———- Forwarded message ———
Date: Sat, Sep 15, 2007 at 10:46 PM
Subject: Father Farnsworth
To: <gbruce@ontario.anglican.ca>
Dear Bishop Bruce,
I am writing to you in regard to Father Farnsworth and Grenville
Christian College. I have become aware that you are investigating him
and would like to share some of my personal experiences with both Mr.
Farnsworth and the school. I was a student from 1991 – 1995. I came
to Grenville in grade seven and left after grade ten. I was from a
rural town in upstate New York, and my parents felt that boarding
school would give me a well rounded Christian education and broader
world view.
There are several experiences that come to mind, however the one that
was the most troubling to me also dealt the most directly with Mr.
Farnsworth. On the day of the incident a good amount of the student
body was up at 5AM or before waiting for a bus to be taken on a ski
trip. My best friend had her head on my shoulder, resting while we
waited. Mr. Farnsworth came up to us, and told us that our
“relationship” was sick and walked away. I remember the disgusted
look on his face when he said this as well as my feeling of confusion
and disbelief. We were promptly told by a female staff member that we
were not allowed to ski together during that trip or talk to each
other. I was not allowed to call my mother from the ski lodge and was
still made to go skiing even though I had asked if I could stay
behind. Within the next day or so I had many meetings with different
staff members and was made to sit with my friend at the “head” table
with Mr. Farnsworth and his wife to discuss our relationship. When my
friend had trouble responding to a question (English was not her first
language) Mr. Farnsworth said she was being disrespectful, made her
leave the table, and forbade us from speaking to each other for at
least six weeks. She was no longer allowed to come to my home for
holidays. Our friendship never recovered, we were made to feel ashamed
for being dear childhood friends. Mr. Farnsworth sited no wrong doing,
however he felt compelled to call my parents to explain his actions.
During the time I was at Grenville I was told that I was not normal
for having mostly Asian friends and that I shouldn’t talk to the
students from Hong Kong, Taiwan or Japan any more. I remember being
told that my underwear were not proper and having them confiscated
until my parents could take them back home. I was put on “Discipline”
for having a crush on an older boy. The staff took the time to paste
together a note that I had torn apart. While on D, I was required to
scrub the kitchen floor with a toothbrush, be totally isolated while
sleeping and eating, I was not required to go to school during those
three days – I was twelve. I remember feeling so humiliated.
For years, I have wondered about a way that I could lay these
experiences to rest. I knew that confronting Mr. Farnsworth would
probably only cause me more pain as I guessed that he would never own
up to his wrong doing. I believe that through your investigation
there is finally restitution that can be paid by Mr. Farnsworth for
all the pain he caused, for all the young people that now have life
long trauma. He should not be allowed to be in a position of any type
of authority any longer.
If you should need any further information please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Me
Off the Cuff with A-Game 