Sexual Abuse in Educational Institutions
 

Another huge institution coming under fire for the sexual abuse of children.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071020/...cher_sex_abuse

So what are the similarities and dissimilarities to the Catholic church? My first thought was that the schools have often done the same thing that the Catholic Church often did - simply move the offender away from the accusers, but yet they still have continued contact with children.

Does anyone think there is a child-focused institution of more than 1000 adults that does not have this problem? What is the answer? To shut them all down? To live with it? To have a loss of civil liberties to prevent it? To have a heavy authoritarian presence (police, gov't social workers, whatever) to prevent it?

Immediate capital punishment when found guilty might discourage such behavior.

More severe punishment would almost certainly serve as more of a deterrent. More aggressive policies and punishments for administrative-types that seek to cover it up would also help. Although you don't want to create a witch-hunt-type atmosphere, where administrators fire anyone who might possibly have done anything.

Agreed about administrators that cover up these despicable acts. I say off with their heads too.