Nina626

PROPOSED EDIT TO THE HORACE MANN SCHOOL, NYC ENTRY, UPDATING TO REFLECT THE FORMATION OF THE HMAC.

In response to the inaction of the Horace Mann School administration and Board of Trustees and as an offshoot of the Processing Horace Mann group on Facebook, in June 2012 several alumni formed the Horace Mann Action Coalition (HMAC).

The HMAC was created specifically to support the survivors of sexual abuse at Horace Mann and to pursue the goals and needs of those survivors. The group organized 'from the ground up', across continents and time zones and at its inception consisted of doctors, lawyers, business people, junk mail copy writers, authors, therapists and grassroots activists all of whom are alumni of the Horace Mann School. The group is in the process of becoming a formal nonprofit and is actively seeking :

1- an apology from the school to the survivors, 2- an independent investigation similar to the one so adeptly conducted by Louis Freeh at Penn State, 3- compensation for the survivors to address the need for appropriate therapy, counseling and healing 4- transparency and honesty in the process and workings of the Horace Mann School Board of Trustees 5- Increased awareness and prevention of the scourage of child sexual abuse.

The Action Coalition is sponsoring protests and activities in an effort the encourage the school to address the needs of the surivivors of abuse. Among those activities is a Diploma Return Protest, scheduled to coincide with the start of school on 9/4/12. Alumni are encouraged to have their diplomas delivered to the School on that date.

The HMAC is a dedicated and committed group of concerned alumni who hope to restore honor, compassion and basic human decency to their alma mater, Horace Mann School in Riverdale, New York.