humane-melanin:- Wed. 16. 2015 at 222 PM To: ctoddmueckggebeccmh Dear Todd. merits for the abut: the surrey. I've been tmvelng, but dd receive It. I Wateth Boetmebels tryinglomlse mm: Gillie inputted bevel-1y ptedeceasureml raveth prevcrt and report at sexual misconduct. Hmrever. these are cunplex issues and dc mt lend Memes to a awaywefrememy mete: thernvAmaneHe. meamwejmt updated acomleofueeksagc in en paler! newsletter. I've attached than cdu?nn herein case it's of lrlerect. Best wishes. Lise Mechlme Prheip? Immoral-rd Instructor of Engier P?llbs Exeter Academy 20 Main Street Exeler. New Hampshire palm-24m Telepmne: seem-4311 plum news-letter leocx 14K From: Douglas Lyons Date: March 17, 2016 at 3:08:40 AM EDT To: [REDACTED] Subject: Boston Globe survey Dear Colleagues, The survey that many of you received within the past few days was originally sent to schools in New England, with the exception of CT schools. Apparently the distribution list was expanded recently to include us. You may have received an advisory email from NAIS/TABS/AISNE - a copy of which is reproduced below. Independent schools have a legal and moral obligation to respond to all concerns or accusations of child abuse thoughtfully and thoroughly - and to report any known or suspected abuse to authorities. In Connecticut that authority is the Department of Children and Families. Our schools do not have any legal or moral obligation to respond to questions from the press that seek information that may be sensitive, confidential and/or legally protected (see attorney Wilson's concerns about the integrity of the data use - below). I applaud the Globe for its reporting on egregious violations of trust that have been perpetrated by institutions that are charged with the care of children. In support of the goal of keeping all children safe (both at home and at school) many years ago CAIS partnered with the State of Virginia Department of Education to offer a training program in the recognition of abuse and in the legal requirements of reporting . The CAIS/NEASC Accreditation program includes a standard that requires schools to provide evidence of compliance with all state and federal health and safety requirements. After 12 years of supervising the CAIS Accreditation program (which is also supervised and endorsed by the State of Connecticut Department of Education) I take pride in the high priority that our schools place on child safety. Speaking personally, I see no need for CAIS schools to prove our commitment through participation in the press survey that you have received. I will be in contact with NAIS, NEASC, TABS and AISNE to discuss the desirability of a statement sent on behalf of all of our schools. I believe most of us are on Spring break ( I am writing this from a hotel in London) and therefore communication is slower than usual. Doug Dear school leaders, Many of you received a message this week from the Boston Globe requesting that you complete a survey about past and present allegations of child sexual abuse at your school. We take any allegation of abuse very seriously, and the safety of children is our top concern. Transparency about policies and procedures is also essential. We wanted to share some additional context and information about the Globe survey:  To our knowledge, the Globe has provided no assurances about the security, anonymity, or use restrictions of any information collected through this survey.  The methodology and interpretive framework for the Globe survey are not clear. Before your school chooses whether or not to respond to the survey, it may be helpful to reach out to your school’s legal counsel to talk through the ramifications of the school’s participation, particularly related to student and family privacy. Beyond providing a safe environment in which to learn academic skills, independent schools work diligently to help students grow into happy, healthy adults. Of course, education institutions of all types should review and improve their child protection procedures regularly. AISNE, NAIS, and TABS will soon be sending you a copy of the NAIS book The Handbook on Child Safety for School Leaders to assist you in your ongoing efforts to engage your faculty, staff, and board on these critically important topics. Below our signatures, we have provided several online resources that may also be of help. Thank you for your commitment to the safety and education of all the students in your care. Sincerely, Claire Leheny, Executive Director, The Association of Independent Schools in New England Donna Orem, Interim President, The National Association of Independent Schools Pete Upham, Executive Director, The Association of Boarding School -- Douglas Lyons Executive Director Connecticut Association of Independent Schools 28A Cottrell Street Mystic, CT 06355 (860) 572-2950 860-415-0835 (fax) Follow us on Twitter: @caisct Visit the CAIS Educator's Blog Sarah Aldag to Michael, Michael, Jeffrey, me Hi Mike, Here is a draft of the e-mail Jeff and I worked on to send in response to the Globe's second request for participation in the survey. We want to be polite but don't want to add anything new to the conversation, and we want to make sure that the reporters are aware of the information we have already made available. The thought is to have this e-mail come from me as the SPS director of communications. If this looks right to you, I'll plan to send tomorrow using hyperlinks to the web pages mentioned in the third paragraph. We look forward to your thoughts. Sarah Dear Mr. Wallack, Thank you for contacting our Rector, Michael Hirschfeld, with an invitation to participate in The Boston Globe’s survey. Please know that we appreciate the importance of the topics you are researching and, in fact, St. Paul's School communicates regularly with parents and alumni concerning issues pertaining to sexual harassment and abuse. This information is available to all interested parties and the general public on our web pages. We invite you to view it. To do so, please visit sps.edu/rector and click on correspondence under the "Community Communications" headline. In addition, please see information about our Building Healthy Community initiative (sps.edu/Page/School-Life/Building-Healthy-Community) and our upcoming symposium for school leaders entitled: "Empathy, Intimacy, and Technology in a Boarding School Environment" (sps.edu/symposium). They provide interesting background on how St. Paul's School is moving forward. Finally, we reviewed your survey and while we take the topic very seriously we determined that we will not be responding to it. As we hope you can appreciate, much of the information the Globe is seeking is by its very nature complex, often highly confidential, and doesn’t lend itself to the broad questions posed in the survey. We hope you understand. We hope this is helpful. Sincerely,