MEGAN MCARDLE ON THE HORACE MANN SEX SCANDALS: “When sex scandals erupted in the Catholic Church and Penn State’s football programs, we heard a lot about how the sick culture and institutions of religion and football created a safe space for pedophiles. Why no similarly harsh words for private school?” Same reason there’s no systemic criticism for sex scandals in public schools. “What explains the difference? The obvious candidate is the demographics of columnists and academics who write about these things. Few of them are football players. Few of them are practicing Catholics (or social conservatives). But a fair number of them went to private school, or send their children there. Even if they are prone to question the institution as an institution, doing so would be awfully uncomfortable. And it might not do much for little Emily’s chances at Brearley.”

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