SES Forums

Hi carlynnm8, This is indeed a tough one for you, but I always think honesty is the best policy. If you explain in detail how easy it was/is to get sucked into the SOP, how much you regret getting involved etc. Appeal to their compassion (which is not the same as pity or "I-told-you-so"). ...

My God this is scary! At least the newspaper article mentions the name of the school and says it's run by a cult. The You and Yours interview slot doesn't even mention the name of the school. Incidentally, why is it that the inquiry is always quoted as being about the Senior Boys School? Mr Townend ...

Hi carlynnm8, Thanks for your kind words, I forgot to welcome you to the board, which I would normally do, so - a belated welcome! My relative did kind of recover from the nervous breakdown, but has never recovered completely and still fails to cope well with stress. I think you're right that the Sc...

A couple of points: Mental health issues - I know that one of my SES relatives (over 40 years ago) had a nervous breakdown, which can be largely attributed to the SES but not entirely. My relative chose to run to the School when it happened, leaving a young family without a word, so they had no idea...

I remember from my own time that the pressure to join from my teachers was seriously intense and it is a mystery how to me how those who chose not to join had the strength of conviction to do so. My parents removed us from the school when I was fourteen, but my best friend stayed in until she left ...

Free Thinker wrote:In fact, I'm much rather see actual change in the organization than receive a verbal apology for what has already happened.

Yes, me too.

If it gets things wrong sometimes, then apology and forgiveness will restore peace. Good point petert and welcome to the forum (don't think you have posted on here before). The lack of apology is the biggest obstacle we, as former students who were abused at the schools, are facing. What apology th...

I'm still reading! And yes I would also be interested in a discussion of current reforms, but would also caution trubleshutr that there are a lot of very angry and cynical people harmed by the SES who read this site, and current SES members have had some problems in the past. Rest assured that there...

I know this is going slightly off the current point, but on this subject, I thought others on the board would like to know that my SES relatives (who had been set to give a substantial amount of money to SES on their deaths) have decided not to leave them any money at all. They would never say so, b...

Pablo, your diary entries are fascinating, and could have been written by me with a few small changes, which is interesting given I was in the girls school, which was supposed to be less violent. The anger you obviously felt was a constant thing for me, even in junior school. As a very small child I...

Hi Pablo and welcome to the board. Wow, what an eloquent and thought-provoking disclosure. I really identify with what you say about not being able to express emotion or feelings, I suffered with this for years, and my sister still does. Your description of having to force yourself to show how you f...

Yes, thanks Daffy for taking over and GB for all your hard work over the years. I'm happy that we have our own site now, and like many others really value this as an archive and reference site. It's such a quick and easy way for me to explain what I'm going on about when I talk about the SES - I jus...

My point is not that he did a good job, but that the level of the insults says something about where you guys are right now - IE in arrested development. Sorry to go back a bit to Chittani's post - just catching up on posts for the past couple of months, and couldn't let this go! Leaving aside the ...

Thanks for this Matthew, great to see that a small hardcore of us is still battling and not letting them forget we are still here (and still not satisfied). The comments of the current governor are particularly chilling - it would be funny if it wasn't so frustrating! They really do live in their ow...

Oh dear Tom, no wonder you sound so fed up. I wish I could say I am surprised, but of course I am not. The school's response to this whole business has been both farcical and shameful, but to be honest, I never expected much better. After all, they think they are above everyone else, and therefore a...