Boarding School

Mr. De Beer.

Enclosed you will find three letters your son wrote to you. One of our students found the letters hidden behind a brick in the stairwell (Brian chipped away the mortar surrounding the brick, hid the letters and replaced the brick, we have not yet found the tool he used to chip away the mortar, he claims to have used a rock) and turned them in to me. I instructed the students on letter composition on Tuesday July 9th, and these letters were discovered on Friday 12. Let me assure you we do not “beat” any of the children here at Dominion Christian School. We administer punishment with the use of a paddle, yardstick or a wooden switch, none of our teachers have used a sjambok for several years now.

Brian is generally a good student but the contents of these letters indicate has some delusions about punishment and how his teachers view him. I have made copies of the letters and sent them to the superintendent and the review board along with my recommendation to enroll Brian in remedial therapy sessions. The superindentent will be in contact with you regarding the cost should the school decide counseling is in Brian’s best interests. I have great affection for all the students in my classes and wish to see them succeed in their studies here at Dominion and in life. As you are no doubt aware, maintaining discipline and order is vital for any successful education. I am open to correspondence should you wish discuss the contents of Brian’s letters or his overall progress.

Sincerely,

Mr. Brentcroft.

Dear Mr. deBeer.

Papa, I am alone. You are the only person in the world who loves me or has ever loved me. All the teachers hit me. Mrs. Kempen hits me on the hands with a ruler. Mr Brentcroft put my head under the bookshelf and hit me with his rod. I didn’t cry. I wasn’t crying. He hits boys who cry a second time just for crying but I wasn’t crying and he hit me a second time. I love you Papa, please take me away from here. Mrs. O Henry pulls my hair by my ears when I make a math mistake.

Sincerely

Brian

Your Son,

Brian

Dear Father.

I love you. I am much stronger than when I lived with Mrs. Peterson. I can help you now. I can hammer a nail and I can use the big saw to cut tree branches. I can climb high. I know my letters. Please let me go back to live with Mrs. Peterson. She does not love me but I saw you every week. I am dying here, alone with no love. Mr Brentcroft hates me, he beats me with his rod every day. The kids hate me, I am not allowed to play with them. I go behind the school to the Mulberry tree. Mrs. Kempen made me stand on one leg with my hands on my head for the whole class. She hates me.

Sincerely

Love,

Your Son Brian

Dear Mr. De Beer

I love you Papa. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything in the world. I love your beard and your eyes. Do I have eyes like you? I will never talk about my mother if you don’t want me to. You are the only one who ever said a nice word to me. I am alone Papa. No one cares if I die. Only you. Please save me. I love you. I will be good. I will do anything you say. I am almost 8 now. Please let me show you how strong I am. Please take me away.

Love,

Your Son,

Brian.