Re: Did anyone know?
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2020 10:05 pm
Got away with it so far.
But the wheels of justice grind on.
But the wheels of justice grind on.
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If this is true then surely the almost unique vulnerability of CH pupils sets the school apart from other private schools and warrants a proper investigation?ALKR wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2020 9:58 pm Of course they knew! I have been given some reliable inside information that it was an open secret in the staff common room. It was joked about, they all knew who was up to it. They colluded. Also... the same source told me that it was known among Oxbridge graduate circles that if you had certain predilections, and you wanted easy access where you could get away with it, CH was the place to apply for a job. Employment at CH was a perfect career move for them. The fact that so many children were from vulnerable backgrounds and that we were all being sponsored added to the toxic dynamic. Because if you'd been told that this was a very special opportunity and that you were lucky to be there, if your parents couldn't afford to send you to a regular fee-paying school, then maybe you might not make a fuss.
I was surprised to hear about Rev Porteous, but it did jog my memory about a certain incident. I used to be in his class for 'divinity' on the 3rd form, it would have been '82/'83. He arranged for us to all go to Horsham swimming pool at the last lesson of term. I remember thinking why is he taking us swimming when we had a perfectly good swimming pool on the school grounds anyway? Then in the pool he homed in on a few of the smaller, less mature, less savvy kids (probably prettier) and he was horsing around getting very physical. I remember it crossed a line into something very weird and although the pool was largely empty other than us, there was a couple of local teenage girls observing the whole thing with a look of total horror and disgust. I remember clocking them, watching them react and then realising that something was very, very wrong. I was too naive to conclude that the entire expedition, of removing us from the school grounds and getting us in the pool, was actually deviously manipulated for his gratification only.
I'm sure we haven't heard the last of it, I wouldn't be at all surprised if more court cases follow. There seems to me some glaring omissions from that list of convictions... some of the worst offenders got away with it.
Could you pls elaborate on: "Of course they knew!"? Who is they etc...? "reliable inside information"...?ALKR wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2020 9:58 pm Of course they knew! I have been given some reliable inside information that it was an open secret in the staff common room. It was joked about, they all knew who was up to it. They colluded. Also... the same source told me that it was known among Oxbridge graduate circles that if you had certain predilections, and you wanted easy access where you could get away with it, CH was the place to apply for a job. Employment at CH was a perfect career move for them. The fact that so many children were from vulnerable backgrounds and that we were all being sponsored added to the toxic dynamic. Because if you'd been told that this was a very special opportunity and that you were lucky to be there, if your parents couldn't afford to send you to a regular fee-paying school, then maybe you might not make a fuss.
I was surprised to hear about Rev Porteous, but it did jog my memory about a certain incident. I used to be in his class for 'divinity' on the 3rd form, it would have been '82/'83. He arranged for us to all go to Horsham swimming pool at the last lesson of term. I remember thinking why is he taking us swimming when we had a perfectly good swimming pool on the school grounds anyway? Then in the pool he homed in on a few of the smaller, less mature, less savvy kids (probably prettier) and he was horsing around getting very physical. I remember it crossed a line into something very weird and although the pool was largely empty other than us, there was a couple of local teenage girls observing the whole thing with a look of total horror and disgust. I remember clocking them, watching them react and then realising that something was very, very wrong. I was too naive to conclude that the entire expedition, of removing us from the school grounds and getting us in the pool, was actually deviously manipulated for his gratification only.
I'm sure we haven't heard the last of it, I wouldn't be at all surprised if more court cases follow. There seems to me some glaring omissions from that list of convictions... some of the worst offenders got away with it.
This is very believable, disturbing, and most likely true, but it would be very useful to have something a little more concrete, as Pe.A. said.Of course they knew! I have been given some reliable inside information that it was an open secret in the staff common room. It was joked about, they all knew who was up to it. They colluded. Also... the same source told me that it was known among Oxbridge graduate circles that if you had certain predilections, and you wanted easy access where you could get away with it, CH was the place to apply for a job.
Ok- can't resist asking the questions.LRL wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:38 pm Well if not about Dobbie, it is my strong understanding that Mr Reid knew about another inappropriate teacher-student relationship that went on when he was at the school during the 90s that has not to my knowledge been aired at all, although I know for a fact it was known about by the SMT of the school at the time, and I am certain by the student's parents (one was an ex teacher and lived not too far away - I'm sure some of you will know whom this is about). At the time the teacher in question received nothing more than a telling off (at best), the girl he was involved with was emotionally vulnerable but was (just) over the legal age at that time (law since changed as we know). I understand the teacher in question even saw his way through to retirement at CH, retiring somewhere around the same time that Mr Reid returned as Head. As much as I liked Mr Reid at the time, and while I don't know what his position was on the whole matter, he knew about that particular relationship - which by today's standards would be deemed against the law - but by my moral standards at the time as a child, I could see it was wrong and inappropriate, and am appalled that no adult seemed to take a stand against it and the teacher was able to remain at the school. Who knows if he took advantage of other girls after that one, or whether it was a one-off, but if it were my daughter, I'd have been horrified that he could remain in that position until his retirement.
Husband was an open secret.Pe.A wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:26 pmOk- can't resist asking the questions.LRL wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:38 pm Well if not about Dobbie, it is my strong understanding that Mr Reid knew about another inappropriate teacher-student relationship that went on when he was at the school during the 90s that has not to my knowledge been aired at all, although I know for a fact it was known about by the SMT of the school at the time, and I am certain by the student's parents (one was an ex teacher and lived not too far away - I'm sure some of you will know whom this is about). At the time the teacher in question received nothing more than a telling off (at best), the girl he was involved with was emotionally vulnerable but was (just) over the legal age at that time (law since changed as we know). I understand the teacher in question even saw his way through to retirement at CH, retiring somewhere around the same time that Mr Reid returned as Head. As much as I liked Mr Reid at the time, and while I don't know what his position was on the whole matter, he knew about that particular relationship - which by today's standards would be deemed against the law - but by my moral standards at the time as a child, I could see it was wrong and inappropriate, and am appalled that no adult seemed to take a stand against it and the teacher was able to remain at the school. Who knows if he took advantage of other girls after that one, or whether it was a one-off, but if it were my daughter, I'd have been horrified that he could remain in that position until his retirement.
What do you mean by inappropriate teacher-student relationship? If the SMT at the time saw fit to send Husband and the Bandmaster away in the same era, then why not this particular teacher?
Husband didn't lose his job at the time because of what could be described as hearsay - his position at the time became untenable because of what came to light. The Bandmaster looked to have jumped before he was pushed.AMP wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:10 pmHusband was an open secret.Pe.A wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 9:26 pmOk- can't resist asking the questions.LRL wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:38 pm Well if not about Dobbie, it is my strong understanding that Mr Reid knew about another inappropriate teacher-student relationship that went on when he was at the school during the 90s that has not to my knowledge been aired at all, although I know for a fact it was known about by the SMT of the school at the time, and I am certain by the student's parents (one was an ex teacher and lived not too far away - I'm sure some of you will know whom this is about). At the time the teacher in question received nothing more than a telling off (at best), the girl he was involved with was emotionally vulnerable but was (just) over the legal age at that time (law since changed as we know). I understand the teacher in question even saw his way through to retirement at CH, retiring somewhere around the same time that Mr Reid returned as Head. As much as I liked Mr Reid at the time, and while I don't know what his position was on the whole matter, he knew about that particular relationship - which by today's standards would be deemed against the law - but by my moral standards at the time as a child, I could see it was wrong and inappropriate, and am appalled that no adult seemed to take a stand against it and the teacher was able to remain at the school. Who knows if he took advantage of other girls after that one, or whether it was a one-off, but if it were my daughter, I'd have been horrified that he could remain in that position until his retirement.
What do you mean by inappropriate teacher-student relationship? If the SMT at the time saw fit to send Husband and the Bandmaster away in the same era, then why not this particular teacher?
The Bandmaster absconded with his student girlfriend, whom he later married and they were found in a tent. Even the useless SMT couldn't ignore that!!