When I was a kid, I was physically and sexually abused by multiple teachers at King's House School in Richmond, London. This is me at the time of the abuse, in the school uniform:
I decided I would make an effort to help other victims of institutional abuse at the school. So, I added information to King's House School's Wikipedia page.
The first piece of information I added was based on a court case where a former teacher was convicted of sexually abusing a child. Here is a screenshot of what I added to the page:
And I linked to the court case: http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/11521942.Richmond_school_saddened_it_could_not_stop_paedophile_teacher_s__deplorable__crimes/
Soon afterwards, this was deleted by someone representing the school. Here is a screenshot of the deletion:
"Historic abuse case not particularly relevant to a broad overview of the school"? What kind of people consider the fact that teachers at a school are raping the children is not 'particularly relevant to a broad overview of the school'?
You were raped by a teacher? Well, that's not particularly relevant. What's more relevant, and should definitely stay on the page, is that the school has a 35-acre sport ground and club house.
I think we can all agree that the sports field is much more relevant to a broad overview of the school than child rape:
So, I undid the deletion and added more information on the abuse at the school. I wrote:
And I linked to my Steemit posts with extensive accounts of the abuse:
https://steemit.com/psychology/@matrjoschka/how-do-i-express-my-anger-at-the-school-that-abused-me
And:
But again, someone representing the school quickly deleted this:
Unverified allegations from a blog? The entire wikipedia page for King's House School is built from citations from the school's own website, and this person claims my blog is unverified? I've included extensive detail of the abuse, photographs of school reports and enough information to identify the teachers concerned. But my 'allegations' are 'unverified'?
King's House School's entire existence is unverified. Someone needs to take a serious look at the school and what it did, and is doing, to the children in it.
Why would a school delete evidence from a former survivor of its abuse if it was no longer abusing children?
I responded to the school's attempt to erase its crimes with this:
It's been interesting to watch how institutions attempt to manipulate the records of their own history, and to silence the voices of those who speak out against them. I hope that others who were abused at King's House School can share their stories and join the chorus of free-thinkers who are ready to fight for the freedom of human beings. People who are brave enough to face the past and heal the future.
Thank you Steemit.
I'm proud of you! Keep exposing them!
I can only imagine the trauma you experienced and I hope you are getting the relief you deserve. I've had post traumatic stress since I was a teenager from my sister's suicide attempt. I had to carry her naked lifeless body down our stairs and I witnessed my mother shitting herself from one side of the house to the other. My youth minister and I cleaned up the house the next day. The images are vivid 23 years later. I'm finally getting some help after all this time of holding it in...relief has been slow to come
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Thank you for your strength and honesty, @mantishands
I highly recommend this:
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I used it recreationally a handful of times in college back in the 90s and will look into this...thank you
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Have you done this MDMA therapy?
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It was part of my healing process; not the only part, but a very, very significant part.
It's like ten years of therapy in five hours, but can still take several sessions to reach the core. It attenuates activity in the amygdala (reduces fear reaction in response to revisiting trauma memories) while enhancing self-empathy. It's a remarkable dual-effect which makes it very effective for PTSD (which I believe many humans have without knowing it).
http://www.mdmaptsd.org/infographic.html
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that is a horrible image you just described....
"naked lifeless body" It really puts your memory in front center stage. It sounds like a novel, but yet, it's your memory and something that has tormented you.
I also was severely damaged from my own dad's suicide attempt....he hung himself in our family home. He survived though because the belt buckle broke. The image of my dad hanging in our house haunted me for a long time.
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Hi Stella Bella! Thanks for your reply!
I'm very sorry for what you saw. I know the feelings you experienced were awful.
I would be willing to try any therapy...I can't do anything illegal though because I'm going through a divorce and have to take drug screens. I started seeing a doctor 18-19 months ago because of a depressive episode and my wife has claimed everything bad she could think of against me including being a drugged out maniac. It's a mess but its okay. Yah has my back!
This is the first time I've ever written about it on a public forum and was inspired by @matrjoschka
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The more you write and face the reality, the less power it has over you. That's been my experience anyway.
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I think you're right. Apparently, I'm a slow learner...Ha! I've always found that comedy and especially the self-deprecating kind has kept me going. Writing about it, though, will add another arrow in my quiver to attack the pain. It's definitely time...and I'm looking forward to following your work.
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Glad to have you back @matrjoschka, always appreciate your writings and your openness about your past.
Deleting the files related to the systematic abuse at this school is just another slap in the face to the survivors. I think it's a good thing you detailed some of the abuse on the blockchain and it already seems a wise decision.
Resteeming
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Thanks @v4vapid
I took a break from Steemit to do more self-exploration. I'm glad I took some time out, but I'm back and I'm singing :)
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It's good that you are talking about this. Usually men are discouraged from discussing these things.
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Yes, we were conditioned to hide our emotions by those who programmed us in the first few years of life.
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I am happy you're discussing this reality. It feels like you have some objective distance from your experiences. I went through a similar thing when i wrote a book. It taught me to confront my horrors head-on, process what happened and then be able to discuss things objectively.
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On so many levels it is good to get this information out in the public eye. Folks need to be aware of this. It is also therapeutic for you. I am sure they cover it up it is all about PR. They need to protect their image and reputation. there are probably folks that know about this and just do not say anything. I once was physically abused by a teacher and was afraid to speak out in fear of her lowering my grades or failing me. Thanks for sharing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
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Thanks for your support and for sharing what happened to you @enjoywithtroy
I've begun to wonder if the most of the school system is simply a training-ground for creating passive workers who won't speak out against authority. Luckily, it doesn't successfully condition every kid.
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Thank you so much for the courage it takes to be so open and honest about the abuse you have suffered. It's people like you that give others the courage to speak out so we can stop this shit once and for all.
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Thanks you @lyndsaybowes,
I was beaten and sexually abused by so many 'adults' when I grew up in England that I can only make the educated guess that this was a crime on the scale of the holocaust, but it was, and is, covered up. Because our society still views children as beings we must 'educate', in other words: Control.
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Good lord. I can't imagine how this has affected you. I have read about some other cases too, all in England. Did that affect the way you thought about school, and did you continue studies after this?
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Thanks for reading @stellabelle
I didn't really have any choice but to continue through the system of British society. There was nowhere else to go.
The British government and the BBC were both running paedophile rings. The entire structure of the country, from the Prime Minister down, was (is) designed to enable and conceal child-rape. I was on a island of horrors that still very few people want to talk about.
Presumably it's still happening, since there seems to have been no national reflection on these crimes. Many British people think they have a proud and honourable history and like to wave the flag. It's deeply unsettling.
Thatcher 'Turned Blind Eye' To Paedophile MPs
http://news.sky.com/story/thatcher-turned-blind-eye-to-paedophile-mps-10368694
The BBC Reporter Who Exposed The Jimmy Savile Paedophile Scandal Has Been Found Dead
http://www.sickchirpse.com/bbc-reporter-exposed-jimmy-savile-paedophile-scandal-dead/
Former British Prime Minister 'Raped 11-Year-Old Boy'
https://www.marieclaire.com.au/british-prime-minister-sir-edward-heath-alleged-rape?category=News
That's just a few crimes that were exposed. It was (is? — I left the country) everywhere in the UK. The British have a strong tradition of child rape and a strong mythology of being a great empire.
Hopefully things can change as more people speak out.
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Bravo for your bravery in shedding light on the institutional abuse suffered by you and others. As for them deleting evidence, this is another benefit of blockchain tech. Tough shit they can't delete anything here. Steem on!
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Yes, this makes me fully appreciate the incredible power of Steemit to facilitate social change. Finally we have a true historical record.
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@matrjoschka, this disgusts me. Wikipedia has an agenda and that is not our best interest. I feel ashamed I gave them money in the past. Feel assured that the truth is on the Steem blockchain.
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Thanks @vander. Yes it feels horrible to have my history erased by the organizations who raped me.
What do you feel is Wikipedias agenda?
I feel like the site is vulnerable to manipulation, but at least I can attempt to change the record there. Definitely an improvement on history books :)
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your're right. This sentence was really powerful. It's not Wikipedia with the agenda, it's only the humans are flawed, because they're trying to delete their ugliness....keep doing what you're doing. Never give up.
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Thanks :)
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Their agenda is to maintain the status quo, echo the elites, keep the sheeple subdued. And all for our own good!
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this is really sad to know how could they do that :(
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Thanks @blazing
It is sad. It is such a glaring example of how history is edited by the powerful.
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Yes, this warrants a full story for sure. Steemit's power is really showing in this post.
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Upvoted. I'll be resteeming this now :)
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Thank you, @opc.
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I am saddened and sorry that such a despicable tragedy were to occur to you, in an institution that was meant to educate and protect you.
It seems to me, that in the case of King's House School, this was very already an ongoing despicably evil culture. Your effort in uprooting this behaviour is much needed.
With information becoming more and more widespread avaiable, we should, as a community, look to iradicate cancerous situations like the one you had to endure at the hands of the very people who should have been protecting you.
There is no choice but to move forward from here and work towards making sure less instances of this occurs in our society.
God Speed Brethren.
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Thank you @bitopia, your support gives me so much strength.
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A new era is emerging, one where the truth will not be able to be hidden behind closed doors. We shall forward in ushering in this reality such that the past of secrecy and the pain in can brood will be put behind us.
I have followed you and will keep up with you.
God Speed Brethren.
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I live in Baltimore, MD, USA. Recently a documentary called "The Keepers" was made about one school and it's sexual abuse over decades. The city was shaken up at first but the healing has begun. I think shining a light on it might hurt, but it could prevent further abuse. Be a hero for the untold children who will NOT be victimized. Stand steadfast and pray others will be brave!
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Thanks @pastbastard
I really appreciate you sharing this with me. I will watch this documentary you recommend.
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I'm really sorry you went through that.
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Thanks @jdmas, I am sorry I went though it too. But I am glad I went through it, because now I view myself as someone who can change the institutionalized, ritualized abuse systems that condition children en-masse across our planet. It was extremely painful to experience, but now I know how to stop it because I understand their systems.
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You're very strong. You were able to use this experience to begin a change. Some people would have just broken down.
It takes a lot of guts to remember.
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I was close to breaking down many times.
This thing they call depression...
And so few people ask what memories they are depressing.
I did.
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i'm sorry for you :(
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I enjoyed reading your post. There is a lot of good stuff.
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This is too bad children should not be mistreated in any way. To those who abused the kid in any way must be punished in a way
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Thanks @princeshady5
I feel that talking about what happened is our best defence against it happening again.
Speaking out is freedom.
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Thank you @shihabieee
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I like your post. @matrjoschka I have followed you. You're doing good. I wish you continued success.I will keep on following you and commenting on the upvote resteem. Goodbye for now, my familiar :)
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Thank you, @cryptoocurrency. Thank you for hearing me.
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OH god, this is horrible! I am glad you wrote this, so we can see what is the reality of Wikipedia....actually, wikipedia is similar to here, as far as people wanting certain things on here, or hidden....except in here, you get to see what someone tried to delete!
As a victim of sex abuse myself, I feel for you. Can you imagine my horror, when i found out that the teenage boy who molested me became an elementary teacher?
I lived in a Christian community where talking about sex was avoided.....I think the sexual repression plays a big role in abuse, at least I think this was the case in my community.
Thanks for revealing this info.
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Thanks for sharing this @stellabelle
Yes, I agree that sexual repression by organized religions can be a disguise for their sexual obsession. The bigger the front; the bigger the back. In other words: some religions are secretly sexually depraved while preaching abstinence.
I was additionally abused in my local church. While the priest spoke from the pulpit about free sexual activity being unacceptable, him and other 'Christian' people were molesting children in the back rooms.
I also think that if a human is not allowed to go through the natural stages of sexual expression, then they can get stuck at an earlier developmental stage and this could explain some incidences of paedophilia. In short, I think you're onto something: Some religious communities are actually the cause of the sexual violence they claim to prohibit.
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Wow I admire you For coming out and sharing your story to expose them .... I'm sorry that happened to you as a kid 🙁No child should ever go through that ...
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Thanks for your support @dd7
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Thanks for Honesty
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Thank you for reading, @aliraza686877
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Sorry u went through that...God will expose them all
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Thank you @adabless
I hope they are exposed too.
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Man, that is fucked up. I hope justice was served.
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Thanks for reading, @aldentan
Justice is being served very slowly. Typically, after the abusers die. The British Government and police force has very little interest in exposing these crimes because it participated in them.
The main enquiry is doing nothing: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/fourth-chair-of-child-abuse-inquiry-faces-calls-to-be-sacked_uk_582ee580e4b0b8f77010b9c7
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AFter they die what the fuck?
Man. Thanks for sharing your story. You’re super brave.
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Thanks, @aldentan
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Steemit is your very own new wikipedia - that can not be silenced. This is your platform @matrjoschka ! And your voice is listened to and acknowledged/respected.
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Thank you for your kind words, @kaykunoichi
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It is so sad to hear, I'm sorry for all of these...
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Thank you @mejustandrew,
My sadness has given way to hope.
There are many of us waking up now.
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I'm glad to hear that you are taking attitude. That's how it's supposed to be!
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