<p>I think powerful institutions historically responded to this kind of issue in the same way: first, believe the teacher, coach, priest, or whatever - he’s been a dedicated team member for years, and allegations of abuse seem absurd. But, if there is any chance that the witnesses are credible, then make the problem go away quietly. That’s what got the Catholic church in trouble in so many places. That’s what seems to have happened at Penn State, and, years ago, at Horace Mann. For organizations that depend on donations (and, in this case, tuition-paying families), avoiding scandals is always a huge priority. So, in the old days, the perps would be allowed to depart quietly, or get transferred. </p>
<p>Today, I think this is much less likely to happen. We now see big lawsuits and even criminal charges associated with failing to report abuse. A prep school headmaster or other official would be taking a massive personal risk by ignoring abuse complaints or covering them up.</p>