Boarding Schools: The Secret Scandal

[crunchymint]

Anyone watching this about sexual abuse of children and how some schools were complicit in covering it up?

[Elle8989]

Made me actually cry. So so sad. Coverup after coverup.

[Pemba]

It's a horrible thing, and to think it was going on for so long, and possibly still is (although far less frequently, you would hope).

Why are children not listened to? Apart from the dreadful crimes committed by the teachers/heads, one thing that really got to me was what the ex policewoman said, who had been in charge of an inquiry and had contacted parents. Seems many of the parents were just not that concerned, as they considered their children's future academic careers more important, and that reporting the abusers might jeopardise that. I would think many of the parents, especially the fathers, must have gone to similar schools, so they must have had an inkling of the sort of things that could happen ...

It's creepily ironic that these parents were therefore unwittingly actually paying fees in order for their kids to be abused. I would never have considered boarding school for my DCs (well couldn't have afforded it anyway). It seems to be a very risky thing to do. No wonder the upper classes are fucked up (well many of them).

[crunchymint]

I remember Stephen Fry saying that when he started boarding school a much older boy got him to give him a blowjob. He told his parents who just said - don't do that again. Certainly his parents did not take it seriously.

[numbereightyone]

This was a brilliant documentary. It is chilling to think that the abuse and subsequent cover ups are still happening today. It is really beyond belief how these people got away with it and the trauma caused to the survivors is off the scale.

[salsamummy]

it was happening at my state comprehensive and all swept under the carpet.

[numbereightyone]

That's a really important point salsa. Even though the documentary focused on boarding schools, these people operate in other types of schools too. Children at boarding schools are particularly vulnerable, for obvious reasons. I can't imagine what it must have been like for these boys.

[salsamummy]

yes just awful and close to home for me and also my child is at one of these schools. Attitudes are changing thankfully and children must be encouraged to speak up and believed. More rigorous checks on individuals and institutions.

[crunchymint]

Yes happens anywhere children are, but obviously children at boarding schools are particularly vulnerable. It reminded me of the Priest scandals where abusive men are moved on, rather than reported to the police. Keeping a good reputation was the most important thing.

[FluffAndFluster]

What channel was this on please?

[DressAndGo]

But, I don't understand - there are SO many 'jokes' etc about it (about behaviour from other students and staff)- how can it come as a surprise at all?

[numbereightyone]

It was on ITV Fluff.

[FluffAndFluster]

Thanks.

[HastingsLikeTheBattle]

My experience- when I disclosed CSA I was simply told to stop watching Grange Hill as it was obviously giving me ideas to attention seek.

That was mid 80s and CSA was not well recognised then, so I totally understand how people covered it up etc

[HastingsLikeTheBattle]

Hesterton you don't know how right you are. My first abuser was my foster parent. After I disclosed I was told that if he had been my birth parent I would have been sent back to him. But, as I was already in the care system they had to cover their back (their words). So I was placed in a children's home, where I was abused again. I used to dream about being sent away to a boarding school to escape it all, it seemed like such a better option at the time

[Leilaniiii]

Which schools were they? Sorry, don't have ITV. Thanks.

[HastingsLikeTheBattle]

They're all dead now Hesterton. And tbh, my experience of the police left me with serious scars so I doubt I would report anything now.

[aRespectableBureaudeChange]

It wasn't just the Police, it was society as a whole that didn't listen.

Some paedophiles were so bold they would grope in plain sight of others.

[EfficiencyDeficiency]

Hastings so sad.

[numbereightyone]

There were quite a few schools named. One of them was Ashdown House. If you look on Alex Renton's twitter it should tell you more.

[ZBIsabella]

I just watched it and I have seen articles by the author before too - h e has done good work on this. It is one reason I would never send my chldren to a boarding school and nor would my parents who had seen too many children abused in those environments.

Also you can't just ask children if they are okay as often they will just say yes or whatever they think the person asking wants them to say and the ex offender / ex teacher who said one child asked him for it - so what? The child is far too young to make an informed choice and it breaks the law. Even if which is extremely unilkely a pupil does want it - eg 15 year old girl in love with 24 year old teacher which is not very unusual it is still illegal .

The young man near the end explained well the issue - if you think by reporting it you will be asked to leave the school wha do you do? You don't actually want that and you dont' want your parents to take you away and you dont' want anyone to know - the only result you want is for the teacher to leave and yet if you might not be believed then the more likely result is that your own life will be totally upset, your exams messed up, your parents force you to leave school and you lose all your friends etc. You can see why so many don't report it at the time.. Same (but of course not as bad of course as this abuse of young boys) when your boss is a sex pest at work - if you complain you can lose your job - it's always about power imbalance.

[Oblomov18]

Happened at my brothers boarding school.
But then it happens in comprehensives, churches, foster care, football coaching.... everywhere. So I don't know why we are surprised.

[crunchymint]

Boarding school has increased risks because children are sleeping and bathing there. Easier for abusers to get a child alone.

[salsamummy]

it can happen at home. I never heared the word paedophile until I was an adult. it was just laughed at about our art teacher been a pervert.