http://www.highlandhall.org/Our%20Leadership
"Lynn served Highland Hall for a decade as the school's first administrative
director, during which time the school's enrollment grew markedly and its
financial strength was significantly improved."
During Lynn's previous term as Highland Hall's administrative director, children
were molested and cover-ups ensued at her direction. This document describes
the steps Lynn Kern did NOT take, and why she WASN'T prevented from taking them.
http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html
Highland Hall - Breaking Mandated Reporting Laws
Lynn's first response was to cover up the first molestation by the teenage son
of Wendy Wilkins, a Waldorf teacher employed at Highland Hall. Her reasoning
was that the child wasn't enrolled at Highland Hall. The pedophile was allowed
to play on the grounds with many children. His activities are describe in this
eloquent letter by a parent:
http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010/10/letter-from-angry-parent-1.html
Meanwhile, concurrent to the first incident, a COMPLETELY SEPARATE groping
incident involving an assistant teacher and high school girls was underway.
Again, the incidents were covered up - children were even bullied by teachers
modify their testimonies. The detail of those incidents are related here:
http://waldorfcritics.org/articles/DisillusionedParent.html
Lynn Kern was forced to resign after failing to comply with mandated reporting
laws. Now, she's back... running Highland Hall! And remember, for the first
time, Highland Hall is offering a SUMMER CAMP - and hiring transient
"counselors" to work there - a week at a time!
Parents should be warned about Lynn Kern and her administrative style. Secrecy
and cover-up is the name of the game - that and intimidation of students to keep
them quiet. All one has to do to confirm this is to look at Highland Hall's
track record... and Lynn Kern's.
Showing posts with label Wilkins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wilkins. Show all posts
Monday, May 14, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Denver Waldorf School - Reviews by Parents
Denver Teacher Arrested In Student Sex Case
Teen Says Teacher Had Sex With Her, Police Report
POSTED: 4:48 p.m. MDT July 22, 2003
UPDATED: 12:08 p.m. MDT July 23, 2003
DENVER -- A Denver teacher was arrested Tuesday after a 16-year-old student reported that he had sex with her.
Robert
C. Drake, 25 (pictured, left), a gym teacher and sports director at the
Denver Waldorf School, was booked for investigation of sexual assault
to a child by a person in a position of trust, according to Denver
Police.
Authorities
did not release further details of the alleged incident, other than to
say they were notified of the alleged crime Monday, but that it
allegedly happened last April. It was investigated by the Child Abuse
Unit.
The Denver Waldorf School is a not-for-profit independent school located at 940 Filmore Street.
School administrators said they conduct background checks on all teachers, but this is the first complaint against Drake.
Drake has resigned his position with the school.
http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=1704&state=CO&sortBy=dd&page=2#revPagination
There is absolutely no safety at this school! It has gotten worse as the years have progressed! I have taken my daughter out for this upcoming year!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Westside Waldorf School Review - the next Highland Hall
Westside Waldorf school isn't a charter, it's private. Many Highland Hall
teachers (the worst) have made themselves at home at Westside. Here's their list of teachers:
http://www.wswaldorf.org/Management.html
Listed from Highland Hall are:
1) Lisa Profumo (Scemema)... who hid the Wilkins molestation incidents from the entire school, ignored mandated reporting laws and put the school in severe legal jeopardy. She's lying whenever her lips move.
2) Liis Edwards... Check out letters from Highland Hall on this blog for her signature. She was involved in MANY cover-ups at Highland Hall.
3) Alex Houghton... a former friend and former Waldorf teacher - he once pretended outrage at what was going on at Highland Hall and promised to reform Waldorf through WISC... he's now silent as WISC continues to employ the very WORST teachers Waldorf has to offer. He is influencing Waldorf boards across the country... sadly.
http://www.greatschools.org/california/pacific-palisades/12275-Westside-Waldorf/
Here's a real shocker... :)
April 11, 2008
It is truly unfortunate that this school continues to promote itself to parents
without sharing that the model is based on Anthroposophy. If you are interested
in any Waldorf School read about Rudolf Steiner. Here is a good website to start
with: openwaldorf. com
—Submitted by a parent
teachers (the worst) have made themselves at home at Westside. Here's their list of teachers:
http://www.wswaldorf.org/Management.html
Listed from Highland Hall are:
1) Lisa Profumo (Scemema)... who hid the Wilkins molestation incidents from the entire school, ignored mandated reporting laws and put the school in severe legal jeopardy. She's lying whenever her lips move.
2) Liis Edwards... Check out letters from Highland Hall on this blog for her signature. She was involved in MANY cover-ups at Highland Hall.
3) Alex Houghton... a former friend and former Waldorf teacher - he once pretended outrage at what was going on at Highland Hall and promised to reform Waldorf through WISC... he's now silent as WISC continues to employ the very WORST teachers Waldorf has to offer. He is influencing Waldorf boards across the country... sadly.
http://www.greatschools.org/california/pacific-palisades/12275-Westside-Waldorf/
Here's a real shocker... :)
April 11, 2008
It is truly unfortunate that this school continues to promote itself to parents
without sharing that the model is based on Anthroposophy. If you are interested
in any Waldorf School read about Rudolf Steiner. Here is a good website to start
with: openwaldorf. com
—Submitted by a parent
Monterey Bay Charter School Reviews by Parents and MUCH more
Let's start this examination with the teacher who sexually abused two
PRE-TEENAGED students! HOLD ON... He TRANSFERRED from another Waldorf Charter -
Woodland Star Charter!!!
http://news.sonomaportal.com/2010/02/11/former-valley-teacher-arrested-on-molest\
ation-charges/
"A former teacher in Sonoma Valley was jailed Thursday on three counts of child
molestation. Patrick Lilley, 52, was arrested after an investigation revealed he
had sexually abused two pre-teenaged students approximately two years ago.
Lilley was booked into Monterey County Jail with a bail of $300,000 and is
awaiting extradition to Sonoma County, reported Sergeant Cecile Focha. According
to staff at Monterey Bay Charter School in Pacific Grove, Lilley was employed
there as a first-grade teacher at the time of his arrest; this was his first
year at that school.
Lilley had started at Woodland Star School in Sonoma Valley in September of
2004, teaching first grade. He moved along with that class through the fourth
grade until June of 2008, when, according the May 2008 school newsletter, he
left the area "to live closer to his sister."
PK: SO, the pedophile was simply transferred from one charter Waldorf school to
another... GEE, this sounds familiar.
OK, on to the reviews:
Posted March 19, 2011
Unfortunate when a schools leadership has no idea how to truly administer, or to
lead. This school has great potential but its administration is stuck and
running the school right into the ground. The teachers are wonderful for the
most part. The hands on education and waldorf inspiration inspires the children
to enjoy their lessons. The future of this school depends on removal of the
buddy-system thriving in the administration office.
—Submitted by a parent
Posted August 28, 2010
Report it
At MBCS the teachers are very dedicated, the administration is mediocre. Because
the school budget is a shoestring, it can be difficult to meet the extremely
high expectations of parent involvement if you live out of the area, a single
parent, work, and can not be as constantly on site as the locals. In my
daughter's class last year there was plenty of drama from over involved parents
who are cliquish, prone to squabbles, and power struggles, that were expressed
in seemingly constant seething emails (to everyone) that became very tiresome.
The teacher finally cried "STOP"! in a very nice Waldorf way. My son's class was
at times led by the parents while the teacher seemed to step back. I want the
teachers to lead not the parents. With MBCS expectations of extreme parent
involvement, it becomes it's own negative, EXTREME PARENT INVOLVEMENT! I
participate as I can then go home.
—Submitted by a parent
Posted August 27, 2010
I find myself concerned about some of the parents who are strongly Waldorf-ites
who I also see tending to be extremely protective and limiting of their
children's experiences whether it be by any media influences or even other
children who are media savvy- as if it would seriously damage or steal their
innocence. I'm not advocating throwing the kids out to the wolves, however I
fear that parent overprotective behaviors in this day and age can come back and
bite the parent years later when their older children finally have a taste of
freedom. I've seen it happen. I really like the Waldorf ideas, and I think it is
also important to stay current, real, and allow kids to experience and learn to
"deal" with some things that may be tough, after all, that's real life learning!
—Submitted by a parent
Posted July 12, 2010
This school seemed ok at first and the Waldorf method sounded interesting but it
was disappointing. The students remain with the same teacher from kindergarden
through eight grade and that is problamatic. If your child starts at a later
grade they will be the "outsider" in the children's already established
"clicks". Some of the students have parents who work at the school and these
children will get special treatment because of this, even to the point of the
school's "Chair" ( that is what they call the principal) not taking any
disciplinary action in order to protect them and keep up the school's
reputation. The principal " talks the talk" but lacks leadership skills and
doesn't follow school's policies. Bullying is an issue as well. I also found
this is not actual Waldorf but rather Waldorf inspired. The American Waldorf
Association does not endorse this school. Don't send your kids there! —Submitted
by a parent
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1696120/pg1
I don't know what to do please help with suggestions
My daughters teacher was accused of molesting 4 girls and slaming the head of
one boy on his desk. They went to trial and the girls didn't want to testify so
he got those charges dropped , but the boy did testify and the teacher got 1
count of endangering a child. Trial closed, he's still walking around. This was
a year ago but the abuse happened when they where much younger so it wasn't high
priorty case. My daughter in August just told me that he had rubbed her more
than 5 times where one shouldn't. So it would be a new trial. I have called
everyday latley and they just transfer me to voicemails and noone calls me back.
They advisied me not to get consoling or talk to her about it anymore because it
could mess up the case. So I haven't. I call daily, no oone will take my
calls(always voice mail) and charges have not been filed. She told Kaiser too.
What do I do to get the ball rolling? Newspapers or what kind of lawyer? They
just put me through to answering machine after answering machine and no one
calls me back. How do I get justice for my child?
UPDATE:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101119/articles/101119389?tc=ar
"Under the terms of the plea bargain, reached Sept. 30, Lilley can't work with
children and he can't live near schools, parks, pools or day-care centers. He
was formally sentenced by Judge Ken Gnoss on Oct. 29."
OK, that's ONE down...
PRE-TEENAGED students! HOLD ON... He TRANSFERRED from another Waldorf Charter -
Woodland Star Charter!!!
http://news.sonomaportal.com/2010/02/11/former-valley-teacher-arrested-on-molest\
ation-charges/
"A former teacher in Sonoma Valley was jailed Thursday on three counts of child
molestation. Patrick Lilley, 52, was arrested after an investigation revealed he
had sexually abused two pre-teenaged students approximately two years ago.
Lilley was booked into Monterey County Jail with a bail of $300,000 and is
awaiting extradition to Sonoma County, reported Sergeant Cecile Focha. According
to staff at Monterey Bay Charter School in Pacific Grove, Lilley was employed
there as a first-grade teacher at the time of his arrest; this was his first
year at that school.
Lilley had started at Woodland Star School in Sonoma Valley in September of
2004, teaching first grade. He moved along with that class through the fourth
grade until June of 2008, when, according the May 2008 school newsletter, he
left the area "to live closer to his sister."
PK: SO, the pedophile was simply transferred from one charter Waldorf school to
another... GEE, this sounds familiar.
OK, on to the reviews:
Posted March 19, 2011
Unfortunate when a schools leadership has no idea how to truly administer, or to
lead. This school has great potential but its administration is stuck and
running the school right into the ground. The teachers are wonderful for the
most part. The hands on education and waldorf inspiration inspires the children
to enjoy their lessons. The future of this school depends on removal of the
buddy-system thriving in the administration office.
—Submitted by a parent
Posted August 28, 2010
Report it
At MBCS the teachers are very dedicated, the administration is mediocre. Because
the school budget is a shoestring, it can be difficult to meet the extremely
high expectations of parent involvement if you live out of the area, a single
parent, work, and can not be as constantly on site as the locals. In my
daughter's class last year there was plenty of drama from over involved parents
who are cliquish, prone to squabbles, and power struggles, that were expressed
in seemingly constant seething emails (to everyone) that became very tiresome.
The teacher finally cried "STOP"! in a very nice Waldorf way. My son's class was
at times led by the parents while the teacher seemed to step back. I want the
teachers to lead not the parents. With MBCS expectations of extreme parent
involvement, it becomes it's own negative, EXTREME PARENT INVOLVEMENT! I
participate as I can then go home.
—Submitted by a parent
Posted August 27, 2010
I find myself concerned about some of the parents who are strongly Waldorf-ites
who I also see tending to be extremely protective and limiting of their
children's experiences whether it be by any media influences or even other
children who are media savvy- as if it would seriously damage or steal their
innocence. I'm not advocating throwing the kids out to the wolves, however I
fear that parent overprotective behaviors in this day and age can come back and
bite the parent years later when their older children finally have a taste of
freedom. I've seen it happen. I really like the Waldorf ideas, and I think it is
also important to stay current, real, and allow kids to experience and learn to
"deal" with some things that may be tough, after all, that's real life learning!
—Submitted by a parent
Posted July 12, 2010
This school seemed ok at first and the Waldorf method sounded interesting but it
was disappointing. The students remain with the same teacher from kindergarden
through eight grade and that is problamatic. If your child starts at a later
grade they will be the "outsider" in the children's already established
"clicks". Some of the students have parents who work at the school and these
children will get special treatment because of this, even to the point of the
school's "Chair" ( that is what they call the principal) not taking any
disciplinary action in order to protect them and keep up the school's
reputation. The principal " talks the talk" but lacks leadership skills and
doesn't follow school's policies. Bullying is an issue as well. I also found
this is not actual Waldorf but rather Waldorf inspired. The American Waldorf
Association does not endorse this school. Don't send your kids there! —Submitted
by a parent
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1696120/pg1
I don't know what to do please help with suggestions
My daughters teacher was accused of molesting 4 girls and slaming the head of
one boy on his desk. They went to trial and the girls didn't want to testify so
he got those charges dropped , but the boy did testify and the teacher got 1
count of endangering a child. Trial closed, he's still walking around. This was
a year ago but the abuse happened when they where much younger so it wasn't high
priorty case. My daughter in August just told me that he had rubbed her more
than 5 times where one shouldn't. So it would be a new trial. I have called
everyday latley and they just transfer me to voicemails and noone calls me back.
They advisied me not to get consoling or talk to her about it anymore because it
could mess up the case. So I haven't. I call daily, no oone will take my
calls(always voice mail) and charges have not been filed. She told Kaiser too.
What do I do to get the ball rolling? Newspapers or what kind of lawyer? They
just put me through to answering machine after answering machine and no one
calls me back. How do I get justice for my child?
UPDATE:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101119/articles/101119389?tc=ar
"Under the terms of the plea bargain, reached Sept. 30, Lilley can't work with
children and he can't live near schools, parks, pools or day-care centers. He
was formally sentenced by Judge Ken Gnoss on Oct. 29."
OK, that's ONE down...
Interview with a Vampire
Here is a recent email exchange with the monster - Wendy Wilkins. Apparently, I spoiled her plans to infiltrate Somerset Waldorf school by exposing her on Somerset's blog. Oh well...
---------- Original Message ----------
From: "wendelinnwilkins@rocketmail.com" <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: "petekaraiskos" <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: Re: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:30:58 -0000
Dear Pete
I have read your entire site with interest.
I can see that you have a major axe to grind with Highland Hall school.
I can sympathise with many of your concerns surrounding Waldorf schools in general.
Your posts, however, regarding me are libelous. There is no truth to your allegations. They have caused harm. I am asking you politely to stop.
Wendy
>--- In waldorf-critics@yahoogroups.com, "petekaraiskos" <pkcompany@...> wrote:
> Wendy Wilkins is a familiar name to people reading my blog:
> http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010/02/letters-from-highland-hall-wilkins.html
> http://sites.google.com/site/wendywilkinssteinerteacher/
> Wendelinn Wilkins
> Teaching credentials:
> Grade 3, Highland Hall, Northridge, CA 2000/2001
> All academic subjects plus recorder, painting, clay modeling, and drama
> She's moved to Wiviliscombe, Somerset, U.K.
> - where they're having controversy over the new charter Steiner school:
> http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/search/search.html?searchPhrase=steiner&searchType=
> Looks like Somerset school will be drawing from the best of the best...
> I REALLY wasn't kidding when I said Highland Hall teachers are going to end up in the UK charter system. Here we go!
>
> PK
> ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
> http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010/03/highland-hall-breaking-mandated.html
>
***
Pete comments: Apparently, Ms. Wilkins doesn't understand the difference between something I wrote and something HIGHLAND HALL WROTE, which I posted. She apparently thinks I can be sued for libel for Highland Hall's words. Here's the document I referenced: http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010/02/letters-from-highland-hall-wilkins.html
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:09:13 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: This is Somerset?
Pete
***
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:49:27 +0000
I have no interest in lawsuits. I have retired from a long and happy career as a teacher. Your allegations about me, specifically, are false. They have caused harm. Continuing to post false allegations about me are libelous. Please stop doing so. I have done nothing to you, so do not wish to be used as a pawn in your crusade against Waldorf schools.
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:16:02 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:45:37 +0000
I do not know who your son and daughter are.
How many sleepovers have you arranged for your children?
My son has never been in after school care.
What police reports?
I am not threatening you in any manner.
Please stop publishing libelous material about me and now about my son.
Are you saying I molested children? I have brought no such thing to Highland Hall.
I do not know the relevance of the video you have posted.
I do not have balls - wrong gender.
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:05:43 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Don't think for a moment I'm going anywhere.
***
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:45:17 +0000
I know this about my youngest son. He was an autistic child and vulnerable. He was abducted when he was 12. Santa Barbara School fired me - illegally - when I attended a court case in Vancouver when my son was found. I sued the Santa Barbara School for the illegal firing - and won. Highland Hall was fully aware.
I believe you also know that the misinformation you are spreading is wildly distorted and untrue. I believe you are using your self righteous stance to fuel your antagonism towards Waldorf Schools in general. This is easier than being accountable for the troubles of your child; I know. Nevertheless your accusations continue to be libelous, malicious, untrue and harmful. Please stop publishing material about me and my son to fuel your argument against Waldorf Schools and teachers.
Like you, I sent my children to Waldorf schools. I was initially enamoured of the gentle atmosphere and illusion of a safe environment. I added a Waldorf credential to my teaching credential and taught in Waldorf schools. There is much to love and much to criticize. Waldorf education is not for every child, for every parent and not for every teacher.
I am very sorry for your distress as a parent of a troubled child. Fruit doesn't fall very far from the vine.
***
Pete comments: This was NOT what happened. PARENTS, not Highland Hall, contacted the Santa Barbara school directly and were told the details of the lawsuit. Parents were told by Santa Barbara Waldorf school that Wilkins set up "sleepovers" for her son with her own students. Here's a letter from an angry parent describing Highland Hall's role in this matter - and the extent of the GAMES that Wilkin's son played with the children at Highland Hall. http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010/10/letter-from-angry-parent-1.html
Highland Hall, despite being "fully aware" (according to Wilkins) refused to discuss the case with angry parents. The FACTS speak for themselves. Highland Hall had TWO incidents of molestation by this boy (hence the two police reports). They did NOTHING after the first incident because the child wasn't enrolled at the school. After the SECOND incident, the information about the first incident came out. Highland Hall claimed (in front of parents) that they had a SIGNED CONTRACT from Wendy Wilkins - acknowledging that she would not bring her son back on campus unsupervised. AGAIN, after being pressed by parents, Highland Hall ADMITTED the "signed" contract was only signed by Highland Hall and NOT by Wilkins. HIGHLAND HALL PUT CHILDREN IN HARM'S WAY WITH NO REGARD TO THEIR SAFETY!
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:58:01 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:07:11 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:00:35 +0000
Are you self refering?
Please remove libelous references about me or my son as a juvenile from your blogs and websites. I have written nothing publicly about you nor defamed you in any way. You have written tomes that have injured us both for years. You continue to victimize victims. Leave us out of your vendetta.
---------- Original Message ----------
From: "wendelinnwilkins@rocketmail.com" <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: "petekaraiskos" <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: Re: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:30:58 -0000
Dear Pete
I have read your entire site with interest.
I can see that you have a major axe to grind with Highland Hall school.
I can sympathise with many of your concerns surrounding Waldorf schools in general.
Your posts, however, regarding me are libelous. There is no truth to your allegations. They have caused harm. I am asking you politely to stop.
Wendy
>--- In waldorf-critics@yahoogroups.com, "petekaraiskos" <pkcompany@...> wrote:
> Wendy Wilkins is a familiar name to people reading my blog:
> http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010/02/letters-from-highland-hall-wilkins.html
> http://sites.google.com/site/wendywilkinssteinerteacher/
> Wendelinn Wilkins
> Teaching credentials:
> Grade 3, Highland Hall, Northridge, CA 2000/2001
> All academic subjects plus recorder, painting, clay modeling, and drama
> She's moved to Wiviliscombe, Somerset, U.K.
> - where they're having controversy over the new charter Steiner school:
> http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/search/search.html?searchPhrase=steiner&searchType=
> Looks like Somerset school will be drawing from the best of the best...
> I REALLY wasn't kidding when I said Highland Hall teachers are going to end up in the UK charter system. Here we go!
>
> PK
> ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
> http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010/03/highland-hall-breaking-mandated.html
>
***
Pete comments: Apparently, Ms. Wilkins doesn't understand the difference between something I wrote and something HIGHLAND HALL WROTE, which I posted. She apparently thinks I can be sued for libel for Highland Hall's words. Here's the document I referenced: http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010/02/letters-from-highland-hall-wilkins.html
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:09:13 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: This is Somerset?
I'd like to ask YOU to STOP too... How about it?
Find a different profession - AWAY FROM CHILDREN!
I NEVER STOP! Bring your lawsuit!
***
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:49:27 +0000
I have no interest in lawsuits. I have retired from a long and happy career as a teacher. Your allegations about me, specifically, are false. They have caused harm. Continuing to post false allegations about me are libelous. Please stop doing so. I have done nothing to you, so do not wish to be used as a pawn in your crusade against Waldorf schools.
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:16:02 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
YOU should know about using "pawns" - how many sleepovers did you arrange for Jeffrey?
Do YOU know what he discussed with my son and daughter in after school care?
Do YOU know the pictures he shared with them?
Children were MOLESTED. I have the police reports!
YOU brought this to Highland Hall. YOU DIRECTLY AFFECTED MY KID'S LIVES!
Where do you get the balls to threaten ME? Like I said, bring your lawsuit! I'll be bringing mine!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfkscHt96R0&feature=player_embedded#
Pete
***---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:45:37 +0000
I do not know who your son and daughter are.
How many sleepovers have you arranged for your children?
My son has never been in after school care.
What police reports?
I am not threatening you in any manner.
Please stop publishing libelous material about me and now about my son.
Are you saying I molested children? I have brought no such thing to Highland Hall.
I do not know the relevance of the video you have posted.
I do not have balls - wrong gender.
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:05:43 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
I'm
not surprised you can't keep straight the children your son has
harmed. You'll find out soon enough who my son and daughter are. You
were my son's teacher!
Your son was not "enrolled" in after school care. He CERTAINLY was there. I have LOTS of witnesses and written accounts.
Devonshire Division
Police Report # 0117-20741
# 0117-30062
I
have NEVER published libelous material about you and your son. Only
the truth - which I can support with evidence and testimony. Try me.
You
didn't know you were involved in a court case with Santa Barbara when
you were hired at Highland Hall? Gee, Highland Hall admitted knowing...
but said nothing.
Thanks in part to your son's
behavior, my daughter went on to slice her arms and legs. Get it now?
Need a judge to explain it to you? You were COMPLICIT in the
molestation of children by your son. You KNEW about his problems before
bringing him to Highland Hall and letting him run around unsupervised.
MONSTERS LIKE YOU are who the guy in the video is talking about... The
guy in the video is about half as mad as I am. Get it now?
***
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:45:17 +0000
I know this about my youngest son. He was an autistic child and vulnerable. He was abducted when he was 12. Santa Barbara School fired me - illegally - when I attended a court case in Vancouver when my son was found. I sued the Santa Barbara School for the illegal firing - and won. Highland Hall was fully aware.
I believe you also know that the misinformation you are spreading is wildly distorted and untrue. I believe you are using your self righteous stance to fuel your antagonism towards Waldorf Schools in general. This is easier than being accountable for the troubles of your child; I know. Nevertheless your accusations continue to be libelous, malicious, untrue and harmful. Please stop publishing material about me and my son to fuel your argument against Waldorf Schools and teachers.
Like you, I sent my children to Waldorf schools. I was initially enamoured of the gentle atmosphere and illusion of a safe environment. I added a Waldorf credential to my teaching credential and taught in Waldorf schools. There is much to love and much to criticize. Waldorf education is not for every child, for every parent and not for every teacher.
I am very sorry for your distress as a parent of a troubled child. Fruit doesn't fall very far from the vine.
***
Pete comments: This was NOT what happened. PARENTS, not Highland Hall, contacted the Santa Barbara school directly and were told the details of the lawsuit. Parents were told by Santa Barbara Waldorf school that Wilkins set up "sleepovers" for her son with her own students. Here's a letter from an angry parent describing Highland Hall's role in this matter - and the extent of the GAMES that Wilkin's son played with the children at Highland Hall. http://petekaraiskos.blogspot.com/2010/10/letter-from-angry-parent-1.html
Highland Hall, despite being "fully aware" (according to Wilkins) refused to discuss the case with angry parents. The FACTS speak for themselves. Highland Hall had TWO incidents of molestation by this boy (hence the two police reports). They did NOTHING after the first incident because the child wasn't enrolled at the school. After the SECOND incident, the information about the first incident came out. Highland Hall claimed (in front of parents) that they had a SIGNED CONTRACT from Wendy Wilkins - acknowledging that she would not bring her son back on campus unsupervised. AGAIN, after being pressed by parents, Highland Hall ADMITTED the "signed" contract was only signed by Highland Hall and NOT by Wilkins. HIGHLAND HALL PUT CHILDREN IN HARM'S WAY WITH NO REGARD TO THEIR SAFETY!
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:58:01 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
The more you demonstrate to me that you don't get it, the more it falls on ME to ensure that you do.
"Fruit doesn't fall very far from the vine."
Interesting point... Think about it.
Stop wasting my time and your breath... I'll be seeing YOU in court!
Pete
***
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:59:23 +0000
Are you
You waste your own time and breath in pursuit of finding someone to blame. I have done none of the things you publish widely about me so @cease andd desist."
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:59:23 +0000
Are you
You waste your own time and breath in pursuit of finding someone to blame. I have done none of the things you publish widely about me so @cease andd desist."
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:07:11 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Um... how can I make this more clear to you?
FUCK OFF YOU LYING MONSTER!
***
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:00:35 +0000
Are you self refering?
Please remove libelous references about me or my son as a juvenile from your blogs and websites. I have written nothing publicly about you nor defamed you in any way. You have written tomes that have injured us both for years. You continue to victimize victims. Leave us out of your vendetta.
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:18:44 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:18:44 +0000
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
I'm
VERY HAPPY to know I have injured you both for years... Look forward to
MANY MORE YEARS of this. I'm only JUST getting started.
Please
continue to describe how I've made your lives miserable. This is
delicious news for me! I can't wait to hear more - and please, use
plenty of adjectives. I hope your next letter describes in detail how
my comments have put you in such despair that you've got a loaded gun in
your mouth and are pulling the trigger exactly as you press the Send
key.
I'm really sorry if the truth hurts... Now, FUCK OFF!
***
---------- Original Message ----------
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Wendelinn Wilkins <wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com>
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:29:25 +0000
You can't make up your mind - "Can't wait to hear more" or "fo." Charming and non abusive. The truth does not hurt. Libel does
To: <pkcompany@netzero.net>
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:29:25 +0000
You can't make up your mind - "Can't wait to hear more" or "fo." Charming and non abusive. The truth does not hurt. Libel does
***
From: pkcompany@netzero.net
Date: Wed, Apr 25, 2012 12:34 PM
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
Date: Wed, Apr 25, 2012 12:34 PM
To: wendelinnwilkins@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: This is Somerset?
I think I'll stick with FUCK OFF.
***
AND SHE DID!
Update! She DIDN'T FUCK OFF... She FLAGGED my comments AND THEY WERE REMOVED. This may clear the path for this monster to "go to work" on the children at Somerset! Below is the email I received:
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Report Abuse <reportabuse@thisiscomments.co.uk>
To: pkcompany@netzero.net
Subject: content removed from This is Somerset
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 09:35:56 +0100
Thank you for registering with This is Somerset. Unfortunately we have had to remove your comment on an article headlined Steiner's theories cause this parent concern following a complaint that it was defamatory.
This is the comment that was removed:
No big surprise, Highland Hall teachers are INDEED moving to Somerset school. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6pwfxq2" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/6pwfxq2</a>
This teacher caused scandals at TWO schools, Santa Barbara and Highland Hall Waldorf schools.
I documented how Highland Hall sheepishly confessed to the abuses that occurred here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/84wtbmw" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/84wtbmw</a> and ignored mandated reporting laws when problems arose with this teacher here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/8399vdy" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/8399vdy</a> �Somerset is becoming the depository for bad teachers from the US.
Pete Karaiskos
Former Waldorf parent
Southern California
We would ask you please not to resubmit this content or discuss its removal on the site. We would also remind you that you are legally responsible for the content you submit.
If you are unsure of any of our house rules or terms and conditions you can find a link to them in full at the foot of the home page.
I'm not THAT worried. To be honest, I'm happier knowing EXACTLY where Wendy Wilkins is... that way, when the time arrives for her to face me in court, I'll be able to find her EASILY!
Update! She DIDN'T FUCK OFF... She FLAGGED my comments AND THEY WERE REMOVED. This may clear the path for this monster to "go to work" on the children at Somerset! Below is the email I received:
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Report Abuse <reportabuse@thisiscomments.co.uk>
To: pkcompany@netzero.net
Subject: content removed from This is Somerset
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 09:35:56 +0100
Thank you for registering with This is Somerset. Unfortunately we have had to remove your comment on an article headlined Steiner's theories cause this parent concern following a complaint that it was defamatory.
This is the comment that was removed:
No big surprise, Highland Hall teachers are INDEED moving to Somerset school. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6pwfxq2" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/6pwfxq2</a>
This teacher caused scandals at TWO schools, Santa Barbara and Highland Hall Waldorf schools.
I documented how Highland Hall sheepishly confessed to the abuses that occurred here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/84wtbmw" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/84wtbmw</a> and ignored mandated reporting laws when problems arose with this teacher here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/8399vdy" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/8399vdy</a> �Somerset is becoming the depository for bad teachers from the US.
Pete Karaiskos
Former Waldorf parent
Southern California
We would ask you please not to resubmit this content or discuss its removal on the site. We would also remind you that you are legally responsible for the content you submit.
If you are unsure of any of our house rules or terms and conditions you can find a link to them in full at the foot of the home page.
I'm not THAT worried. To be honest, I'm happier knowing EXACTLY where Wendy Wilkins is... that way, when the time arrives for her to face me in court, I'll be able to find her EASILY!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Parent Recommendations for Highland Hall
June 26, 2001
College of Teachers & Board of Directors DRAFT
Highland Hall Waldorf School
17100 Superior St.
Northridge, CA 91325
Dear Members of the College & Board:
On Friday, June 22, 2001, we participated in (or have been told about) a meeting held at school that covered many difficult issues surrounding actual and potential exposure to inappropriate/harassing sexual commentary and propositions that a number of the children at our school experienced from Jeffrey Wilkins, the teenage son of then 3rd Grade Teacher, Wendy Wilkins. It is our understanding that Ms. Wilkins will no longer be teaching at Highland Hall and that efforts are being made to help Ms. Wilkins and her son get the professional help that they and their family need.
The meeting lasted four hours and only ended because people became exhausted. All acknowledged the need to continue to discuss the various issues that these events have raised. Understanding that the College of Teachers has spent enormous amounts of time and personal energy dealing with this situation, and hearing an appeal for help in leading the community through this difficult time, we have taken it upon ourselves to outline some potential next steps for the College and Board to consider:
- Investigation & Discovery and Recovery: Many people felt that before they would be able to contemplate the future, it is critical to understand more fully what actually happened, to the extent it can be learned. Also, in order to improve our process for dealing with, and ideally preventing, incidents of this nature, we must understand what was done this time, what reasoning went into the decisions that were made and the results of the choices that we collectively made.
As follow-up to the guidelines suggested by the Valley Trauma Center, we recommend that a meeting be set to which all people who have since spoken with their child and who have direct knowledge concerning incidents involving Jeffrey and their child that could be shared to the benefit of others would be encouraged to attend. The meeting should be facilitated by the Valley Trauma Center personnel. The purpose of the meeting would be to create a timeline of events that is as complete and accurate as possible. These events would include incidents involving Jeffrey, parents notifying school authorities of such incidents, the school’s communication(s) with Ms. Wilkins regarding the situation and any other actions taken in regards to the situation. People with such direct knowledge who are unable to attend in person would be encouraged to provide whatever information they had to offer in writing prior to the meeting.
In order for the meeting to be most productive and to try and limit the potential for a raging forest fire of hearsay, we suggest that every family and faculty/staff member be sent a letter explaining the purpose of the meeting and a description of the recommended process for discussing the situation with their children. It would probably make sense to enclose the handout from the Valley Trauma Center. The emphasis would be on calmly eliciting the facts, reassuring the children if they need to share difficult or embarrassing information and helping the children affirm their own power for any potential future incidents of this nature. The goal is to avoid the inadvertent creation of misinformation in the quest for the needed information to allow healing to be assisted and improved processes to be developed.
The following people are willing to help with drafting the mailing to the community, arranging the meeting time in coordination with the Valley Trauma Center personnel and arranging the logistics for the meeting: (please let me know if you would like your name added here)
2. New 4th Grade Teacher Search & Future Teacher Searches: Many parents in the upcoming 4th Grade feel that it would enhance the process of selecting the next teacher for the class if the College had the benefit of parent opinion, as well as all of the other factors the College takes into consideration when selecting a new teacher. We recommend that a new Search Advisory Committee be selected by the College from a pool of volunteer parents from throughout the school. This Advisory Committee would review the resume and any other information available on any teacher candidate under serious consideration by the College, interview the candidate from the perspective of parents, rather than colleagues, and give its impression and any areas of recommended further investigation back to the College as part of the College’s due diligence process. We would recommend that Advisory Committee members recuse themselves when the teacher candidate is for their own child’s class.
The following people are willing to work with whomever the College mandates to do whatever letter writing, recruiting and other legwork necessary to bring the formation of this committee about: Alex Wright, David Cohen (please let me know if you would like your name added here)
3. Changes to Current Community Practices to Better Protect the Children Under the School’s Care: In order to realize the opportunity inherent in these unfortunate and painful events, we as a community need to grow and change. Many questions and ideas have been put forth regarding notification, education, faculty/staff training, etc. In order for these questions and ideas to be more fully discussed and lead to actual changes in the practices of our school community, we recommend that a committee from the broad community be formed to discuss these issues in depth, solicit ideas from professional resources, such as the Valley Trauma Center and/or other communications facilitators, and discuss with College members what kinds of guidelines and principals govern College decisions. With this education and opportunity for discussion, the committee would formulate and present recommendations to the Board and College for consideration.
The following people are willing to work with whomever the College mandates to do whatever letter writing to the community and other legwork necessary to bring the formation of this committee about: Alex Wright, Lynne Moses (please let me know if you would like your name added here)
We all appreciate that Highland Hall is more than a school, that it is a social community for the families that make up the students, parents, faculty, staff, College and Board of the school. We also recognize that much of the work that is typically handled by a larger administration in other schools is instead handled by faculty members volunteering to serve on the College at Highland Hall. Therefore, the work of those in positions of authority in running the school extends far beyond the usual demands of school governance. For this reason, we recognize that we all need to do our part in bringing about social change and supporting the College and Board in your work. We sincerely hope that these suggestions are taken in that spirit of responsibility and loving support.
Sincerely,
David Cohen
Ayelet Cohen
Alex Wright
Ben Moses
Lynne Moses
(Please let me know if you would like to add your name here)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Never-Ending Story of ABUSE at Highland Hall
I don't often write directly in my blog about current events, and almost never directly about my daughter. Lots of people ask me how she's doing now and if she has recovered.
I'm VERY proud of the progress my daughter has made in the last year and a half. Through tremendous effort and perseverance, I was able to get a judge to order her into a lock-down health care facility out of state. My daughter was able to turn herself around at that facility and graduated with the highest marks ever recorded there. She has been released and is living in Colorado, working in clothing sales for Harley Davidson and has been accepted at the University of Colorado.
We had lunch together when she visited California a couple months ago. We call and text each other regularly. I have helped her arrange for residency at the university for next semester... but in the mean time, she has lost her job and is about to be evicted. It's three months before she's safely in school.
I have a couple of things to say about this.
My daughter is ALWAYS going to suffer over the criminal record she acquired last year. After securing a restraining order on me, my daughter's mother Angela was supposed to have temporary physical custody of my daughter. Despite many attempts by me to secure a therapist for my daughter during this time, Angela ensured no therapist could be found that suited her. Two years went by - during which I continually tried to go through the courts to get the bogus restraining order removed.
Angela, a nursery teacher at Highland Hall, has been living with head administrator of Highland Hall, Jim Pedroja, almost since our divorce began - around 2001. They were, of course, living together during the time my daughter was in Angela's custody. By this time, and after years of abuse by her teachers, my daughter was finally out of Highland Hall - thanks to my efforts and the strong support of her therapist. But with the restraining order in place, and no therapist available to reconcile our relationship (something the court ORDERED) - my daughter had no father in her life.
With no parental guidance, my daughter ended up moving in with a 30 year old meth dealer and pedophile... and not a PEEP out of her mother or Jim Pedroja. In fact, it appears they supported this relationship - or at the very least, gave up completely on my daughter. The meth dealer was seen many times, coming in and out of Angela's home at all hours. The only times Angela showed concern for her daughter was in front of a judge.
So... the inevitable happened... My daughter started overdosing on crystal meth... and ended up in the emergency room - several times. Her mother tried to cover it up. MANY people from Highland Hall assisted them in trying to hide my daughter - even tearing down Missing Child posters. This is all in the court documents elsewhere in this blog so I won't restate everything here... but suffice to say - the responsibility for what happened to my daughter lies clearly on the shoulders of her mother Angela and her boyfriend Jim Pedroja - and indirectly Highland Hall. There is NO doubt of this.
So - when my daughter calls me now and says she cannot find work... I have to think about that criminal record and who is ultimately responsible for it? This will follow my daughter around for the rest of her life. That's something that can be quantified.
Negligence of a child is a terrible thing when it happens in society. That SCHOOL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS are guilty of this type of negligence is a travesty. That they seek to cover it up is a crime.
The abuse of my daughter at Highland Hall led to her eventual brush with the law. The trail is clear - and the reasons for covering up abuse are OBVIOUS! This is just ONE MORE THING I hold the monsters at Highland Hall accountable for.
When the jury hands down a reward, I know they will take this into consideration.
I'm VERY proud of the progress my daughter has made in the last year and a half. Through tremendous effort and perseverance, I was able to get a judge to order her into a lock-down health care facility out of state. My daughter was able to turn herself around at that facility and graduated with the highest marks ever recorded there. She has been released and is living in Colorado, working in clothing sales for Harley Davidson and has been accepted at the University of Colorado.
We had lunch together when she visited California a couple months ago. We call and text each other regularly. I have helped her arrange for residency at the university for next semester... but in the mean time, she has lost her job and is about to be evicted. It's three months before she's safely in school.
I have a couple of things to say about this.
My daughter is ALWAYS going to suffer over the criminal record she acquired last year. After securing a restraining order on me, my daughter's mother Angela was supposed to have temporary physical custody of my daughter. Despite many attempts by me to secure a therapist for my daughter during this time, Angela ensured no therapist could be found that suited her. Two years went by - during which I continually tried to go through the courts to get the bogus restraining order removed.
Angela, a nursery teacher at Highland Hall, has been living with head administrator of Highland Hall, Jim Pedroja, almost since our divorce began - around 2001. They were, of course, living together during the time my daughter was in Angela's custody. By this time, and after years of abuse by her teachers, my daughter was finally out of Highland Hall - thanks to my efforts and the strong support of her therapist. But with the restraining order in place, and no therapist available to reconcile our relationship (something the court ORDERED) - my daughter had no father in her life.
With no parental guidance, my daughter ended up moving in with a 30 year old meth dealer and pedophile... and not a PEEP out of her mother or Jim Pedroja. In fact, it appears they supported this relationship - or at the very least, gave up completely on my daughter. The meth dealer was seen many times, coming in and out of Angela's home at all hours. The only times Angela showed concern for her daughter was in front of a judge.
So... the inevitable happened... My daughter started overdosing on crystal meth... and ended up in the emergency room - several times. Her mother tried to cover it up. MANY people from Highland Hall assisted them in trying to hide my daughter - even tearing down Missing Child posters. This is all in the court documents elsewhere in this blog so I won't restate everything here... but suffice to say - the responsibility for what happened to my daughter lies clearly on the shoulders of her mother Angela and her boyfriend Jim Pedroja - and indirectly Highland Hall. There is NO doubt of this.
So - when my daughter calls me now and says she cannot find work... I have to think about that criminal record and who is ultimately responsible for it? This will follow my daughter around for the rest of her life. That's something that can be quantified.
Negligence of a child is a terrible thing when it happens in society. That SCHOOL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS are guilty of this type of negligence is a travesty. That they seek to cover it up is a crime.
The abuse of my daughter at Highland Hall led to her eventual brush with the law. The trail is clear - and the reasons for covering up abuse are OBVIOUS! This is just ONE MORE THING I hold the monsters at Highland Hall accountable for.
When the jury hands down a reward, I know they will take this into consideration.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Parents don't trust Highland Hall teachers
Highland Hall, after another bout with abuse in 2004, tried to send our kids on an "all-teacher" supervised camping trip. The parents would have nothing of it. As it turned out, the poorly-supervised trip yielded the hitchhiking incident I refer to elsewhere in this blog.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Racism Conference Emails
Email Communications about:
Meetings regarding the teaching of Racism as physiology to Pete’s Child
My son was taught a very disturbing lesson in physiology class by Merrily Lovell. He reported to me that he was taught that “the blood of Europeans is more evolved than the blood of Africans and Asians”. Karen Grant, my son's sponsor, explained this to me as “Out of Africa Theory”. She needs to read about what Out of Africa theory says. Then she said none of the children took anything racist away from that lesson (as if she knew). I had already been posting my experience on Openwaldorf.com. In an attempt to stop me from posting more about this, Karen Grant agreed to meet with me to discuss the lesson that was taught to my son and the possibility of racism surfacing Waldorf education. I found out later, the only reason we were talking was to keep me from posting on Openwaldorf.com. Naturally, they didn’t want any part of these exchanges posted... but I felt some of the points they raised were worth noting. Anyway... The following email exchanges give you an idea of how it went.
From: Pete Karaiskos
To: Karen Grant
Subject: Meeting
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 11:30:12 -0700 (PDT)
Hi Karen,
We talked about having a meeting together. I'm wondering if you are still interested in having this and when it might be, and who might attend. As I'm not particularly interested in attending any of the Essential Conversations (I don't think they are all that productive for me), I'm thinking this more private meeting might be worthwhile and a reasonable substitute. I have two people in mind that I would like to ask to participate.
Thanks Karen,
Pete
Response from Karen Grant: 10/22/2004
Pete, I look forward to a meeting. My schedule is kind of extreme right now because I have a particularly heavy teaching load and the 8th grade interviews have begun during the main lesson time. I can meet on Thursday and Friday afternoons from 2:30 until about 4:30. Are the two people you have in mind available during those times? I guess I was thinking maybe Janet Knight would be helpful, though I'm not sure she could meet before 3:30 on either of those days. Let me know what you think and if you're available at either of those times. I could meet next week. Karen
From: Pete Karaiskos
To: Karen Grant
Subject: Our conference
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 21:07:58 -0700 (PDT)
Hi Karen,
I tried calling you this evening but missed you. I was out of town all day yesterday. I was hoping to have our conference tomorrow, Thursday at 2:30 as you suggested. I have asked Alex Houghton and Dr. Knight if they wouldn't mind attending and both have agreed. If this is too short notice, we could shoot for Friday afternoon instead. Please let me know.
Thank you.
Pete
Response from Karen Grant: 10/28/2004 6:22am
Pete, This isn't much notice, but I'm pretty sure I can clear my calendar. I'll call you at 11:30 if I can't do it; otherwise let's plan on having the meeting today at 2:30. Karen
Meeting ensued that day.
Email from Karen Grant: 10/28/2004 7:26pmPete, Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed our meeting today. You brought up some good points, and I'm eager to share them with Lynn, Martina, and Bari. I appreciate so much your willingness to come to the table. I do understand, better than before the meeting, what your concerns are. Give me a chance to read through the Internet papers you gave me, and then we can reschedule another meeting. If you think of anything else you'd like me to think about before the next meeting, just email me. Also, if you'd like another meeting before I contact you, just let me know. Karen
From: Pete Karaiskos
To: Karen Grant
Subject: openwaldorf
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2004 13:16:15 -0800 (PST)
Hi Karen,
I know you've probably been too busy to nose through the stack of papers I gave you at our meeting, but as the thread I gave you had been dead for some time, and I realized this topic is still meaningful, I decided to add a few comments to it to see if anyone else is still interested in discussing it. I mentioned your comment about Waldorf traditions vs Anthroposophy. The link below will bring you to the last page of the thread, if you are interested.
http://p087.ezboard.com/fopenwaldorffrm12.showMessageRange?topicID=3.topic&start=181&stop=194
Warm wishes,
Pete
Response from Karen Grant: 11/3/2004 5:39am
Dear Pete,
I appreciate your email letting me know that you had added more to the openwaldorf site. I was surprised and disappointed, as I thought you had answered in the affirmative at our meeting when I asked you to stay off for awhile as we tried to work directly to answer your questions. I guess I can talk to Alex and Jimmy to see how I misread your intention. Perhaps you weren't happy or trustful of my answers, but I had hoped that you would keep the conversations in our meetings between you and me, and Alex and Jimmy, who you had invited. I must admit, I felt betrayed to find my ideas represented by you on this site, even though you didn't use my name. I feel like I should be able to represent myself if I want to, which I don't. Anyway, I don't know exactly how to move forward now. What do you think?
Sincerely, Karen
Email from Karen Grant: Nov 6, 2004
Pete, Here's the email Christine sent back to me regarding Nick's homework. I also want to let you know that I have begun speaking to the staff in admissions and outreach, and so far I've experienced only openness to your concerns, so that gives me some encouragement, and I hope it does the same for you. I just wanted to let you know that we do have two classes occurring weekly on campus for parents who are interested in what lies behind Waldorf education. These classes are announced weekly in the Lunchbox Express and are open to any interested parents. Well, now I must begin correcting papers. Let me know if you need anything else. Karen
***Karen Grant tries to get me to join a Waldorf study group... and basically blows me off...
From: Pete Karaiskos
To: Karen Grant, "Dr. James Knight", Alex Houghton
Subject: Next meeting?
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 16:27:18 -0800 (PST)
Hi everyone,
I am wondering if we are moving forward with another meeting. I felt like there was some good progress made last time and that we should meet again if everyone is still interested. I would love to have Martina, Lynn and Bari join us.
Pete
11/11/2004 two positive replies:
Alex Houghton: Hi, Whenever everyone's ready, I'm there. Alex
J. Marshall Knight: Hello, I am also hoping there will be a next meeting. I feel there is much to be accomplished when "good" and "right thinking" people commune together. Please let's continue. J. Marshall Knight
Reply from Karen Grant: 11/11/2004
Pete, I have made some progress; Bari gave me a name of someone I can contact re: the spiritual aspects. I have not had time to contact him. I am absolutely overwhelmed with work right now. I have many papers and tests to grade before I write grades on the one main lesson and two track classes I taught in the first nine weeks. This work takes me approximately one hour per student, so 55 hours in addition to my regular work must be done before next weekend. I think we may have to wait until after the Thanksgiving break. I'm sorry, but I don't know what else to do. Karen
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Steiner Quotes - The Jews, Racial Progression, Blood and the Future
The Jews
"It certainly cannot be denied that Jewry today still behaves as a closed totality, and as such it has frequently intervened in the development of our current state of affairs in a way that is anything but favorable to European ideas of culture. But Jewry itself has long since outlived its time; it has no more justification within the modern life of peoples, and the fact that it continues to exist is a mistake of world history whose consequences are unavoidable. We do not mean the forms of the Jewish religion alone, but above all the spirit of Jewry, the Jewish way of thinking." (Steiner, Gesammelte Aufsätze zur Literatur p. 152)
"Thus the greatest tragedy of this 20th century [World War I] has come from what the Jews are also striving for. And one can say that since everything the Jews have done can now be done consciously by all people, the best thing that the Jews could do would be to disappear into the rest of humankind, to blend in with the rest of humankind, so that Jewry as a people would simply cease to exist. That is what would be ideal. This ideal is still opposed, even today, by many Jewish habits - and above all by the hatred of other people. That is what must be overcome." (Steiner, Die Geschichte der Menschheit und die Weltanschauungen der Kulturvölker p. 189)
"Today all aspects of the Jews are dominated by racial qualities. Above all they marry among themselves. They see the racial qualities, not the spiritual. And this is what must be said in reply to the question: has the Jewish people fulfilled its mission within the evolution of human knowledge? It has fulfilled it; for in earlier times one single people was needed to bring about a certain monotheism. But today spiritual insight itself is necessary. Therefore this mission has been fulfilled. And therefore this Jewish mission as such, as a Jewish mission, is no longer necessary in evolution; instead the only proper thing would be for the Jews to blend in with the other peoples and disappear into the other peoples." (Steiner, Die Geschichte der Menschheit und die Weltanschauungen der Kulturvölker p. 190)
"Actual antisemitism is not the cause of this Jewish hypersensitivity, but rather the false image of the anti-Jewish movement invented by overwrought imaginations. Anyone who has dealt with Jews knows how deep runs the tendency to create such an image, even among the best members of their nation. Mistrust toward non-Jews has completely taken over their souls. [. . .] I consider the antisemites to be harmless people. The best of them are like children. They want something to blame for their woes. [. . .] Much worse than the antisemites are the heartless leaders of the Jews who are tired of Europe, Herzl and Nordau. They exaggerate an unpleasant childishness into a world-historical trend; they pretend that a harmless squabble is a terrible roar of cannons. They are seducers and tempters of their people." (Steiner, Gesammelte Aufsätze zur Kultur- und Zeitgeschichte pp. 198-200 [1897])
"...the Jahve forces from the moon sphere meet and cooperate with the Mars spirits and thus a special kind of modification arises, namely, the Semitic race. Here is the occult explanation for the origin of the Semites. The Semitic people are an example of a modification of collective humanity. Jahve or Jehovah shuts himself off from the other Elohim and invests this people with a special character by cooperating with the Mars spirits, in order to bring about a special modification of his people. You will now understand the peculiar character of the Semitic people and its mission."(Steiner, The Mission of Folk Souls p. 105)
"[Jesus felt]: All the forces of soul which I believed had been bestowed upon me lead only to the realisation that in the evolution of the Jewish people there is no longer the capacity to reach the heights of Divine revelations." (Steiner, 1913, The Fifth Gospel. (1913) Trans. C. Davy & D.S. Osmond. London: Rudolf Steiner Press, 1968. p. 67)
Progression through the Races
"The relation between soul-development and race-development is preserved to us in a wonderful myth. Let us imagine race following race, civilization following civilization. The soul going through its earth mission in the right way is incarnated in a certain race; it strives upward in this race, and acquires the capacities of this race in order next time to be incarnated in a higher one. Only the souls which sink in the race and do not work out of the physical materiality, are held back in the race by their own weight, as one might say. They appear a second time in the same race and eventually a third time in bodies in similarly formed races. Such souls hold back the bodies of the race. This has been wonderfully described in a legend. We know, indeed, that man progresses further in the fulfillment of the mission of the earth by following the great Leaders of humanity who point out the goals to be attained; if he rejects them, if he does not follow them, he must remain behind with his race, for he cannot then get beyond it. Let us think of a personality who has the good fortune to meet a great Leader of humanity, let us suppose such a personality confronting Christ Jesus himself, for example; he sees how all his deeds are evidence for leading humanity forward, but he will have nothing to do with this progress, he rejects the Leader of humanity. Such a personality, such a soul would be condemned to remain in the race. If we follow this thought to its conclusion such a soul would have to appear again and again in the same race, and we have the legend of Ahasuerus who had to appear in the same race again and again because he rejected Christ Jesus. Great truths concerning the evolution of humanity are placed before us in such a legend as this." (Rudolf Steiner, The Apocalypse of St. John, pp. 80-81)
"Each person proceeds through race after race. Those that are young souls incarnate in the races that have remained behind on earlier racial levels. In this way, the races and souls that live around us take on a physical and spiritual structure. Everything makes sense, everything becomes clear and explicable. We are moving closer and closer to the solution of this puzzle and we can realize that in the future we will have other epochs to go through, we will have other paths to follow than the ones made by race. We must be clear about the difference between soul development and racial development. Our own souls once lived within the Atlantean race, and they then developed themselves upward to a higher race. That gives us an image of the evolution of humankind up until our time. In this way we can comprehend how to justify the principle, the core principle of universal brotherhood without regard to race, color, status, and so forth. I will explain this thought in particular later. Today I simply wanted to show how the same essence appears in different forms, and in fact in a much more correct sense than natural science would have us believe. Our souls march from one level to the next, which is to say from one race to the next, and we come to know the meaning of humanity when we examine these races." (Steiner, Die Welträtsel und die Anthroposophie pp. 153-4)
"For peoples and races are but steps leading to pure humanity. A race or a nation stands so much the higher, the more perfectly its members express the pure, ideal human type, the further they have worked their way from the physical and perishable to the supersensible and imperishable. The evolution of man through the incarnations in ever higher national and racial forms is thus a process of liberation. Man must finally appear in harmonious perfection." (Steiner, Knowledge of Higher Worlds p. 207)
"You might now be inclined to say: Is it not an extremely bitter thought that whole bodies of peoples remain immature and do not develop their capacities; that only a small group becomes capable of providing the germ for the next civilization? This thought will no longer disquiet you if you distinguish between race-development and individual soul-development, for no soul is condemned to remain in one particular race. The race may fall behind; the community of people may remain backward, but the souls progress beyond the several races. If we wish to form a true conception of this we must say that all the souls now living in bodies in civilized countries were formerly incarnated in Atlantean bodies. A few developed there in the requisite manner, and did not remain in Atlantean bodies. As they had developed further they could become the souls of the bodies which had also progressed further. Only the souls which as souls had remained backward had to take bodies which as bodies had remained at a lower stage. If all the souls had progressed, the backward races would either have decreased very much in population, or the bodies would be occupied by newly incoming souls at a low stage of development. For there are always souls which can inhabit backward bodies. No soul is bound to a backward body if it does not bind itself to it." (Steiner, The Apocalypse of St. John p. 80)
"People who listen to the great leaders of humankind, and preserve their soul with its eternal essence, reincarnate in an advanced race; in the same way he who ignores the great teacher, who rejects the great leader of humankind, will always reincarnate in the same race, because he was only able to develop the one form. This is the deeper meaning of Ahasver, who must always reappear in the same form because he rejected the hand of the greatest leader, Christ. Thus each person has the opportunity to become caught up in the essence of one incarnation, to push away the leader of humankind, or instead to undergo the transformation into higher races, toward ever higher perfection. Races would never become decadent, never decline, if there weren't souls that are unable to move up and unwilling to move up to a higher racial form. Look at the races that have survived from earlier eras: they only exist because some souls could not climb higher." (Steiner, Das Hereinwirken geistiger Wesenheiten in den Menschen p. 174)
The "Aryan" Race
"The ancestors of the Atlanteans lived in a region which has disappeared, the main part of which lay south of contemporary Asia. In theosophical writings they are called the Lemurians. After they had passed through various stages of development the greatest part of them declined. These became stunted men, whose descendants still inhabit certain parts of the earth today as so-called savage tribes. Only a small part of Lemurian humanity was capable of further development. From this part the Atlanteans were formed. Later, something similar again took place. The greatest part of the Atlantean population declined, and from a small portion are descended the so-called Aryans who comprise present-day civilized humanity. According to the nomenclature of the science of the spirit, the Lemurians, Atlanteans and Aryans are root races of mankind." (Steiner, Cosmic Memory pp. 45-46)
Colonization and the Degradation of the Blood
"But all such questions are illuminated as soon as we recognize the nature of the spiritual essence which lies at the back of our blood. Who can deny that this question is closely linked to that of race, which at the present time is once more coming markedly to the front? Yet this question of race is one that we can never understand until we understand the mysteries of the blood and of the results accruing from the mingling of the blood of different races. And finally, there is yet one other question, the importance of which is becoming more and more acute as we endeavor to extricate ourselves from the hitherto aimless methods of dealing with it, and seek to approach it in its more comprehensive bearings. This problem is that of colonisation, which crops up wherever civilised races come into contact with the uncivilised: namely - To what extent are uncivilised peoples capable of becoming civilised? How can a Negro or an utterly barbaric savage become civilised? And in what way ought we to deal with them? And here we have to consider not only the feelings due to a vague morality, but we are also confronted by great, serious, and vital problems of existence itself. Those who are not aware of the conditions governing a people - whether it be on the up- or down-grade of its evolution, and whether the one or the other is a matter conditioned by its blood - such people as these will, indeed, be unlikely to hit on the right mode of introducing civilisation to an alien race. These are all matters which arise as soon as the Blood Question is touched upon." (Steiner, The Occult Significance of Blood p. 13)
Spiritual Politics of the Blood
“The use of the French language quite certainly corrupts the soul. The soul acquires nothing more than the possibility of clichés. Those who enthusiastically speak French transfer that to other languages. The French are also ruining what maintains their dead language, namely, their blood. The French are committing the terrible brutality of moving black people to Europe, but it works, in an even worse way, back on France. It has an enormous effect on the blood and the race and contributes considerably toward French decadence. The French as a race are reverting.” (FACULTY MEETINGS WITH RUDOLF STEINER, pp. 558-559.)
The War of the White Race Against Other Races
"White humankind is still on the path of absorbing the spirit deeper and deeper into its own essence. Yellow humankind is on the path of conserving the era when the spirit will be kept away from the body, when the spirit will only be sought outside of the human-physical organization. But the result will have to be that the transition from the fifth cultural epoch to the sixth cultural epoch cannot happen in any other way than as a violent battle of white humankind against colored humankind in myriad areas. And that which precedes these battles between white and colored humankind will occupy world history until the completion of the great battles between white and colored humankind. Future events are frequently reflected in prior events. You see, we stand before something colossal that - when we understand it through spiritual science - we will in the future be able to recognize as a necessary occurrence." (Rudolf Steiner, Die geistigen Hintergründe des Ersten Weltkrieges. Dornach, 1974 (GA 174b) p. 3)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Working with Highland Hall - Open Letter to Highland Hall Community
Pete Karaiskos
Open letter to Highland Hall:
The Board of Directors
The College of Teachers
The Administration
The Faculty
The Parent Body
July 4, 2001
Dear Friends,
Highland Hall is a school in a crisis! I have tried unsuccessfully to have faith that things will get better. Recently my faith was, once again, shattered with the recent problems surrounding the employment of Wendy Wilkins. I say "once again" because I have observed a pattern of "faith-shattering" decisions, policies and attitudes for at least two years. What is most distressing to me is that the people exhibiting such poor judgment are the same people who are involved in the education of my children.
Frankly, I am furious at what my children have had to go through regarding their teachers. My son Christopher was misplaced with Mrs. Dimitrova and then, after he was exhibiting some stress, we had him repeat the 2nd grade with Mr. Janczak's class where he thrived. Then we lost Mr. Janczak and he first had Mrs. Leonard, and then ended up with Mrs. Wilkins. Now, he will have yet another teacher to look forward to.
My daughter, [redacted], has been from Miss Atkinson to Mrs. Devries to Mrs. Leonard and it looks like Mrs. Leonard will only be here another year. She, too, will have to adjust to yet another teacher it seems. It was necessary for her to adapt to three different teachers in order for her to complete two grades. At what point can a parent conclude that the school isn't working in the best interest of their children?
Now, none of this would have transpired if not for the senseless firing of Mr. Janczak. I don't think it serves any purpose to stir up old wounds, and I only mention the firing of Mr. Janczak here because it raises the questions of the more relevant issue of trust. I believe we all witnessed a pre-rehearsed school-supported conspiratorial effort to discredit Mr. Janczak in the eyes of the parents of his class. More than a year has gone by and I still don't understand why. The almost unanimous show of support by the parents for their children's teacher counted for nothing. Why not? The light went out of my son's and many of his classmate's eyes when they lost his teacher. How are we parents supposed to trust that the faculty, college, board and administration are working in our children's best interest after this?
I can't understand the hiring of the new 2nd grade teacher - Mrs. DeVries. I can't imagine what could have been going through the mind of the persons who accepted this woman's application, but I can understand that there may not have been very many applicants for the position. Five minutes into the first meeting with Mrs. DeVries, I knew she wasn't qualified to teach at any level, let alone at a Waldorf school and I also knew I didn't want her for my daughter's teacher. I can't imagine the person who would in good conscience make the decision to saddle my child with such an unqualified teacher - theoretically through the eighth grade. I am not going to berate anyone for making a bad decision but I would pose the question - What voice do we as individual parents have when the school selects a teacher that obviously isn't qualified - or wants to remove a teacher who obviously is qualified? What choice do we have but to be united in our voice in order to promote positive change? And in the case where we have united behind a teacher, why wasn't our voice heard?
Concurrent with the hiring of Mrs. DeVries, Mrs. Wilkins was hired. Aside from her
obvious family problems, she was hardly the caliber of teacher she was replacing - that was, again, obvious. Again, maybe there was a shortage of teachers at the time this hiring was going on. Clearly, the school was negligent in researching her background. Clearly, the school may have been less than forthcoming with information about her. It was, apparently, very easy to discover her past history with a few phone calls. The question is - Why weren't these phone calls made? And, if they were made and this information was discovered, why was she hired? And, if she had to be hired, why weren't we, the parents, informed so that we could decide for ourselves whether this teacher was one that we would accept for our children? As a parent affected by the hiring of this inadequate and potentially harmful teacher, I would have preferred to have been informed that NO suitable teacher could be found to take the class. At least that would have been honest on the part of the school and I could have been the one to make the choices affecting my child's education and well-being.
A tremendous trust was broken when the school hired these two teachers. I'm sorry, but I've lost enough faith in this school to consider the possibility that, in light of the fact that a competitive school was being formed by our former teachers, a decision was reached that the issue of filling the teaching spot took precedent over pursuing the questions of incompetence or a potentially dangerous history in the new teacher's background. I can only hope I'm wrong about this.
One might pose another question here. What is it about Highland Hall, a well-established Waldorf School, that doesn't seem to be able to attract the top teachers in the country? When it does attract good teachers, why is it unable to keep them? I believe the problem is internal. I believe there is an undercurrent that is eroding the foundation principles of this school, demoralizing the teachers and isolating the parents. The undercurrent puts what it believes are the needs of the school above the needs of the children. The undercurrent is more concerned about boosting tuition than it is about producing a healthy learning environment. The undercurrent is more concerned with how much money an event will draw than it is about how safe our children will be during the event. And, when something goes wrong, the undercurrent insists that parents only talk directly to the College or Board, and not among themselves.
This undercurrent is something I've noticed - perhaps we've all noticed it. It is quick to discredit a once beloved teacher who chose to move on rather than have their spirit diminished and their ego sucked out of them. The undercurrent expects loyalty - going with the flow. It undermines those that would oppose its force - whether teacher or parent. The undercurrent works beneath the surface, as any good undercurrent should. It doesn't come out and say things in public, it whispers in hallways. It may help us understand why an admired teacher who was fired is actually much better off now because she can be free to pursue her other aspirations. It can instantly comfort us by explaining that a child who was molested on our yard wasn't actually one of our own students, or that a parent who asks for temporary financial help could afford their tuition easily if they would just manage their money better. It swirls around us hoping to envelop us in its flow and to pull us in its direction. It has swept up many of our finest teachers
in its force - teachers who once stood up for their students with dignity, but now bow their heads in shame when parents confront them. Sadly, the light has gone out of their eyes too!
When the undercurrent comes to the surface, it gains momentum through solidarity - as was the case with Mr. Janczak's release. We all saw the undercurrent in action on that evening. They presented a united front - forget whether any of the innuendo tossed around that evening could be substantiated. A few undecided parents who considered leaving the school were immediately separated out and persuaded to stay through some loyalty to the school, or for the sake of their children, or through promises of "things will get better - you'll see". That night the undercurrent got stronger, and things got worse, not better.
Those of us who wrote letters supporting one of our parents who needed tuition assistance felt the instant force of the undercurrent - there was nothing friendly about it - it was strong and fierce with no chance of deviation from its course, it left us no room to take a breath - its purpose was to suck us down and hold us down until we gave in. And, we had to give in didn't we? After all, what choice do we have - the undercurrent holds our children too.
It may be easy for some to label me a troublemaker (no doubt the undercurrent will have a field day with me) simply because I have observed these events and drawn my own conclusions. Now that I have voiced my opinions, I'm sure the undercurrent will discredit me. You, too, may wonder how someone who brings such a negative view be anything but bad for the school. Please believe me when I say that nothing would make me happier than to be completely wrong about everything I have said here. Nothing would make me happier than to have the wonderful, well-balanced school we all expect, instead of the dysfunctional one we've all come to tolerate. I don't mind being labeled a troublemaker, however - better to go against the current of dishonesty than to become part of it. I contend that I am not the one doing harm to Highland Hall.
I believe the undercurrent are good people working within Highland Hall - people that have made their priority what they believe are the needs of the school. Unfortunately this has often proven to be at the cost of the needs of the children. This is not only morally wrong, it is bad business and ultimately detrimental to the school as much as to the children. Although they are well-meaning, I believe these people are doing this school serious harm and it is only by acknowledging what is happening that we can move forward from what are very dark times at Highland Hall.
I would like to challenge these people to acknowledge - if only to themselves - who they are and what they are doing and to please step back or step down. If you don't know whether you are part of the undercurrent, I'll help you discover this for yourself. If you put ANYTHING above the best interests of the children at Highland Hall, you are part of it - so shake yourself off and have a good look. If you are one of the ones who interviewed Mrs. DeVries and didn't notice anything wrong, please step down and let someone else do the interviewing from now on. If you discovered Mrs. Wilkins past history and didn't feel the moral obligation to inform the parents and protect the children of the school, please step aside and let someone else take your place. Whether or not you agreed with the outcome, if you saw nothing wrong with how the meeting of Mr. Janczak's release was conducted,
you are working not for, but in opposition to the good of the school. If you disagree with how things are, but feel pressured to go with the flow - please find a backbone now.
And, if you don't have enough backbone to stand up for what you believe is right, even if it may cause you discomfort among your peers or even cost you your job, please excuse yourselves from teaching our children. We expect, and our children deserve MUCH better!
I don't apologize for being so blunt - I have no time left to waste for my children's sake.
On this Independence Day I think of our forefathers and the suffering they had to endure to stand up for what they believed in, not because it was popular, not because it was easy, but because it was right! It's too late to undo the damage that has been done - and there has been a lot of damage at every level, to our school, to our friends, to our children - but we can avoid more damage by changing direction now. As we each notice the undercurrent that is demoralizing our school, we should be sure to acknowledge it, confront it, and be certain we are not swept unwillingly into its stream. Let's all try to work together to come to terms with what has happened recently and to push for changes so these mistakes (and the decisions that led to them) don't happen again. Let us group together and share our feelings - for in openness and honesty the undercurrent cannot survive. It is my sincere hope to affect a change for a stronger Highland Hall - one in which the requirements of the children take precedent over everything else. This is the
way I envision it and with God's will, the way it will be someday soon.
God bless us all,
Pete Karaiskos
Open letter to Highland Hall:
The Board of Directors
The College of Teachers
The Administration
The Faculty
The Parent Body
July 4, 2001
Dear Friends,
Highland Hall is a school in a crisis! I have tried unsuccessfully to have faith that things will get better. Recently my faith was, once again, shattered with the recent problems surrounding the employment of Wendy Wilkins. I say "once again" because I have observed a pattern of "faith-shattering" decisions, policies and attitudes for at least two years. What is most distressing to me is that the people exhibiting such poor judgment are the same people who are involved in the education of my children.
Frankly, I am furious at what my children have had to go through regarding their teachers. My son Christopher was misplaced with Mrs. Dimitrova and then, after he was exhibiting some stress, we had him repeat the 2nd grade with Mr. Janczak's class where he thrived. Then we lost Mr. Janczak and he first had Mrs. Leonard, and then ended up with Mrs. Wilkins. Now, he will have yet another teacher to look forward to.
My daughter, [redacted], has been from Miss Atkinson to Mrs. Devries to Mrs. Leonard and it looks like Mrs. Leonard will only be here another year. She, too, will have to adjust to yet another teacher it seems. It was necessary for her to adapt to three different teachers in order for her to complete two grades. At what point can a parent conclude that the school isn't working in the best interest of their children?
Now, none of this would have transpired if not for the senseless firing of Mr. Janczak. I don't think it serves any purpose to stir up old wounds, and I only mention the firing of Mr. Janczak here because it raises the questions of the more relevant issue of trust. I believe we all witnessed a pre-rehearsed school-supported conspiratorial effort to discredit Mr. Janczak in the eyes of the parents of his class. More than a year has gone by and I still don't understand why. The almost unanimous show of support by the parents for their children's teacher counted for nothing. Why not? The light went out of my son's and many of his classmate's eyes when they lost his teacher. How are we parents supposed to trust that the faculty, college, board and administration are working in our children's best interest after this?
I can't understand the hiring of the new 2nd grade teacher - Mrs. DeVries. I can't imagine what could have been going through the mind of the persons who accepted this woman's application, but I can understand that there may not have been very many applicants for the position. Five minutes into the first meeting with Mrs. DeVries, I knew she wasn't qualified to teach at any level, let alone at a Waldorf school and I also knew I didn't want her for my daughter's teacher. I can't imagine the person who would in good conscience make the decision to saddle my child with such an unqualified teacher - theoretically through the eighth grade. I am not going to berate anyone for making a bad decision but I would pose the question - What voice do we as individual parents have when the school selects a teacher that obviously isn't qualified - or wants to remove a teacher who obviously is qualified? What choice do we have but to be united in our voice in order to promote positive change? And in the case where we have united behind a teacher, why wasn't our voice heard?
Concurrent with the hiring of Mrs. DeVries, Mrs. Wilkins was hired. Aside from her
obvious family problems, she was hardly the caliber of teacher she was replacing - that was, again, obvious. Again, maybe there was a shortage of teachers at the time this hiring was going on. Clearly, the school was negligent in researching her background. Clearly, the school may have been less than forthcoming with information about her. It was, apparently, very easy to discover her past history with a few phone calls. The question is - Why weren't these phone calls made? And, if they were made and this information was discovered, why was she hired? And, if she had to be hired, why weren't we, the parents, informed so that we could decide for ourselves whether this teacher was one that we would accept for our children? As a parent affected by the hiring of this inadequate and potentially harmful teacher, I would have preferred to have been informed that NO suitable teacher could be found to take the class. At least that would have been honest on the part of the school and I could have been the one to make the choices affecting my child's education and well-being.
A tremendous trust was broken when the school hired these two teachers. I'm sorry, but I've lost enough faith in this school to consider the possibility that, in light of the fact that a competitive school was being formed by our former teachers, a decision was reached that the issue of filling the teaching spot took precedent over pursuing the questions of incompetence or a potentially dangerous history in the new teacher's background. I can only hope I'm wrong about this.
One might pose another question here. What is it about Highland Hall, a well-established Waldorf School, that doesn't seem to be able to attract the top teachers in the country? When it does attract good teachers, why is it unable to keep them? I believe the problem is internal. I believe there is an undercurrent that is eroding the foundation principles of this school, demoralizing the teachers and isolating the parents. The undercurrent puts what it believes are the needs of the school above the needs of the children. The undercurrent is more concerned about boosting tuition than it is about producing a healthy learning environment. The undercurrent is more concerned with how much money an event will draw than it is about how safe our children will be during the event. And, when something goes wrong, the undercurrent insists that parents only talk directly to the College or Board, and not among themselves.
This undercurrent is something I've noticed - perhaps we've all noticed it. It is quick to discredit a once beloved teacher who chose to move on rather than have their spirit diminished and their ego sucked out of them. The undercurrent expects loyalty - going with the flow. It undermines those that would oppose its force - whether teacher or parent. The undercurrent works beneath the surface, as any good undercurrent should. It doesn't come out and say things in public, it whispers in hallways. It may help us understand why an admired teacher who was fired is actually much better off now because she can be free to pursue her other aspirations. It can instantly comfort us by explaining that a child who was molested on our yard wasn't actually one of our own students, or that a parent who asks for temporary financial help could afford their tuition easily if they would just manage their money better. It swirls around us hoping to envelop us in its flow and to pull us in its direction. It has swept up many of our finest teachers
in its force - teachers who once stood up for their students with dignity, but now bow their heads in shame when parents confront them. Sadly, the light has gone out of their eyes too!
When the undercurrent comes to the surface, it gains momentum through solidarity - as was the case with Mr. Janczak's release. We all saw the undercurrent in action on that evening. They presented a united front - forget whether any of the innuendo tossed around that evening could be substantiated. A few undecided parents who considered leaving the school were immediately separated out and persuaded to stay through some loyalty to the school, or for the sake of their children, or through promises of "things will get better - you'll see". That night the undercurrent got stronger, and things got worse, not better.
Those of us who wrote letters supporting one of our parents who needed tuition assistance felt the instant force of the undercurrent - there was nothing friendly about it - it was strong and fierce with no chance of deviation from its course, it left us no room to take a breath - its purpose was to suck us down and hold us down until we gave in. And, we had to give in didn't we? After all, what choice do we have - the undercurrent holds our children too.
It may be easy for some to label me a troublemaker (no doubt the undercurrent will have a field day with me) simply because I have observed these events and drawn my own conclusions. Now that I have voiced my opinions, I'm sure the undercurrent will discredit me. You, too, may wonder how someone who brings such a negative view be anything but bad for the school. Please believe me when I say that nothing would make me happier than to be completely wrong about everything I have said here. Nothing would make me happier than to have the wonderful, well-balanced school we all expect, instead of the dysfunctional one we've all come to tolerate. I don't mind being labeled a troublemaker, however - better to go against the current of dishonesty than to become part of it. I contend that I am not the one doing harm to Highland Hall.
I believe the undercurrent are good people working within Highland Hall - people that have made their priority what they believe are the needs of the school. Unfortunately this has often proven to be at the cost of the needs of the children. This is not only morally wrong, it is bad business and ultimately detrimental to the school as much as to the children. Although they are well-meaning, I believe these people are doing this school serious harm and it is only by acknowledging what is happening that we can move forward from what are very dark times at Highland Hall.
I would like to challenge these people to acknowledge - if only to themselves - who they are and what they are doing and to please step back or step down. If you don't know whether you are part of the undercurrent, I'll help you discover this for yourself. If you put ANYTHING above the best interests of the children at Highland Hall, you are part of it - so shake yourself off and have a good look. If you are one of the ones who interviewed Mrs. DeVries and didn't notice anything wrong, please step down and let someone else do the interviewing from now on. If you discovered Mrs. Wilkins past history and didn't feel the moral obligation to inform the parents and protect the children of the school, please step aside and let someone else take your place. Whether or not you agreed with the outcome, if you saw nothing wrong with how the meeting of Mr. Janczak's release was conducted,
you are working not for, but in opposition to the good of the school. If you disagree with how things are, but feel pressured to go with the flow - please find a backbone now.
And, if you don't have enough backbone to stand up for what you believe is right, even if it may cause you discomfort among your peers or even cost you your job, please excuse yourselves from teaching our children. We expect, and our children deserve MUCH better!
I don't apologize for being so blunt - I have no time left to waste for my children's sake.
On this Independence Day I think of our forefathers and the suffering they had to endure to stand up for what they believed in, not because it was popular, not because it was easy, but because it was right! It's too late to undo the damage that has been done - and there has been a lot of damage at every level, to our school, to our friends, to our children - but we can avoid more damage by changing direction now. As we each notice the undercurrent that is demoralizing our school, we should be sure to acknowledge it, confront it, and be certain we are not swept unwillingly into its stream. Let's all try to work together to come to terms with what has happened recently and to push for changes so these mistakes (and the decisions that led to them) don't happen again. Let us group together and share our feelings - for in openness and honesty the undercurrent cannot survive. It is my sincere hope to affect a change for a stronger Highland Hall - one in which the requirements of the children take precedent over everything else. This is the
way I envision it and with God's will, the way it will be someday soon.
God bless us all,
Pete Karaiskos
Working with Highland Hall - Letter from a parent #1
July 5, 2001
To the College of Teachers:
At the meeting held Friday, June 22, 2001 I suggested you be kind to yourselves in the wake of your decisions regarding how you handled the Wendy and Jeffrey Wilkins debacle. For those of you not in attendance, I uncharacteristically went against the angry tide and tried to soothe your collective pain with, “No one had a crystal ball. You couldn’t possibly have known what would happen.” I would like to retract that statement now. After two weeks I have found many new facts that obliterate my sympathy. With a modicum of effort you could have had a whole lot of information about the appropriateness of Wendy as a class teacher and a pretty good guess as to what can happen when sexual offenders are left unchecked. With one small phone call from one of our own third grade parents to the Santa Barbara school and one phone call back, we uncovered not only history of Wendy’s incompetence as a teacher, but of Jeffrey’s sexual deviance. Wendy’s visa complications alone due to her admitted misdemeanor for breaking and entering should have been enough to raise an eyebrow, but by the neglect of the most obvious step in any hiring process-- running a cursory background check at even her most previous job where she had been fired, no less -- you put my children at unfathomable risk.
In January, you again had the opportunity to do the right thing and failed. When Jeffrey propositioned Cameron, did you then wonder enough to call the Santa Barbara school to find out about Wendy and her son’s past? If you didn’t, why not? And if you did and you got the information that we so easily accessed, God have mercy. You shared with us that you were given legal counsel to protect Jeffrey because he was a minor, but what about the other hundreds of children that were at risk under your care as students of the school? Isn’t that why you sit on the College? Aren’t you a body set up to look after the well being of the students? What about the dozens of children who have newly come forward and will forever bear the scars of those solicitations in the log cabin, those propositions on the play structure, those lewd images he passed to them in the library, the graphic and terrible lexicon that he wove into their games that is now imprinted on their little souls? I heard some third grade children talk about Wendy leaving Jeffrey alone in the classroom with them where he dropped his pants. I’ve heard he whipped it out as well in after-school care. I know that he offered money and toys in exchange for the children to play his “baby” and “cream” games and was successful in getting at least one child to touch his penis, who then in turn challenged the others in attendance to smell his “stinky hand.” My educated guess would suppose more were a part, that don’t dare come forward even if their parents are gentle and round about in their questioning. My daughter absolutely refuses to discuss with my husband or me something that one of her classmates told her at a sleepover recently. The pointed threats of secrecy have now made their way into my daughter’s lifelong openness with me. And there are others. What about these children bearing the most silent scars?
You made Wendy sign a contract that her son would be under close and constant supervision when visiting campus. What were you thinking? Wendy sent our children unescorted to the lower parking lot to retrieve items from her truck. She sent them up into trees twenty feet above ground by the amphitheater without an adult in sight. Daily she sent students outside the door for punishment with Jeffrey often hanging close by. How in heaven’s name did you think she could keep an eye on her teenage son? And what if the poor dear had to use the rest room while at school? Did you really think she’d escort him in there too? Is your world so insulated that you’ve never heard of children being molested time and again in the “privacy” of public restrooms? And then I heard at the June 22nd meeting that you hadn’t even told the rest of the school staff so that they could keep an eye on Jeffrey even if Wendy couldn’t? You couldn’t even trust your peers with your information. That seems awfully telling.
We heard tale in the meeting that Wendy was visibly upset when Jeffrey showed up at the school without her knowing that he was coming, but I’m beginning to feel it was more out of fear that her job would be jeopardized rather than that our children’s safety might be compromised. I first wondered if maybe this woman was working on a grave plane of denial, but let’s look at the facts. This is the woman who invited the children of her colleagues, as was shared at our own third grade meeting, to come to her house to “rest” between school and the evenings’ activities (namely our third grade play) and was left alone to play with Jeffrey. This is much deeper than denial. This is entrapment. But whether she was setting up to test her son’s mettle or our children’s survival skills really doesn’t matter. Her gross culpability has been clearly drawn and those children will never be the same.
I can’t begin to guess what part of you chose to ignore the enormous red flags to first bring in Mrs. Wilkins and then later to have her sign an impossibly generous contract rather than risk a libel suit, but I’m guessing it was not the heart to which I was drawn when I first came here. As the mother of a nine year-old, a six year-old and a seven month old, you may think that my association with Highland Hall is brief, but it was more than fifteen years ago I came to this school to do research for a play I was writing. I was so swept up by all the beauty that I encountered in this haven I vowed that if I was blessed with children someday; they would come here for their education. At that time I was recovering from my own wounds of a stalking, kidnapping, and abuse at the hands of a sexually deviant man, and I was heartened by the promise that here was a place far away from the violence and fear that had pulsed within my breast each day since the initial assault. Clearly, I was mistaken.
No place can offer complete sanctuary from the holds of a world gone wrong, but never again will I blindly put my children in a place that doesn’t make every effort to keep them protected when I can’t be there to do it myself. I take full responsibility for that classic dilemma of a victim/survivor; a desire to empathize and over trust to make all the hurt and pain go away as expediently as possible. But I would like to warn you, if you think these children that have been left in Jeffrey’s wake are “just fine,” or unaffected by what he has done to them, I caution you to rethink the impact of Cameron’s statement shared tearfully by his mother, Merrie, at the June 22nd meeting. Upon learning that Wendy’s contract had been terminated because “she needed to take care of Jeffrey”, Cameron said, “Oh, Mommy, if that boy that hurt Jeffrey only knew how much pain he’s caused, he would feel so bad!” Cameron feels anguish for Jeffrey and his alleged first perpetrator and the pain goes on and on and on. I’ve also seen this misplaced concern in the letter that you were offering a severance package to Wendy. Stop this madness. Isn’t it time to take care of the real victims here?
Please step up now and acknowledge the harm you have done to our children by your negligence and fear. Stop looking at how the school can grow out (into new buildings) and look at how you might grow inside from this horrible ordeal. And to that end I offer this from Ralph Waldo Emerson, from his essay “Self Reliance.”
These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint
and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in
conspiracy against the manhood of everyone of its members. Society
is a joint-stock company, in which members agree, for the better
securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty
and the culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity.
Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but
names and customs.
Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist. He who
would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of
goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last
sacred but the integrity of your own mind.
I would have given my right arm for just one of you to have been brave enough to listen to your heart when it shouted back in January that it was wrong, that a crime had been committed against one of your colleague’s own little boys, and stood up to say it was dishonest and dangerous allowing that secret to remain so closely guarded. I, too, was advised by the police, the District Attorney, and various counsels not to press charges against my attacker because he was a well connected man in this town with a future as bright as my own. And like you having to hold the hurt of those children in your heart, I bear the scars of a bad decision when I heard my attacker had gone on to rape more beyond me; people whose lives would forever after be marred but a heinous act of violence. But you, unlike I, still have the opportunity in your statute of limitations to at least stop this pain from going further. You must do right by those children that were already hurt and you must stop counseling your peers to keep quiet. You must ask them to share with others the horrible acts that have unfolded so that it may never, ever happen again. You must help them find the way to report it to the proper authorities and insist that Jeffrey be given counseling and stick with it and that every school that he attends from here on out have record of his propensity toward sexual inappropriateness. You must also find a way to keep Wendy from ever putting children at risk again. And then you must again, most finally and no less importantly, return your attention to the children left in your care or let someone else into your inner sanctum that can do the job as it should be done. It’s not enough to pray this away. It’s time for you do the right thing.
And I must now do what I consider the right thing for my children too. I have no trust left for my initial instincts in entrusting you with my children. Kai and Ruby graduated blissfully from the dreamy world of Janet, Liis, and Laura. And you have taken away the only other two at the school that I have utterly loved, when you sent Andrew away against our class’ protest and shuffled Christine to put out the other fire. So now, I have no desire to keep them on the once hallowed grounds of my naive dreams at Highland Hall with an impossible hope that this time you’ll get it right. I can assure you Kai will be devastated not to go up the hill with the rest of the little kings in his class, to not join in the rose ceremony and someday play for the Hawks as he and his friends have vowed. Ruby’s dreams of growing into the big yard, being in the school musical, playing in the orchestra, helping her little sister Violet up the hill will be dashed as well, but I simply cannot bring my children back to a place that seems to have forgotten what brought us all together in the first place ... the children.
I am so sorry that this is where we go our separate ways. I have never fancied myself as a quitter, but for my children, I will do anything to give them the world of hope, trust and safety that was torn from me far too young. I bid you well in your journey of healing.
Sincerely,
Jane Sibbett
To the College of Teachers:
At the meeting held Friday, June 22, 2001 I suggested you be kind to yourselves in the wake of your decisions regarding how you handled the Wendy and Jeffrey Wilkins debacle. For those of you not in attendance, I uncharacteristically went against the angry tide and tried to soothe your collective pain with, “No one had a crystal ball. You couldn’t possibly have known what would happen.” I would like to retract that statement now. After two weeks I have found many new facts that obliterate my sympathy. With a modicum of effort you could have had a whole lot of information about the appropriateness of Wendy as a class teacher and a pretty good guess as to what can happen when sexual offenders are left unchecked. With one small phone call from one of our own third grade parents to the Santa Barbara school and one phone call back, we uncovered not only history of Wendy’s incompetence as a teacher, but of Jeffrey’s sexual deviance. Wendy’s visa complications alone due to her admitted misdemeanor for breaking and entering should have been enough to raise an eyebrow, but by the neglect of the most obvious step in any hiring process-- running a cursory background check at even her most previous job where she had been fired, no less -- you put my children at unfathomable risk.
In January, you again had the opportunity to do the right thing and failed. When Jeffrey propositioned Cameron, did you then wonder enough to call the Santa Barbara school to find out about Wendy and her son’s past? If you didn’t, why not? And if you did and you got the information that we so easily accessed, God have mercy. You shared with us that you were given legal counsel to protect Jeffrey because he was a minor, but what about the other hundreds of children that were at risk under your care as students of the school? Isn’t that why you sit on the College? Aren’t you a body set up to look after the well being of the students? What about the dozens of children who have newly come forward and will forever bear the scars of those solicitations in the log cabin, those propositions on the play structure, those lewd images he passed to them in the library, the graphic and terrible lexicon that he wove into their games that is now imprinted on their little souls? I heard some third grade children talk about Wendy leaving Jeffrey alone in the classroom with them where he dropped his pants. I’ve heard he whipped it out as well in after-school care. I know that he offered money and toys in exchange for the children to play his “baby” and “cream” games and was successful in getting at least one child to touch his penis, who then in turn challenged the others in attendance to smell his “stinky hand.” My educated guess would suppose more were a part, that don’t dare come forward even if their parents are gentle and round about in their questioning. My daughter absolutely refuses to discuss with my husband or me something that one of her classmates told her at a sleepover recently. The pointed threats of secrecy have now made their way into my daughter’s lifelong openness with me. And there are others. What about these children bearing the most silent scars?
You made Wendy sign a contract that her son would be under close and constant supervision when visiting campus. What were you thinking? Wendy sent our children unescorted to the lower parking lot to retrieve items from her truck. She sent them up into trees twenty feet above ground by the amphitheater without an adult in sight. Daily she sent students outside the door for punishment with Jeffrey often hanging close by. How in heaven’s name did you think she could keep an eye on her teenage son? And what if the poor dear had to use the rest room while at school? Did you really think she’d escort him in there too? Is your world so insulated that you’ve never heard of children being molested time and again in the “privacy” of public restrooms? And then I heard at the June 22nd meeting that you hadn’t even told the rest of the school staff so that they could keep an eye on Jeffrey even if Wendy couldn’t? You couldn’t even trust your peers with your information. That seems awfully telling.
We heard tale in the meeting that Wendy was visibly upset when Jeffrey showed up at the school without her knowing that he was coming, but I’m beginning to feel it was more out of fear that her job would be jeopardized rather than that our children’s safety might be compromised. I first wondered if maybe this woman was working on a grave plane of denial, but let’s look at the facts. This is the woman who invited the children of her colleagues, as was shared at our own third grade meeting, to come to her house to “rest” between school and the evenings’ activities (namely our third grade play) and was left alone to play with Jeffrey. This is much deeper than denial. This is entrapment. But whether she was setting up to test her son’s mettle or our children’s survival skills really doesn’t matter. Her gross culpability has been clearly drawn and those children will never be the same.
I can’t begin to guess what part of you chose to ignore the enormous red flags to first bring in Mrs. Wilkins and then later to have her sign an impossibly generous contract rather than risk a libel suit, but I’m guessing it was not the heart to which I was drawn when I first came here. As the mother of a nine year-old, a six year-old and a seven month old, you may think that my association with Highland Hall is brief, but it was more than fifteen years ago I came to this school to do research for a play I was writing. I was so swept up by all the beauty that I encountered in this haven I vowed that if I was blessed with children someday; they would come here for their education. At that time I was recovering from my own wounds of a stalking, kidnapping, and abuse at the hands of a sexually deviant man, and I was heartened by the promise that here was a place far away from the violence and fear that had pulsed within my breast each day since the initial assault. Clearly, I was mistaken.
No place can offer complete sanctuary from the holds of a world gone wrong, but never again will I blindly put my children in a place that doesn’t make every effort to keep them protected when I can’t be there to do it myself. I take full responsibility for that classic dilemma of a victim/survivor; a desire to empathize and over trust to make all the hurt and pain go away as expediently as possible. But I would like to warn you, if you think these children that have been left in Jeffrey’s wake are “just fine,” or unaffected by what he has done to them, I caution you to rethink the impact of Cameron’s statement shared tearfully by his mother, Merrie, at the June 22nd meeting. Upon learning that Wendy’s contract had been terminated because “she needed to take care of Jeffrey”, Cameron said, “Oh, Mommy, if that boy that hurt Jeffrey only knew how much pain he’s caused, he would feel so bad!” Cameron feels anguish for Jeffrey and his alleged first perpetrator and the pain goes on and on and on. I’ve also seen this misplaced concern in the letter that you were offering a severance package to Wendy. Stop this madness. Isn’t it time to take care of the real victims here?
Please step up now and acknowledge the harm you have done to our children by your negligence and fear. Stop looking at how the school can grow out (into new buildings) and look at how you might grow inside from this horrible ordeal. And to that end I offer this from Ralph Waldo Emerson, from his essay “Self Reliance.”
These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint
and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in
conspiracy against the manhood of everyone of its members. Society
is a joint-stock company, in which members agree, for the better
securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty
and the culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity.
Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but
names and customs.
Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist. He who
would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of
goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last
sacred but the integrity of your own mind.
I would have given my right arm for just one of you to have been brave enough to listen to your heart when it shouted back in January that it was wrong, that a crime had been committed against one of your colleague’s own little boys, and stood up to say it was dishonest and dangerous allowing that secret to remain so closely guarded. I, too, was advised by the police, the District Attorney, and various counsels not to press charges against my attacker because he was a well connected man in this town with a future as bright as my own. And like you having to hold the hurt of those children in your heart, I bear the scars of a bad decision when I heard my attacker had gone on to rape more beyond me; people whose lives would forever after be marred but a heinous act of violence. But you, unlike I, still have the opportunity in your statute of limitations to at least stop this pain from going further. You must do right by those children that were already hurt and you must stop counseling your peers to keep quiet. You must ask them to share with others the horrible acts that have unfolded so that it may never, ever happen again. You must help them find the way to report it to the proper authorities and insist that Jeffrey be given counseling and stick with it and that every school that he attends from here on out have record of his propensity toward sexual inappropriateness. You must also find a way to keep Wendy from ever putting children at risk again. And then you must again, most finally and no less importantly, return your attention to the children left in your care or let someone else into your inner sanctum that can do the job as it should be done. It’s not enough to pray this away. It’s time for you do the right thing.
And I must now do what I consider the right thing for my children too. I have no trust left for my initial instincts in entrusting you with my children. Kai and Ruby graduated blissfully from the dreamy world of Janet, Liis, and Laura. And you have taken away the only other two at the school that I have utterly loved, when you sent Andrew away against our class’ protest and shuffled Christine to put out the other fire. So now, I have no desire to keep them on the once hallowed grounds of my naive dreams at Highland Hall with an impossible hope that this time you’ll get it right. I can assure you Kai will be devastated not to go up the hill with the rest of the little kings in his class, to not join in the rose ceremony and someday play for the Hawks as he and his friends have vowed. Ruby’s dreams of growing into the big yard, being in the school musical, playing in the orchestra, helping her little sister Violet up the hill will be dashed as well, but I simply cannot bring my children back to a place that seems to have forgotten what brought us all together in the first place ... the children.
I am so sorry that this is where we go our separate ways. I have never fancied myself as a quitter, but for my children, I will do anything to give them the world of hope, trust and safety that was torn from me far too young. I bid you well in your journey of healing.
Sincerely,
Jane Sibbett
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