Dean Robert Fitzpatrick’s Betrayal of Trust Article Brought In To Cynical New Light
It’s easy to imagine that when Curtis Institute of Music Dean Robert Fitzpatrick published his article “A betrayal of trust” he had long forgotten about how he failed Lara St John. His stated purpose for the article was “to offer a checklist for others especially those who are administrators and teachers at troubled schools around the world.” In light of the recent Philadelphia Inquirer article highlighting sexual assault accusations against long time Curtis Institute teacher Jascha Brodsky.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Lara St John brought the accusation to Fitzpatrick in 1986, he reportedly exclaimed: “‘Oh, for God’s sake, who do you think they’re going to believe? Some 15-year-old kid or someone who has been here for decades?’” In fact, by his own admission Robert Fitzpatrick says that he spoke to Brodsky and asked him to be more mindful with female students. Then Fitzpatrick admits to never following up on the matter again.
Interestingly not following up is not a best practice on Fitzpatrick’s lengthy checklist. On that checklist Fitzpatrick identifies the faculty as the lynchpin to successfully protecting students from just the sort of sexual accusations in the Lara St John case.
It is no small irony to read Fitzpatrick’s own words: “Like the Catholic Church, music schools tended to sweep their dirty little secrets under the rug.”
