Topic: Student Abuse

Beyond disease, residential schools were rife with physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by staff, many of whom were affiliated with the Catholic Church. Many children died attempting to flee the schools into the harsh Canadian wilderness. The long-term impact of these institutions includes a cycle of trauma and addiction, as generations of Indigenous people were raised in "concentration camp" environments without parental models to emulate.

A personal story about receiving a detention at St. Pius High School in Festus, Missouri, for refusing to stand for the national anthem during a cold winter football game. The narrative criticizes the institution for prioritizing compliance over education and alleges a history of inappropriate conduct by teachers. The school is characterized as an environment focused on indoctrination rather than fostering student passion or creativity.