To staunch lifeblood of abusers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/04/2010 (5668 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Secrecy is the lifeblood of abuse and breaking through the wall of silence is a formidable challenge. The experience of St. John’s-Ravenscourt is not a new phenomenon for educational institutions, nor is it particularly surprising. It is instructive, however, for all schools, and especially for those with residential components.

The dismay of SJR’s head of school, Stephen Johnson, about the time it has taken for the disclosure of attacks that allegedly took place last fall is understandable. The nature of the acts is grave — four students are facing charges of sexual assault with a weapon and confinement. There were numerous victims. How could such abuse touch the lives of so many young boarders without word leaking out? The affair came to light this month when a day school student confided in a teacher.

SJR’s experience, however, should spark introspection among all institutions that board, teach or have a duty of care for children. Environments where children choose to, or must congregate, are attractive to those who would harm them. The work to protect children must reflect the fact abusers wield an insidious power over their victims that engages a pact of silence.

This fact is part of the anti-violence education that has gone on in public institutions that cater to children. Manitoba’s Safe Schools Charter demands all publicly funded schools have committees responsible for preparing protocol that informs the zero-tolerance policy for violence, including bullying. There is no requirement for a protocol to help children report, however.

The work there is tough slogging. It requires the building of relationships that give students who are preyed upon the strength to face down intimidation, embarrassment and fear of reprisal to disclose to an adult. That can be made easier by anonymous routes for feedback, such as drop boxes and chat lines.

It took a long time for SJR to hear of what may have been an organized attack on young boarding students. Prevention is a work in progress but key to stopping abuse is a sophisticated blend of education, anonymous reporting and trusting student-teacher relationships that defeats the pact of silence that protects the abusers.