Key School - We stand together

I have met and heard Carolyn Surrick. I believe her, and in her, and that brought me to this page. Beyond this petition, I support her current efforts re passage of the Child Victoms Act to be passed by both the House and the Senate of Maryland. All signers of this petition should see her remarkable video 6:04 'A Survivors Story' on YouTube.

I was Lisa Swartout at the time I attended Key school

I witnessed the worst of the abuse,and benifitted from a great education.At the time I graduated I just felt confused and dirty...how could a teacher sleep with a close friend and classmate?Why did I have to go to art classes taught by a drunk womanizing teacher. I have been revulsed at hearing Key mentioned for the last 40 some painful years.Now I know why,I was surrounded by rapists and victims in great pain,I was in pain too.I have avoided that pain since the day I graduated,what human wouldnt. Thank you Carolyn and the many other victims that have come forward.Maybe now we All can heal.I still dislike hearing about key,but now I know why.We all deserve to be freed from the life of confusion,revulsion,and horror that Key senteced us to.The Rape victims deserve,legal and financial remediation. Maybe now I can accept my past association w Key.

Whatever we can heal will spill over to heal all of everybody.

I taught at Key from 82’ - 86’. It has truly saddened me and commend your persistence for voicing your truth!

I was a 5th and 6th grader at Key from 1967-69. As part of a military family I left for Oklahoma half way through 6th. My heart goes out to any of you who were affected. I have only just learned about this, and don’t think it was happening to any of my classmates then—I hope not. I stand with you regardless.

I Pat Schmidt am not surprised that Paul Stonehams past is catching up to him.What is totaly shocking is that is has taken almost 5 decades before this creep gets his just deserts and that the law inforcement folks in Annapolis are not interested in bringing this gutless preadator to justice! Some of faculty at Key in the 1970's were not only improperly involved sexualy with the kids that they were supposed to be teaching and protecting but also at times physicaly abusive as well...I witnessed Walter Voight grabbing an 8th grader with both hands and ripping his shirt as well as Peter Perhonis take out his anger on one of my classmates Tony Ritchie by throwing a desk against a wall destroying it in front of 20 plus very young students in Greek class most of whom were only 11 or 12 years old and were all scared beyond belief! Paul Stoneham married one of his students Dana Burton (she is almost 2 decades younger than him!) and she divorced him in 1993 I wonder how many favorable grades some of these students were given as a result of their sexual favors as well as positive college referals? I hope that these hired attorneys are investigating not only the sexual activity but also the physical violence by the Key school faculty as well but Im sure theres a statute of limitations on the criminal side so the likes of Paul Stoneham can enjoy his life in Fort Lauderdale ,Florida teaching and counseling more young college kids while his victims continue to fail to get the justice they truly desserve!!!

I was in the Key School class of 1980 and am not surprised at all that these skeletons are coming out of Paul Stonehams closet.

Good luck Carolyn and the other former students of Key school who were abused by these oversexed,selfish,criminal baby rapers I hope you get your revenge against those that harmed you its decades overdue but its time to drain this swamp!

I stand with the brave survivors and alumnae speaking out for justice and healing. Alums from many schools are with you.

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In 1973-1974, the Watergate scandal blasted through the headlines. A nation turned and roiled over news articles that depicted the insidious corruption that had crept out of D.C. But not far away, in the small enclave of a private school touting its progressive, mind-stretching program -- another form of corruption unfolded -- adults preyed on children. During my matriculation, among my peers, rumors skittered through the grounds, the library, and all the buildings. After hours, at parties or on the phone, more stories reached us about teachers misusing their positions in insidious and invasive ways. We heard; we discussed, and we also saw small, overt traces of evidence that included inappropriate touching. A hand trailed across a young teen’s back; necks squeezed and stroked. While, individually or collectively, the predators wore leering, leaning in faces -- their shoulders arched as they hovered and circled like vultures preparing to gouge. But beneath the surface of these confusing public displays, rumors thickened with depictions of murkier, criminal assaults of unfathomable depths. And on and off, here and there, even years after graduation, these tales continued to dapple and disturb the conversations of current and former students. The persistence of these stories and the crushed, wary glances of those targeted, coupled with the lurching swagger of the abusers, created a conviction among the student witnesses that these compiling catastrophic chunks of data had fused into a galvanized series of facts -- and worse -- normalcy. Those in charge or those close to power engaged in ignorance, fecklessness, or other forms of undermining denial. Those who saw something, anything, yet chose to sink into a hush-hush mentality, played into and enabled the multiple desecrations that unfolded day in and day out, night after night, year after year, and now I have heard -- decade after decade after decade. So many knew something or some bit, some shard abou

I was a student at Baltimore City College High School in the 80's. One of my teachers openly dated a student; they wound up getting married. Maybe not ideal... but now in 2018, should I now go on a mission to destroy City College as a result of that teacher/student relationship?

In a wonderfully twisted way, Laurel, you and your cordial ferocity just made my year. Maybe even the last 17 years! All: Hearing each and every one of your brave voices has been so very vindicating. I haven’t felt this way since I changed schools (thank you Jesus) and didn’t have to hide during PE anymore.

KNEW IT! Stand tall, backward gazebos.

Suggest contacting Detective Matthew Phalen with the Anne Arundel Co. Police. [email protected]

As a student at Key in the 1980's I was aware at the time of a relationship between a teacher and a student. I will not name either party out of respect for the victim to come forward on their own if they so choose. At the time the legality of the relationship never crossed my immature mind. I remember thinking "wow, what a sleazy weirdo" the teacher was. And "why would the student want to be with them?" I had a couple experiences with teachers at Key that were not abuse but were rather odd and awkward and would surely not fly today. I hope that anyone that has suffered from this abuse can find strength and happiness now and any perpetrator of abuse will meet justice.

Here is the information about how to reach the investigators. I hope that EVERYONE who can will meet with them. It's been a long time coming. Let your voices be heard. Andrew Jay Graham and Jean E. Lewis of Kramon & Graham, PA have been retained to conduct an independent factual investigation of alleged instances of adult sexual misconduct involving students at the Key School, and to prepare a report containing their findings. If you believe you have information that is pertinent to the investigation, please contact them at [email protected] or [email protected] or at 410-752-6030 to make arrangements for a confidential interview. https://www.facebook.com/keyschoolwestandtogether/photos/a.1295823837185269.1073741828.1289259827841670/1339827152784937/?type=3

I recognize the courage it takes to speak out, even anonymously. Please let us know if there is any way we can support you.

It happened to us young boys in the lower school too. Straight up sexual abuse. The word “inappropriate” makes people feel better, but it was abuse.