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'Kurn Hattin Mission Accomplished!'

Walpole Savings Bank President Mark Bodin

Kurn Hattin President Mark Bodin of Savings Bank of Walpole, lauded the Kurn Hattin staff at a meeting dedicated for the purpose: for adapting and adjusting through the difficult times of the last couple years, and through it all, “Mission Accomplished!”

Mark Bodin, seemingly unburdened by the ravages of intelligence and self-awareness, has such poor contact with reality as to quote the Mission Accomplished speech by gesticulating buffoon, jumpsuit clad U.S. President George W. Bush astride the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Like the clown before him, Bodin's ‘Mission Accomplished’ is a massive fail — but it is just the beginning. Bodin's statement may be accurate -- Kurn Hattin does appear to have achieved their mission. The Vermont Approved Independent School has apparently succeeded in purchasing silence in the form of Non-Disclosure Agreements (The Weinstein Effect) through a purported multi-million dollar, non-public, out-of-court settlement agreement with approximately 60 living survivors of the residential school.

It is hard to square President Bodin's hopes for a moral outcome at the 130-year-old institution with the Kurn Hattin's most brutal legacy — the many innocent and vulnerable children documented to have been abused over decades, according to the schools own academic investigation, until as recently as 2020, under the current administration of Executive Director Stephen Harrison, MDiv., and while under Mark Bodin's so-called leadership.

As Vermont State Representative Anne Donahue stated so accurately of Vermont's most vulnerable citizens, "They are part of a marginalized, forgotten people." An associate of Donahue said of the Vermontese, "We have a very short memory." Based on the disturbingly ignorant and hateful statements by local Vermonters of Kurn Hattin Survivors, Westminsterites would prefer a convenient deluded conspiracy of silence rather than acknowledge the truth of Kurn Hattin's ... and Westminster Vermont's Legacy for Children. But then, Vermont's proud-without-cause exceptionalism and pathological tendency to substitute reality with fantasy has always allowed Vermonters to pass through life quite comfortably while extracting a human cost at the expense of others.

Child abuse requires silence to continue. And so, it will continue in Vermont.

Kurn Hattin Executive Director, Stephen Harrison: “Since much of the alleged abuse occurred many years ago, it is difficult to ascertain what happened, especially since most of the Homes’ leaders from that time are no longer alive.”

The two 11-year-old girls who were vaginally penetrated nightly with a toothbrush in the unsupervised showers at Kurn Hattin Homes for Children as recently as 2020, according to a Vermont DCF Residential Licensing Special Investigation might disagree with Mr. Harrison’s argument, designed one might consider, to cover his own ample arse and the profane legacy of his tenure at Kurn Hattin.

Furthermore, according to the father of a former Kurn Hattin boy, his son was raped at the residential school during Stephen Harrison’s tenure since 2015. The boy’s father states that his son received $1.1million dollars in financial reparations in an out of court private settlement negotiation, which included approximately 60 living (and one woman, who died while waiting for her so-called Vermont Restorative Justice) victims.

At the time of this statement by Stephen Harrison, a former director of Kurn Hattin, and the wife of a former director -John F. Watson (also accused of buggering young marginalized boys), who was the daughter of another former director, William Mayo (accused of assault and abuse by survivors and the alleged architect of Vermont’s Eugenical Sterilization Law), were still living. One died less than 30 days after the public disclosure of abuse under his leadership, the second died 6 months later. Perhaps there is such a thing as Divine Justice. In knowing that their personal legacies were tainted by the public knowledge of documented abuses perpetrated during their respective tenures, David Maysilles and Priscilla Mayo Watson, certainly received theirs.

Kurn Hattin Executive Director, Stephen Harrison: “It is Kurn Hattin’s position that many ...allegations of abuse were not previously raised.”

Harrison’s so-called allegation of abuse, have in fact, been previously raised.

"The claimants who suffered abuse or mistreatment are entitled to be heard, and Kurn Hattin is grateful for their participation in this Process."

Entitled to be heard? Then why were the 55 survivors, who settled for financial reparations, required to sign non-disclosure agreements? And why did director Stephen Harrison harass – in violation of Vermont State Law protecting abuse victims - a Kurn Hattin survivor on two separate occasions, stating that he was not allowed in Windham County Vermont and recommend that he “leave Windham County?”

“And just like any child in our care, they deserve our support and to be heard.”

Example of Kurn Hattin support and acknowledgment of its victims.

“Unfortunately, following these alumni courageous efforts to come forward, Kurn Hattin has become the target of attacks from self-interested parties based on falsehoods and misinformation, unverified and unsupported allegations and innuendo, and confidential documents that were selectively leaked to create a misleading picture.”

What self-interested parties? You mean the victims of Kurn Hattin abuse, Stephen? What falsehoods? Is Kurn Hattin stating that the survivors who came forward are lying? No leak, as you call it Mr. Harrison, only truth, fact and reality as disclosed in a perfectly legal FOIA request and ultimately released to the press by the direct actions of Kurn Hattin survivors.

“We have never tried to cover up any allegations brought to our attention, and we have no desire to do so. Still, when we report allegations to the State, we do not expect our children and their stories to be handed over to the press.”

So, Mr. Harrsion, you would prefer that documented abuse of vulnerable children at Kurn Hattin remain hidden from public scrutiny? Why did the Vermont DCF find during their Residential Special Licensing Investigation that Kurn Hattin had intentionally destroyed incriminating documents? Why has Kurn Hattin, since May of 2021, been fighting in Windham County Superior Court to cover up allegations brought to the school’s attention and to keep the truth from being revealed to the citizens of Vermont in an open court of law? Why indeed?

“Child abuse is inexcusable. All of us who devote ourselves to the children at Kurn Hattin want to acknowledge and commend the courage of our alumni who have come forward. We stand with them and are listening. We want to know what happened, when it happened, how it happened, and why it happened.“

The survivors of Kurn Hattin Homes for Children don't require your empty virtue-signaling validation, Mr. Harrison. And yes, child abuse is inexcusable. So why was abuse, neglect and violation of rule, law and statute allegedly perpetrated so frequently under your tenure and watch as the Executive Director of New England Kurn Hattin Homes for Children? And why, if Kurn Hattin Homes for Children is so committed to learning the so-called truth, did Kurn Hattin require the alleged victims, with whom you allegedly settled for millions of dollars in financial reparations, to sign non-disclosure agreements, effectively silencing the victims and the truth?

“We continue to seek the facts and share them so we can always serve children who need us, as we have served the tens of thousands of students who came to us over the past 126 years…”

Harrison has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about in this statement of his as director of the school and with access to the full scope of its historical records. “Tens of Thousands of Students” have never attended Kurn Hattin Homes. Research in the Library of Congress, Vermont State Archives, and historical Vermont media publications, including those issued by Kurn Hattin itself, reveal that less than 5,000 children have attended Kurn Hattin over the last 130 years. Furthermore, it is likely that far more people have worked, volunteered and served on the Kurn Hattin Board of Directors, or as trustees, and incorporators, than have ever attended the Vermont Approved Independent Residential School as students.

“Our Kurn Hattin Homes family has been devastated and heartbroken by the recent media coverage we have received.”

Once again, Harrison’s words are diametrically opposed, and incongruous with his and the Board of Kurn Hattin’s actions. The “Kurn Hattin Homes Family” is devastated by the media coverage of decades of alleged institutional abuse and betrayal – but screw the victims?

“We have been deeply moved and humbled by the overwhelming number of messages of support and encouragement that we have received from friends and supporters from all over the country. These messages have come from alumni, families of current and past students, volunteers, donors, referral sources, and community members. They are heartwarming to read.”

To paraphrase a Massachusetts attorney who testified before the Vermont Senate over the Legislature’s hearings into the State’s response to documented abuse at Kurn Hattin: Yes, Mr. Harrison, it is heartwarming to read messages of support and encouragement from Kurn Hattin friends, supporters and Kurn Hattin Alumni who allegedly were not abused, assaulted, threatened, tortured, sodomized, or raped.

“We received a call from the Brattleboro Reformer [Alleged Kurn Hattin Shill & De Facto Public Relations Department] informing us of abuse allegations stemming from the 1960s, and ‘70s. It was the first time we had heard specifics about allegations from these years, and we were given no time to respond. “

A factually false statement. Kurn Hattin survivors have notified the school of abuse directly over a period of decades and with multiple Kurn Hattin administrations, including your own administration since your tenure as Executive Director since 2015.

“Given that most of the new alleged incidents occurred as much as 50 to 60 years ago, it is difficult to ascertain what happened, especially since most of the Homes’ leaders from that time are no longer alive. “

Harrison made this statement before the revealing reports of Kurn Hattin abuse and negligence from the DCF were released via an entirely legal, contrary to Harrison’s claim, Freedom of Information Act request, (FOIA) with all personal information redacted.

“I’ve only served as Executive Director of the Homes for the past five years, [now nine] but I am proud to be part of a team that cares for these children so much.”

To Care, is an act, an act of Love, Stephen, NOT mere emotionally satisfying words. We are what we do in this world, not what we say we do. You care for “children so much?” Why then did the Vermont Department for Children and Families find that Kurn Hattin violated both State and Federal Mandatory Reporting Laws, designed specifically to protect children, under your administration?

“Regardless of the constraints, I am asking our Board of Trustees to engage an independent external review.“

What constraints, Stephen? Kurn Hattin Board Member Dr. Cliff Wood serves on Sheriff Mark Anderson’s Windham County Sheriff’s Advisory with Assistant Judge Carolyn Partridge, a former Vermont Legislator, who had been accused of voter fraud and of obfuscating, or slow-walking evidence in the lawsuit against her. The retired Vermont lawmaker is currently an Assistant Judge in the John Doe v. New England Kurn Hattin lawsuit in Vermont Superior Court. Are those the “constraints” to which you refer, Stephen?

“We plan to fully investigate these claims, and even though they allegedly happened 30 to 60 years ago, we vow to do all we can to uncover the truth, and if need be, help the survivors find the peace they seek and deserve.”

There’s that 30 thru 60 years. What happened to 50 to 60 years ago in a previous statement of yours, Mr. Harrison? If nothing else, the Executive Director of Kurn Hattin Homes for Children, who wields a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, is consistent in his denial of well documented child abuse and unconscionable negligence and obfuscation of truth and fact. An attorney for approximately 50 of the approximately 60 survivors who came forward and obtained legal counsel called Kurn Hattin’s so-called “External” “Independent” Investigation to “uncover the truth,” which was neither external, nor independent -– A WHITEWASH!

Mark Bodin, President Walpole Savings Bank and President Kurn Hattin Homes for Children: “While we all learned lots of lessons over the past months, I hope we can identify those worth keeping and flush the rest away forever.”

Dear Mr. Bodin - From those us, not “worth keeping,” whom you would “Flush Away Forever,” the Survivors of Kurn Hattin abuse and negligence will always be here to remind you of your actions.

Stephen Harrison, Executive Director, New England Kurn Hattin Homes for Children - “Just as in the broader world, the dangers and unpleasantness of life has at times intruded into life here ....This is the true Kurn Hattin Homes! I do feel a need to address certain issues that are particularly relevant in our #metoo influenced world of 2019. In any youth-oriented residential organization with a history as long as ours, there are elements of its past which, in the light of modern standards, would likely not be acceptable. “

Abuse, neglect rape, torture, sodomy and assault of children were also not acceptable in the light of past standards either, Director Harrison, MDiv. These statements by Harrison were written in early 2019, over a year before Kurn Hattin survivors came forward publicly and are in response to a letter sent to the Kurn Hattin director in 2018, which disclosed a culture of abuse at Kurn Hattin, as publicly revealed in a Vermont media investigative report.

Kurn Hattin Homes for Children executive director, Stephen Harrison, MDiv, and Board President Mark Bodin in their unconscionable, re-traumatizing and substanceless statements, give an impressive demonstration of that particularly unique virtue-signaling Vermont genius for interpreting misfortune or disaster as victory. Could anything be more dramatically revealing, ….. or pitiful — men (allegedly) at the helm of a 130-year-old residential school for vulnerable children, accused of unconscionable life-altering crimes perpetrated upon innocence, standing amid the ruins of their lifework, shouting – VICTORY! ... Lies, Damned Lies, and Kurn Hattin Institutional Betrayal