1995 Official Investigation Report on Gauri das - Part One
BY: GURUKULI DASA
Jan 6, USA (SUN) —
From: Braja.BihariBJD @ com.bbt.se
To: badrinarayan.acbsp @ iskcon.com
Cc: bhurijan.acbsp @ compuserve.com
afn09663 @ freenet.ufl.edu
70324.1511 @ compuserve.com
Kavichandra.Swami @ com.bbt.se
naveen.krishna.acbsp @ iskcon.com
Subject: Official report from investigation committee on Gauri dasa
Dear Maharjas and Prabhus,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Below are the conclusions on the investigation we were asked to conduct into the Gurukula alimni's report regarding Gauri dasa. WE have tried to cover both points made in the alumni letter as well as the questions asked by Murli Vadaka Prabhu. Please note that this entire report was agreed upon unanimously.
1. Is Gauri's use of the stick "regular penal practice?" How often has he used it? Why did he do so, disregarding Srila Prabhupada's statements and the Gurukula's policies? Gauri's use of the stick does not seen to be "regular penal practice." Rather it was used approximately 6 times in 5 years of teaching. It was a mistake using the stick, and a direct violation of Srila Prabhupada's teachings, but its infrequent use leads us to believe it wasn't used as in a violent, uncontrolled fashion.
Gauri was well aware of Srila Prabhupada's statements about the stick. He gave two arguments why he used the stick: 1.that the very infrequent use of the stick, in his experience, was helpful in correcting the most difficult of child (2 of the incidents were in chastising boys involved in sexually abusing younger boys before the CPT was established). And 2. that so many schools all over the world are adjusting Srila Prabhupada's instructions on Gurukula to suit their individual needs, and he ahs done the same in this instance.
We did not accept this logic of "two wrong make a right", though we noted carefully that Gauri's infrequent use of the stick showed that he didn't allow this poor logic to carry his away into gross and frequent misuse of punishment.
3. Are the Gurukula children existing under extremely fearful, pressured circumstances? We found no reason to believe the Gurukula boys are "functioning under extremely fearful, pressured" conditions. It is, of course hard to conclude this beyond all doubt in such short investigation.
4. Does Gauri play favorites?
This is hard to establish. Naturally teachers have their favorite students. We found favoritism, but we choose not to categorize it as excessive or unhealthy, though perhaps undesirable. Again, a brief investigation is not sufficient to look into such a complicated matter. What is seen by one person as favoritism will be seen by another as an attempt to improve/protect the school. The alumni complaints on this were 2 fold: a. the favoritism shown toward two boys who were suspended but not expelled in a CPT incident, and b. Early graduation of some, and not others.
In "a", the boys involved were suspended for six months. There was a punishment which the CPT decided upon, based on research done by Yasoda Mataji in the USA (ISKCON's expert on the subject of child sexual misconduct). While Gauri was consulted in the CPT's decision, he did not have the final say in the matter.
In "b", the complaint graduating others early appears unwarranted. In the cases suggested by the alumni, either the parents were directly consulted and involved in the "early graduation", or the School tried several alternatives to GAuri's ashram before deciding the boys should be graduated.
Based on the unpleasant experiences of boys not knowing exactly when graduation will be, the school has now set up a standard of graduation at 14. Further studies are saved for those inclined on an individual basis. All parents are now all being informed of this policy.
5. Is there a teacher who will leave if Gauri is allowed to stay? The teacher who the alumni says threatened to leave if Gauri is allowed to stay is Athanu Prabhu, an ashram teacher. It was common knowledge, however, that Athanu had only agreed to serve in the school for a limited amount of time, and decided long before this incident to go to another temple or Gurukula.
There is no connection between his leaving and Gauri's "physical abuse." He had several reasons for moving. One may have been a poor relationship with Gauri, but that is only hearsay. He is in Vancouver if anyone in North America wants to talk to him.
6. Gauri should be removed as a teacher. In our interviews with most of the alumni, even they did not believe this was necessary action. We find no need to take such a drastic measure. Rather, we believe the recommendations listed below should be followed.
* * *
We feel it is important for the Board Of Education members to understand the difficult, almost impossible, situation here in Vrindaban for both "parties." Graduates often stay in Vrindaban without proper engagement after their graduation. This creates trouble all around. They still have friends in the Gurukula and want to associate with them, but their standards are often different than their friends still in school. As Kavichandra Swami put it: "No high school just lets its graduates hang out on school property."
But what are they supposed to do? They are further frustrated because their education ended at 14, just when it should really be absorbing themselves in learning, and they have little opportunity for further studies, and less opportunity for enlivening service in the Society. As stated below under "recommendations" we feel it is important for alumni not to be so close to the Gurukula without being busy in service. Hopefully future alumni can be properly placed after graduation so they are in a positive, satisfactory situation. The Gurukula faces many problems in not having a building of their own where the children's association can be better monitored. From the Child Protection point of view, sharing the building with the bramhacari ashram is not ideal.
Recommendations:
1. That Gauri das, on behalf of the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula, should write an apology to the three students for the use of improper corporal punihsement.
2. The BOE should maintain their ban on all Corporal Punishment in the Vrindavana Gurukula until the BOE in Mayapura, 1996.
3. The Vrindavana Gurukula should clarify their rules on discipline, and present those rules to the BOE in Mayapura, 1996.
4. Members of the Vrindavana Gurukula should participate in the COM conference discussing Corporal Punishment in ISKCON Schools.
5. The Gurukula should set up formal systems to place upcoming graduates in favorable situations. Though the Gurukula is already doing this, and the problem is one facing the whole society (not just the Gurukula), the Gurukula should formally add such guidance as part of the curriculum for older students.
6. We recommend Gauri Prabhu spend the summer in the West (May-June,1996) associating with senior teachers and devotees, especially Murli Vadaka Prabhu.
7. If within the Board of Education's guidelines, we recommend Gauri das be included in BOE meetings in Mayapur.
8. We recommend an international effort be undertaken to find additional qualified male teachers for both academics and ashram to meet the growing demands of the school.
6. We recommend Murli Vadaka Prabhu relocate to Vrindaban to help the Gurukula in its development.
Your servants,
Kavichandra Swami
Panca Gauda dasa
Jaya Sila dasa
Braja Bihari dasa
