Some Closure in the McCallie School Sex Abuse Investigation

Many private schools like Choate -Rosemary Hall, St. Paul’s School, Horace Mann have struggled with sexual abuse allegations in recent years. The McCallie School, a boys college preparatory academy, is little different in that regard. After several accusations were presented to the school in April of 2018, the institution hired a law firm Fisher and Phillips to conduct an investigation. That review is now complete.

According to WDEF in Chattanooga, TN, the results of the investigation substantiated fourteen claims of sexual abuse on campus between the late 1960s and 2000. Five potential perpetrators were involved in the misconduct. Four of them, however, have died. At this time, the school is not releasing the names of the offenders or even the dates of the fourteen incidents that took place in hopes of protecting the privacy of the victims involved.

Notifying Former Students

An email from Headmaster A. Lee Burns was sent to many in the McCallie community in late September to help them learn more about the results of the investigation. In his email, he suggested that the allegations of sexual misconduct did not expand beyond those that prompted the initial inquiry. Moreover, he detailed the fact that the process meant reaching out to more than 11,000 people.

The Private School Sexual Abuse Problem

Sexual abuse in any school setting is always devastating, but it is particularly egregious in private schools. Often families believe that paying for private school means not only offering a child a far better educational experience, but also a much safer one. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, particularly when students live on campus. Because they depend on teachers and staff for absolutely everything, abuse can occur far more frequently. Victims face issues with their education, which can lead to greater problems in later life, including job loss and poor career opportunities.