St. John's Military School Student Abuses: New Allegations Added To Lawsuit

WICHITA, Kan. -- A California boy attends only four days at a Kansas military boarding school where he is tormented by staff and students after breaking both his legs in separate incidents. A Tennessee student's stomach is forcibly branded as a rite of initiation. A Florida cadet breaks his hand fending off a student with a history of sexual abuse who tries to grope him, and school officials refuse to investigate or inform his parents of the attack.

These claims are the latest additions to a growing list of former cadets who allege in a federal lawsuit they were abused at St. John's Military School in Salina, Kan. An amended complaint filed Friday in federal court in Kansas City, Kan., now includes six sets of named parents who have filed on behalf of cadets, plus one ex-cadet who is now an adult. The plaintiffs come from California, Florida, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas and Illinois.

The Episcopal boarding school, which charges families nearly $30,000 per year for students enrolled in grades 6-12, draws students from across the nation.

Two new defendants are named in the revised lawsuit: The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America and the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas, entities which the suit says created the school.

"The parents of these kids don't want any other kids to suffer the way their kids did," said Dan Zmijewski, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.

Their lawsuit, which was initially filed March 5, contends that the school allows and encourages older students to physically, mentally, emotionally and sexually abuse young students. According to court filings, the legal action purports to chronicle a "dangerous and disturbing culture at a boy's military school which must end."

St. John's has settled nine previous abuse-related lawsuits filed since 2006, court records show.

Amid widening media coverage of the latest lawsuit, more parents and cadets are coming forward with stories of abuse, Zmijewski said.

"It is just more kids who suffered extreme abuse at the hands of students while staff is watching – and is more indicative of what is going on there," he said.

Derek Johannsen, an attorney for St. John's, sent an email statement Saturday on the school's behalf. In it, he said the school denies the existence of a culture of abuse, and pointed out that St. John's has a 120-year history of helping young men develop skills in a safe environment.

"(The school's) objective is to provide a rigorous academic environment, opportunity for religious introspection and a structured campus life to help develop young men with the highest degree of self-discipline and self-confidence," the statement read.

Johannsen also wrote that some of the allegations in the lawsuit were investigated by law enforcement and no charges were filed. He said a formal response to the amended complaint will be filed soon.

In a separate settlement last year, the school argued it had made reasonable efforts to curb abuses, noting military schools nationwide have a problem with hazing. St. John's installed surveillance cameras in the hallways and instituted weekly bruise checks.

The new filing includes as an exhibit the California boy's X-ray, showing abuse so severe that the right femur bone was displaced several inches above the knee. Also included in the court filing is a photograph that had been posted on Facebook depicting a uniformed cadet from Texas gagged, blindfolded and bound with black duct tape.

Other allegations come from a Texas boy who was urinated on by other students in the shower, a Colorado student who was beaten in a van in front of a faculty member after trying to hitchhike home to escape earlier abuse and an Illinois cadet who suffered a fractured eye socket after being kneed in the head.

Comments

[hollywoodjaxx]

02:24 PM on 11/27/2012

I'm a grad from '66...allegedly a tougher time, but not as tough as the guys had it before us. (Or so they say.)
If kids are getting that messed up...two broken legs and a broken eye socket the current faculty is failing miserably. And so are the student NCOs and officers.
I went from D- grades in public school to consistently making the honor roll. I learned that the conditions I lived in were entirely of my own making and that I was the one in charge of making them better. They taught me that responsibility.
Since it was a Vietnam era class we're not too good about reunions...in fact I don't think there are more than two people I'd enjoy seeing again...and I'm probably wrong about that.
They sure instilled a burning desire in me to dodge the draft though...I'll be eternally grateful.
We had runaways, fights, suicide attempts and one kid even tried to burn the old firetrap down...but I don't remember any out and out beat downs or sexual stuff.
Ahhh the good old days!

[whalerpilot]

04:12 PM on 06/11/2013

Who are you? I am an Old Boy from 1966 as well. Saw your post so I'm sure we know each other.I never made it above Private and had a few fights while I was there I was never abused other than walking squad or time walking circles around the Bull Ring instead of getting to go to town. I was in the Drum And Bugle Corps and sounded Taps on the PA at Lights out. I remember those middle of the Night Fire Drills due to the condition of Vail Hall and when that kid tried to burn down the place. Those were the good old days indeed.

[Marshall Adamson]

08:42 AM on 10/06/2012

This is completely not true. My son goes there and he knows the real truth. These parents are just "gold diggers" backed by an ambulance chasing lawyer. These kids come to St. John's for a reason - because they are troubled. My son is a much better person because of this school. Anyone who posts here who does not have a son who goes here should... SHUT UP!!

[TheKiDDD]

01:54 PM on 10/14/2012

Your blind... I attended and graduated from that school a few years ago.. You have made a really bad decision. You don't know what goes on in that school behind closed doors. You should send him to a different school. He isn't going to be coming back home the same, and is also going to develope some bad habbits there. Like smoking.... I saw mactagon get his legs broken, and i saw when a cadet drill sargeant kneed a kid to the face breaking his eye socket, I saw a kid get urrinated on in the latrines, and i saw kids get annitiated, burned, and branded.. I use to be a higher ranking cadet, and would press charges against that school without wanting a penny back.. I believe in militaty schools; i dont believe in St.John's. You've made a mistake....That school is all politics, and will tell you everything you want to hear, to keep you from removing your child..They are only looking to profit, they dont care about the cadets...

[plamya]

09:00 PM on 05/14/2013

sorry you had to witness that, that place leaves a black mark on your soul for sure

[plamya]

08:58 PM on 05/14/2013

I personally knew a chap who was sexually assaulted by an older cadet (there were charges filed and the cadet went to jail) as well as constant mental and emotional hazing. I was completely mindless and angry when I left that school from what I saw. When one plays with fire and complains of the burns, it falls upon deaf ears. I wish I would have known the true history of the place before I went there.

[Catherine Lynch Monks]

10:26 AM on 06/02/2012

I have to laugh at all the brand new profiles. Funny , it almost seems like they're the same person.

[hollywoodjaxx]

02:27 PM on 11/27/2012

Yeah it's weird...they're making the same grammatical errors too.

[awesome former cadet]

09:21 PM on 05/31/2012

The people who are saying such things as “shut this place down” or everyone that goes here is a bad person” your worse then anybody that goes here. Do you realize that you live in the butt crack of America, not to mention one of the most undesirable cities within the country? Salina is the capital of trashy low class people and dirty believe me its no picnic for us to be going to a prestigious boarding school and live in such an inbred own such as Salina. Only in Salina are there more STDS contracted than amount of people. Secondly our tuition there is probably more than any of you make in a year, jealousy can travel to great lengths and believe me it shows. Saint johns is a brotherhood and the friends you make there, are ones you will never forget. Saint johns has done nothing but great things for cadets that have attended there. None of you people have any right to judge this amazing place because none of you have ever been involved with this school. It makes no sense to say such horrible things about something you know absolutely nothing about.
And to conclude mostly everyone that goes to that school has more money then any of you individuals who live in Salina, its interesting how the tables have turned huh?

[Catherine Lynch Monks]

10:25 AM on 06/02/2012

This is exactly the type of post I would expect to see from a graduate of St. John's. A misplaced sense of entitlement balanced nicely with a strong dose of 'I'm better than they are so I can say or do whatever i want'. Thank you for proving just what is wrong with schools with this type of atmosphere.
Oh and your information about Salina and STDs is completely fabricated.

[hollywoodjaxx]

02:28 PM on 11/27/2012

Well one of the Koch family went to school with me there in '66. Is that entitled enough for ya?

[SJMSGrad1234]

05:21 PM on 05/30/2012

I am a former SJMS grad, Alumnus of The Citadel, and currently an Officer in the USAF. I was a student at SJMS not by choice, but because my loving family saw an opportunity for me to salvage my life from the choices I was making. I owe my life to my family and the family I inherited while a student at SJMS.

This school is fighting to encourage young men to be men. They adopt the outcasts, the meek, the weary, the fragile, the proud... you name it. It is not an easy job. Surrounded by a materialistic and sexually deviant culture, SJMS provides a shelter from these things in hopes of forming a moral worldview in our boy's young minds.

I don't know the facts of this particular case. However, I do know young people perceive--and rightly so--infirmity in institutions of authority, from parental authority all the way up to the government. St. John's has nothing but good intentions for these boys. I cannot say the same for the majority of today's youth... though it is not their fault: society has not been kind to our youth.

I do not deny that it is possible the institution has failed these children. However, I believe it much more likelier that this lawsuit is the result of children being children, following the example of the libelous, litigious, and apparently glamorous society we project ourselves as.

Give SJMS the benefit of the doubt. They have earned it.

[zaby]

05:48 AM on 05/24/2012

I am very shock to read these issues regarding military schools. Most of parents are showing hesitation to send their child in military academy. Before taking any decision parents should verify all details and records of specific military schools.
http://www.militaryschool.net/

[Jimmythepoke]

01:06 PM on 04/08/2012

Look military schools, parochial schools, and public schools all have their problems.
I have a son that also attends this school, and he has accepted the environment at St. Johns.
The only negative thing he said about the school, he says gets home sick. He has gone from barely making grades, to making a 3.4 g.p.a.

We postured our cadets experience at St Johns as an opportunity, not as a punishment.!!

To kid101, based on your Illiterate prose, it might benefit you to spend more time taking advantage of the academics St. Johns has to offer, rather then spend time buying into the media propaganda. Please make the best of your time.

[ktf0764]

04:46 PM on 04/05/2012

I am also a parent of a current cadet that started in January 2012. We have seen great improvement in our son's attitude and he is making really good grades. Yes it's tough. Remember these are boys that were not productive and slacking off at home, so of course they won't like it as much. Now they have to do school work, clean their room, etc. They are being taught to be productive and succeed. The teachers and staff are very supportive of the boys. As far as I'm concerned, St. Johns has saved our family and son.

Kris Farrell

[sjmskid101]

12:27 AM on 04/07/2012

well guesss what the school is easy as shit here and your sonn gets bullied a crap load im one the only ones who gives him mutual respect. while u a parents are here we dont do anything hard or get punished but as soon as the parents get in their cars and drive away it goes back to the same bull shit like mentioned before. this school was made as a place where ur kid can get a good education and advance ur chances to get into the military or a college. PARENTS!!! are sending there kids here as a punishment which is really stupid because it should be a privilage to come here not A 30,000 dollar PUNISHMENT!!! this school isnt helping discipline ur children!!!

[rockchalk1954]

09:18 AM on 04/09/2012

Have you thought about telling someone that you witnessed bullying? You should really do that if you're telling the truth.
Parents don't spend that much money for punishment. Punishment is timeout or taking away your phone.
Parents spend that much because it frees them from the distractions of public school environment and helps them understand that they can get the good grades, that they can be whatever they want to be if they do their best.

[Rex Scates]

10:03 AM on 06/01/2012

SJMSkid101 i hang out for a week after those weekends so if it changes I never see it. It is basically the same as during parent weekend. When I mean hang out I sure mean that, basically 8 hours a day i spend there. I eat with you and so on. In fact if you went there last year you know me.

[dbrett480]

02:07 PM on 03/31/2012

Maybe not all the allegations are true, but where there is this much smoke there is definitely fire.

[rockchalk1954]

09:20 AM on 04/09/2012

Do you want to go to military school? No? You have just created smoke.

[Rich Selby]

01:07 AM on 03/29/2012

I am a parent of a cadet at this schoool. These allegations are absolute BS. These are parents and cadets who are exaggerating claims to milk money out of St. John's. This school has a tradition lasting 125 years. I personally will spend time and money to fight the claims in this suite as St. John's is making miracles in my son's life!

[quintonb]

12:10 AM on 03/31/2012

bs? i think not. these things happen every day here at saint johns and it does need to stop,and more parents need to know about these things before they send their kids here. your 125 years tradition is what i call BS. 125 years ago it was legal to do these things but times have changed and people need to stop the bullying. If it is making miracles in your sons life then how do i know personally that when someone good gets sent here they get corrupted and turned into something undesirable. what really your son has learned, is to do all these things better and to do them behind your back. you need to think if your cruddy parenting hadn't put your son in this school in the first place, or the lack of careing to fix him yourself!

[rockchalk1954]

09:27 AM on 04/09/2012

That's really rude. It takes a lot of love to send the one thing you care about most away for an extended amount of time. When you get older, you'll regret rebelling and find that life isn't as easy as it is at St. John's. Bookmark this and tell me I'm wrong after you graduate, if you do.

[matt ravan]

06:29 PM on 03/28/2012

I attended St. John's Military School (Actually an Academy and top-of-the-line Prep School) from 2002 thru graduation in 2006. The staff that is employed there (mostly retired high-ranking military officials) is the best you can get from any private and especially public school. These allegations are a "slap in the face" for everyone of us "Old Boys" who were helped beyond belief to succeed in our lives. I understand if you put "boys" together for a period of time there will be some disagreements, and in turn some fights. Both cadets would then be "punished" with extra duties in their barracks, etc. No hazing or physical harm would ever be the answer by the staff and if any of these actions did occur the cadets responsible would be expelled and kicked out of this Academy instantly. Just take the time to meet the staff of St. John's Military School, you would see they are Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, Etc., and a lot of them have poured their lives into molding these young boys into successful men. Most of the main staff are, like I said, are retired Military personnel and Ex-College Professors teaching your sons high school classes, and most of all a lot of them have been dedicated to this school most of the professional lives. There has never and will never be any tolerance for verbal or physical abuse at St. John's.

[pphhrogg]

08:23 PM on 03/26/2012

Naturally they are going to deny everything....becasue they have to. I hope some of these latet lawsuits get to COURT....instead of being settled ut of court....so that the real TRUTH about the abuse can come out in public....and under oath.

[rockchalk1954]

09:31 AM on 04/09/2012

This is actually one of the cases they're not going to settle on. So in a year or so when it does go to court we will see the truth, and you can delete your comment in shame.

[maveet]

07:02 PM on 03/26/2012

Kansas, the state that's gung-ho on protecting the fetus. Kansas + Florida = the new US Doctrine. Force them to be born, then molest and kill them with impunity.
U S A !! U S A !! U S A !!

[Jason Randall]

12:57 AM on 03/27/2012

At least there is Lawrence, 28 square miles of reality surrounded by Kansas.

[PlayTOE]

05:11 PM on 03/26/2012

Pay 30k per year to have your kid abused.
Very Christian.

[Danny Noyes]

07:20 PM on 04/05/2012

for real

[thatkidthatsright]

12:36 AM on 04/07/2012

noyes 4real this place has to go

[Cadet Gramma]

02:17 AM on 06/01/2012

30k provides room and board, clothing, an education in small classes where the teacher can teach, not cower under a desk to avoid student bullying, and 24/7 adult supervision and counseling. Can you find a better bargain?

Or is your post merely an excuse to take a poke at Christianity?

[TheKiDDD]

02:02 PM on 10/14/2012

small classes? ha!! teacher are under qualified, you dont learn anything. There used to be 10 kids to a class, but the school is looking to profit laitly so there are 20+ now... Clothing is cheap, its meant to rip and ruin, so they can keep over charging you for new clothes, thats something you will notice.. 24/7 supervision? so when mactagon got his legs broken, which i was there, in a middle of the mess hall, im assuming thats supervision? When a cadet got his eye socket broken in? That was super vision? Kids try to run away every day. Some successful... Trust i know a few...The school wont give you the name because they dont want to look bad...Lady you are blind...

[Randy Cullar]

10:31 AM on 03/26/2012

SHUT it down. It's an abomination. WE have enough Christian Crazy Warriors to last a lifetime.

[Not a SJMS person]

11:12 AM on 03/26/2012

the church part of this school is a mass on Sunday Morning and a reading and song time on one night a week for like 45 minutes.

The priest is basically a counselor to these kids. So is the church.

I guess all counselors are responsible for the actions of the children they council.

[pphhrogg]

08:24 PM on 03/26/2012

Yes, they are if they KNOW about it, and I'll bet that priest knows everything.

[thatkidthatsright]

12:36 AM on 04/07/2012

thank you budy for representing us