Anglican school's former students tell of brainwashing, abuse

Bishop George Bruce, of the Anglican Church's Diocese of Ontario,has started to meet with people who have filed written complaints,diocesan executive officer Wayne Varley said yesterday.

"Thismatter is being dealt with seriously," Bishop Bruce wrote in astatement, in which he described the inquiry into complaints lodgedagainst two clergy members.

The school has never fallen under theresponsibility or control of the Anglican Church, but priests at theschool were clergy of the Diocese of Ontario.

Yesterday, formerstudents told the Citizen of brainwashing attempts, humiliation, strictdiscipline and chanting sessions meant to denounce sexual acts andpromote chastity.

Alex Onyemenam, whose parents sent her to theschool in 1980 to provide her with structure and discipline, said shewas soon confronted with strict rules and an "attitude that hid behindthe veil of Christianity." That included "light sessions," in whichstudents who allegedly committed wrongdoings were stood up in front ofthe student body and not allowed to speak while accusations were madeagainst them, said Ms. Onyemenam, who now lives in Toronto.

Alight session would usually lead to a student being placed on"discipline" -- punishment that included anything from heavy chores andisolation, to not being allowed to speak or be spoken to, being barredfrom wearing school uniforms or being tailed by a staff member, shesaid.

"There are people that have been beyond devastated bythis," Ms. Onyemenam said. "After you had been at Grenville for awhile, you could see the people that were going to break." MarionMorton, who attended the school between 1982 and 1989, said she wasplaced on discipline after being pushed to make a false confession thatshe had stolen a bathing suit.

When it was later discovered thatthe suit had not been stolen, she remained on discipline for a week"because I was a liar," Ms. Morton said.

Erin Bloch, who attendedGrenville from 1985 to 1988, said incidents at the school, includinglight sessions, left her with "huge trust issues." "Even people thatyou felt were best friends, if they were put under enough pressure,they would say anything to get themselves out of the hot seat. Someoneyou would confide in could turn against you at any time," she said.

"Inmy case, and in a quite a few other cases, parents just didn't know.Had I had the strength to call my mom and tell her what was going on,she would have pulled me out of there immediately," Ms. Bloch said.