Opening BB&N Minds

BB&N issues apology for abuse
The Boston Globe, October 14, 2008

Writing on behalf of the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School and its board of trustees, the school's leader apologized to the victims and the entire BB&N community and encouraged any victims of former teacher Edward "Ted" Washburn who have not come forward to do so, offering anonymous, school-funded counseling for all abuse victims.

School revisits details of Washburn era abuse case

The Vanguard, September 2008
Upham adds 'I am now working on a 3-fold concept: first is to find a way to acknowledge to the entire community the realities of the Washburn era. "

Ex-student lauded for stepping forward

Common Sense is Not Enough 

Valley News, November 16, 2007
In response to your editorial Oct. 28 on keeping teacher abuse in perspective, I would argue that common sense is, on the contrary, an inadequate safeguard.  In fact, common sense protects abusers more often than the abused.  Why?  ... Common sense instills a sense of confidence that teachers are in school to educate, not molest, their students. 

Child Abuse Case Shows Schools Indifference

Boston Globe, August 23, 1990
The impression conveyed by the school's original inaction and its reaction to this suit as a nuisance is that the reputation of the school outweighs the welfare of the children.  This callous indifference frightens me.  If my children were enrolled there, they would be immediately withdrawn for their own well-being.

School Secret: Buckingham, Browne & Nichols Chose Not To Inform Authorities That Teacher Ted Washburn Had Sexually Abused Three Boys

Boston Globe, July 3, 1988 
This is a 4,500-word report, the most comprehensive, on what happened at BB&N.  For copyright reasons it cannot be reproduced here, but it can be purchased at the Boston Globe website.

Lessons To Be Learned About Child Abuse

Boston Globe, February 25, 1988
Pedophilia is a chronic condition, especially to those attracted to boys, and recidivism is very high, even for those who undergo psychiatric treatment.  Furthermore, treatment is usually unsuccessful unless the perpetrator is completely removed from the presence of children and mandated through incarceration to participate in treatment.  Thus, Judge Flannery's order to Washburn to stay away from children and continue in psychiatric practice offers little, if any, assurance that Washburn will stop his abusing behavior.

Case 'Sad Commentary On Our Judicial System'

Lexington Minute Man, January 14, 1988
The two stories in the Dec. 24 Minute-man are a sad commentary on our judicial system and, perhaps, on the priority of values in our society.  In one instance, a man is sentenced to prison for embezzling funds, while in the other case, another man is able to receive a suspended sentence for the rape of two boys.  It is incomprehensible to me that this can be represented to be justice.

Teacher Fired From BB&N Got Job at Simmons

Boston Globe, February 18, 1988
Six months after his firing by a private school in Cambridge over allegations that he molested boys, Edward H. Washburn went to work last fall as a part-time instructor at Simmons College, where officials were unaware of the dismissal.

The Pedophile's Need

Boston Globe, February 16, 1988
Many pedophiles never need to physically "overpower" their victims.  Their game is as much mental as physical.  For many pedophiles, the thrill is largely in their ability to manipulate a child into various sexual acts and them intimidate him or her enough to maintain the relationship.  Much of his satisfaction comes from having control over a "weaker creature."

Bringing Sexual Abuse to Light

Boston Globe, January 30, 1988
Institutions, like families, shy away from the sordid details of sexual abuse.  If it is kept quiet, they think, it will go away, as Ted Washburn quietly went away from the Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School in February.  Even in silence, victims of sexual abuse can feel the pain for decades.  For people and for schools, healing can begin only when the facts, no matter how painful, are brought to light.

Media Criticize Flannery

BB&N Vanguard, January 20, 1988
Since former Middle School teacher Edward H. Washburn pleaded guilty to a charge of statutory rape and two charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor on December 3, local media have reported and editorialized on this case and its public implications.

Psychologists Criticize Sentence In Rape Case

Lexington Minute Man, January 14, 1988
From beginning to end, the bias of the system is against the victim and in favor of the perpetrator.  The message to the victims is loud and clear: "the system", including [Judge Flannery], is impotent to protect them. 

Washburn Sentence A  Case Of Crime, No Punishment

Lexington Minute Man, January 7, 1988

Children are encouraged at an early age to emulate and to seek the approval of role models such as educators like Edward Washburn.  They are taught to trust and to obey the role model.  When that trust is betrayed, the effect is traumatic.  When that betrayal results in the crimes committed by Edward Washburn, tragedy has occurred. 

A Question of Judgement

The Tab, January 5, 1988
The recent suspended sentence given a Buckingham, Browne & Nichols schoolteacher for sexual crimes against children has prompted outrage and frustration from law enforcement officials and some school parents.

Dealing With Child Abuse

Boston Globe, January 2, 1988
As a Globe Spotlight series showed last month, one third of child molesters escape prison sentences.  At least [Judge] Flannery ordered Washburn to continue therapy.  Many judges let the offenders go without any provision for counseling. A judge has three purposes in sentencing a criminal: deterrence, rehabilitation and punishment.  Flannery took into consideration that Washburn has been punished by the loss of his teaching and coaching jobs and is trying to rehabilitate himself.  Flannery erred by not realizing that his refusal to send Washburn to prison removes the deterrence aspect.  It sends molesters a message that the judicial system does not consider abuse of children a serious crime.  The Legislature should consider presumptive sentences in these cases.

Travesty of Justice

Lexington Minute Man, December 31, 1987
We still cannot believe it.  What happened in a Cambridge courtroom last week is — plain and simple — a travesty of justice.

Above the Law? 

The Tab, December 29, 1987
B&N did not inform their own community after they fired Mr. Washburn on February 8, just after learning of his actions for the first time (or so they said), they refused to tell their teachers, parents or children why he'd been fired. (Until amazingly coincidentally, October 1, the day he was indicted.)  BBN actively discouraged any truthful discussion about the matter.  Many boys, unaware Mr. Washburn might harm them, stayed in touch with him.

Sentence An Outrage

Lexington Minuteman, December 24, 1987 

Edward Washburn walked out of Middlesex Superior Court a free man Monday after receiving a suspended sentence in connection with the rape of a juvenile boy.  District Attorney Scott Harshbarger criticized, in the Boston media, the sentence, calling it an outrage.  He said the defendant's interests seemed to take precedence over the victims' trauma.

What A Message!

Boston Herald, December 22, 1987
The defendant has lost his job, invariably goes the argument in such cases.  "He has been exposed to public humiliation.  Surely the poor fellow has suffered enough."  But what about the victims?  What message does that kind of sentence send to them?  What does it say about the price our society puts on the loss — the forcible robbing — of innocence?

Judge Chided For Lenient Sentence To Child Abuser

Boston Herald, December 22, 1987
Parents and prosecutors yesterday scolded a judge who gave a suspended prison sentence to an ex-teacher who admitted to molesting children at an exclusive Cambridge school.

Rape Case Term Draws Criticism

Boston Globe, December 22, 1987
Middlesex County District Attorney Scott Harshbarger criticized the sentence…"It's outrageous if for no other reason than the interest of the defendant would seem to take precedence over the harm that has been done to the victims involved here and the trauma that they and their families have experience...

Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Rape of Boy

Boston Globe, December 4, 1987
A former teacher at the  Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School pleaded guilty yesterday…According to Assistant District Attorney David Meier, Washburn befriended two boys in 1982, at least one of whom was a pupil at the school  For the next two years, he would occasionally take the boys to movies and to his Lexington home where he would show them pornographic materials and engage in sexual activity.

Washburn Pleads Not Guilty

Boston Globe, October 9, 1987
Edward H. Washburn, a former teacher at the Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School, pleaded not guilty yesterday in Middlesex Superior Court to three indictments…

Harvard Crimson

October 3, 1987
Last February Washburn was dismissed from Cambridge's Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School where he had taught English for 23 years, after he admitted he had encouraged children to view pornographic material and masturbate, according to a letter signed by the headmaster and sent this week to all parents of BB&N students.

Ex-Teacher Indicted On Rape Charge

Boston Globe, October 3, 1987
A former teacher at the prestigious Cambridge private school of Buckingham, Browne & Nichols has been indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury.