`Faith-Based' facility In Missouri accused of abuse.Employees at a Missouri "faith-based" facility for troubled youths are facing criminal charges after multiple complaints were filed alleging child abuse and neglect. The Heartland Christian Academy, located about 150 miles north of St. Louis, uses work therapy and a Christian-based education to help children with disciplinary and other problems. In October, however, state officials brought buses to the facility to remove 115 children because their safety could not be assured. Earlier in the year, five employees at the school were alleged to have punished misbehaving children by forcing them into concrete-lined manure manure, term used in the United States to refer to excreta of animals, with or without added bedding; also called barnyard manure. In other countries the term often refers to any material used to fertilize the soil. pits. Two months later, four Heartland staffers were accused of spanking spanking Pediatrics Corporal punishment, usually of children, in which the buttocks, are pummeled, swatted, or otherwise struck. See Corporal punishment Sexology Slapping, usually of the buttocks as a part of sexuoerotic activity. Cf Sadomasochism. a 16-year-old 35 times. Then, in October, another employee was charged with abuse after the staffer allegedly used his elbow to strike a disorderly 13-year-old in the ear, causing the eardrum ear·drum n. The thin, semitransparent, oval-shaped membrane that separates the middle ear from the external ear. Also called drum, drumhead, drum membrane, myringa, myrinx, tympanic membrane, to burst. School administrators said a lingering lin·ger v. lin·gered, lin·ger·ing, lin·gers v.intr. 1. To be slow in leaving, especially out of reluctance; tarry. See Synonyms at stay1. 2. ear infection was the source of the problem. State officials are in the process of investigating the Christian facility and reported on Nov. 6 that they have discovered 16 "substantiated" cases of abuse or neglect. Charles Sharpe Charles Molesworth Sharpe was a first class cricketer who played 7 matches for Cambridge University, one game for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and one for the North of England in 1875. He also played for Hertfordshire in 1890. , founder of the school, said his employees have done nothing wrong and insisted that officials have launched a "witch hunt" against Heartland. |
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