Monday, November 28, 2016

Muckraker Article
http://muckrakerfarm.com/2016/05/private-schools-painful-secrets/

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/05/06/private-schools-painful-secrets/OaRI9PFpRnCTJxCzko5hkN/story.html

The first link above is about something that has happened hundreds of times throughout the past year in New England. The second link is just more in depth of the situation. The Boston Globe  had published an article stating that in multiple private schools, hundreds of kids have been harassed or sexually abused by staff members. This has been happening for years way before now too. Since 1991, at least sixty-seven private schools have faced problems with staff members sexually abusing and harassing more than two-hundred students. This happens more in private schools than public schools, because the administration has a closer contact with the students.

There have been at least ninety lawsuits that have been filed for the sake of the victims, and more than thirty-seven staff members were fired or forced to quit. In addition to that, almost two dozen of that staff were pleaded guilty for other charges of child abuse or related crimes. The Boston Globe found other cases in which employees who were fired went on to work at other schools, which is like the Catholic church scandal where abusive priests went on to work at other churches.

Some of those schools keep the reports confidential, and it can take decades for the victims to come forward to report what had happened. It can be really hard for the victims also, because they often don't see their family for weeks or months, and they spend so much time with the staff and they also live with them in the dorms. The schools have rich history and famed alumni, so they struggle with having to report abuse because they want to keep their reputations. Therefore, few reports are made to law enforcement, and many schools avoid having to publicize them even today. When the Boston Globe sent surveys to 224 private schools on their experience with sexual misconduct, only about ten percent chose to reply to the survey. The child welfare agency says that the law generally only requires schools to report abuse by parents or guardians, but not by teachers.

I chose to do this article because it's such a terrible thing that has been going on the past years, and not many people are aware of it because the schools don't want it to be known about and to lose their reputation.

3 comments:

  1. This is a very terrible thing that is going on now and that has been going on for years. I don't understand how someone could do that, its just ridiculous. I agree with your opinions and enjoyed reading your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sexual harassment is never ok and should ALWAYS be reported

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll never understand why people think it's okay to do those things to other people. I enjoyed reading this and I agree with your opinions. Private schools should be safe places.

    ReplyDelete