Comments for Child Abuse Story From Andrew Richards Part 2

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Jul 10, 2008
 Unfair and unsympathetic treatment...
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

Andrew, I would think you probably felt more violated by the treatment you received in the Year Coordinator's office after you said no to the police being involved, than you had felt during and after the incident in the tent. The woman was a disgrace to her profession.

The teachers and principal had a "bit of a giggle over the whole thing..." referring to a young man who had been sexually abused by another boy; nothing short of despicable. I found it particularly disturbing that this principal not only insensitively participated in the "giggle" in the first place, but felt comfortable enough to share the fact that she and others found the sexual abuse of a boy funny to the mother of the victim! It never ceases to amaze me that such tactless, thoughtless, inconsiderate, uncaring, and evidently unsympathetic people are promoted to a position of trust with children. She and her cohorts should have been hauled in front of whatever authority governs the school system in Australia. All of them should have been made accountable. They should have been made to publicly apologize, and they should have been forced into sexual assault and sensitivity training. None of them should have been permitted to work with children again.

Clearly, there were either no protocols, or no checks and balances to ensure proper protocols were being followed. It all served to victimize you again and again.

As for the way your family treated you when your mother was so ill, my heart breaks for the adolescent young man who the adults around him refused to realize was in every bit as much pain as the two people he called mum and dad. You deserved so much better, Andrew.

Darlene Barriere
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir
Jul 11, 2008
 Clarification
by: Andrew Richards

I should clarify something Darlene. When I said "she approached my mother" regarding the "little giggle" it was actually my yr 10 year co-ordinator and not my principal- his crime in this was purely thinking of the school's reputation.

I have to apologise, I just realised how that came across when i saw your comments.

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