Leaked Docs: Prestigious DC School Poised To Crack Down on ‘Harmful’ Humor

Students at one of the oldest and most prestigious boys schools in the United States could soon face expulsion for a single "misplaced" joke, according to a draft "anti-bias" policy circulating among school administrators and obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

St. Albans, whose alumni include vice presidents and two current U.S. senators, is considering a crackdown on "harmful" speech that prioritizes the impact of the speech rather than the intent of the speaker.

"It is the impact of hate speech, rather than the intent of those perpetrating it, that is of utmost importance," the draft policy states. As such, boys could be expelled "even in the case of a single expression, act, or gesture"—including "misplaced humor," which the policy says "should be reported immediately to the student’s adviser."

Reporting infractions would fall to students, teachers, and parents. "We also expect that anyone, whether student, faculty, staff, or family member, who witnesses, or has knowledge of an incident of hate speech, will report the incident to the appropriate individual," the draft policy reads, clarifying that nobody will be punished for making "a good faith report."

St. Albans did not respond to a request for comment about why it would take the "good faith" of those reporting misdeeds into consideration but not the intent of the alleged perpetrators.