Key School - We stand together

I remember this sadly and admire Carolyn tremendously for bringing it into the open.

because the truth will always come out

A problem that has been glossed over or swept under the carpet for way to long, it deserves honest airing and attention.

Dis lit

I have been torn about this for a long time, but I am glad to see so many people speaking out. Key is an incredibly special place to me -- it shaped who I am in wonderful ways, and I see its positive legacy in my worldview, my work, and my sense of connection to my neighborhood, region, country, and planet. In the face of so much that has been gutting the American educational system, I was (and still am) scared to see the backlash from this sort of reckoning potentially take out a place that has so much to offer. I also see now that the undercurrent, the culture of silencing has continued, which makes it far too possible for more people to be hurt. Yes, Key, along with so many other institutions, needs to engage in an open, independently-run process of truth and reconciliation. For every story being aired, there are many others in the hearts of alumni who are still too hurt or frightened to step forward. I emerged relatively unscathed, but far too many of my friends were pulled into situations that left them feeling confused, doubting themselves, puzzled about healthy boundaries, and sometimes self-destructive. And yes, I saw instance after instance in which certain administrators seemed to be inclined to push students out of sight rather than risk hurting the school's reputation and losing teachers who in other ways helped to bolster that reputation. When Key was at its best, it taught us that we were all welcome and valued voices. We talked about remarkable books, world issues, visions for other ways of living. We challenged easy assumptions. We learned to talk to each other in ways that communicated mutual respect, even when we disagreed intensely. I hope that Key will realize that this principle needs to extend to subjects that make administrators and fundraising staff uncomfortable. Handled openly and honestly, truth and reconciliation could make Key a stronger and healthier place without undermining the school's ability to foster wonder, curiosity

I was at Key in the mid 70's and never knew this was happening. My sympathies go out to all those hurt, know you have my support. It takes a tremendous amount of personal courage to stand up and tell your story. As I was reading all the comments I was reminded of a paper titled The Bathsheba Syndrome: The Ethical Failure of Successful Leaders, by Dean Ludwig and Clinton Longenecker. As moral relativism continues to gain strength in our culture, this problem will continue to grow. I am hoping the recent headlines consuming our news these past few months does not slowly fade away as it has so many times in the past, and that there is some actual progress on this subject within society. Protecting our children is our number one priority.

Having spent thirty four of my most joyous, productive and gratifying years at this institution, I am deeply saddened and grief-stricken, to become suddenly aware of the extent to which so much pain and anguish has occurred, at all, never mind while I was here at Key. My support and prayers go out to all affected.

9 “If your child asks you for bread, would any of you give him a stone? 10 Or if your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake?“

Class of '95. I stand with you.

I’m with Ginger A. for healing to begin the silence must end. It is time. Thanks for the persistence and strength girlfriends!

If healing is to occur, the culture of silence must end. You owe that to the survivors.

It’s about time.

Yes, please use my support to help carry this investigation further.

I saw it unfolding at the time and I saw the effect it had on my contemporaries and me and I was saddened to meet a younger Key woman who had the exact same experience I had, ten years later, and had the same self-doubt, anger, and fear. I hope talking about it with me helped her move beyond some of it before it consumed her whole life, too. It took me many decades to unlearn some of the lessons that I learned at that school about men and their nature as predators. I spent all the years that I should have been falling in love believing that men, by their nature, want to know women only to break them down so they can be used like animals, which is how those teachers operated – disguising themselves as mentors and friends and digging at girls’ insecurities and vulnerabilities, manipulating their desire to be understood and seen as human and then using them like broken horses. It was a flawed experiment in progressive culture – sex positive and free thinking and one that allowed young women to be systematically diminished and taught young men profoundly misogynist assumptions. We need to recognize how these things unfold and recognize their moral turpitude if we are going to progress to a society safe for everyone in it, even young girls who are no match for grown men who are not required to respect their dignity. I support a full airing of this sick history for the sake of those who continue to struggle with it and for the benefit of a culture that needs to progress.

Key Lifer (99-13). Standing in solidarity with survivors. Never heard of any incidents of sexual misconduct by faculty when I was there...but if the school covered up or protected abusers in the past, that means we were all at risk. Hope that the investigation is impartial and thorough, that survivors are believed and supported, and that clear safeguards and practices are put in place to prevent this from happening again. Key taught me & my classmates a commitment to ethical rigor and honesty...hope it will practice those same virtues here.

I had heard rumors and stories about particular old guard teachers but never witnessed any of this during my time at key(89-02)

Standing with you all

Let the healing begin. I would love to help get the conversation started. Let's not be afraid anymore.

I was aware of what was going on from 1966 to 1978 while I attended. NOTHING was done about it. It was just ignored...swept under the rug. It is TIME that the affected students get satisfaction.

Much of who I am comes from my time at Key, and I remember it fondly. I was just there and it still seems special. And there were always rumors, among the students. I hope the school leadership reckons now with the past forthrightly.