The problem with the school system.

Ordinarily, say if someone were putting together a piece of furniture, their logic would be much more astute, if something looks too loose they would say "oops, that's not right", accepting their mistake without a second thought. So why are people so irrational otherwise?

The school system teaches people that reality is the ultimate test and to look for errors in yourself when you make a mistake, it then teaches people to view authority figures in the same way, to them their teachers, and future employers, are as infallible as reality itself. Thus they grow dependent on external validation processes, either reality or authority, and when they need to rely on their own validation processes their logic is far more flawed.

Abused but culprits go scot-free


SUFFERED: Mr Edward Bowen, an alumni of the elite Horace Mann School, is one of a group asking the school's board of trustees to investigate the charges.

STUDENTS at one of America's most prestigious schools were abused by paedophile teachers for more than three decades.

   But US prosecutors said they were unable to file charges because the crimes happened long ago, officials in New York said last Friday.

   The Bronx District Attorney's Office said in a statement that police had uncovered evidence of "systemic" abuse of pupils at the famous Horace Mann School, spanning a 34-year period from 1962 to 1996.

   However, no charges would be filed because of the state's statute of limitations laws.

   Founded in 1887, Horace Mann is seen as offering the best education money can buy with an annual tuition fee of almost US$40,000.
 
  It was the subject of an expose in the New York Times Magazine last June, in which a former student alleged there had been numerous cases of sexual contact between students and teachers during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

   After the article, a number of alleged victims came forward saying they had also suffered sexual abuse at the school. "In total, we received direct information regarding at least 12 separate alleged abusers," the statement from the Bronx District Attorney's office read.

   "The reported abuses ranged from what may be characterized as inappropriate behaviour to child endangerment, actual instances of sexual contact, sexual intercourse and criminal sexual acts."

   But because so much time had passed, prosecutors said they were unable to file charges.

   In most of the cases, the statute of limitation for paedophilia-related charges was five years or less, they said. - AFP.