A Military-Style School for Troubled Teens Became a “Living Nightmare”
August 20, 2024 The Walrus: A Military-Style School for Troubled Teens Became a “Living Nightmare”
Programs Mentioned: Robert Land Academy
Author: Rachel Browne
Triggers: child death, physical assault, forced labor, sexual assault, psychological abuse, racism, torture using stress positions, restraint, suicide
Matt Toppi and Christopher Brown, students, died accidentally while trying to escape Robert Land Academy in 1998
Staff at RLA used the story to intimidate students for years
Martin (last name withheld) is suing RLA for $5 million for covering up sexual assault. His mother is suing RLA for $2 million for failing their duty of care towards her son
Founder/former headmaster of RLA: Scott Bowman
Matthew Lefave is a lawyer who is representing 10+ clients in separate lawsuits against RLA
RLA originally housed 28 students who called themselves the “Bowman Bunch”
RLA now houses ~125 students
RLA’s campus is modeled after a 19th century British fort, with students sleeping in barracks and eating in a mess hall
RLA students are given military-inspired ranks to mark progress, including recruit, cadet, sergeant, and warrant officer
During the first month of “treatment”, boys receive the harshest punishments from staff and other students
Staff mostly have not served in the military but students are required to call them lieutenant and captain
“One former RLA Student, who is now seventeen, alleged in documents filed at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario in 2021 that he experienced emotional and physical abuse as well as anti-Black racism when he attended the school in the fall of 2019.”
RLA’s parent manual describes the following punishments: “laps, physical exercise, loss of privileges, extra chores, suspension from regular duties, loss of leaves and stand downs, or dismissal.”
It has been illegal for teachers or other school employees to use physical punishment since 2004
Bowman has been lying about his military credentials for decades
In 2010, a student named Donald MacNeil died by suicide while he was being transported back to RLA after a term break
Nearly 70% of RLA students had been diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, or learning disabilities
Current board chair of RLA is Tim Hudak, former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader
“In 2023, former Ontario health minister and deputy premier Christine Elliott received an award from the school at its annual gala.”
Quotes from survivors posting on r/troubledteens supplied more details about the abuse at RLA