Judith Van Meter has a Class D Felony and Steve Hall is Wasatch Academy’s Choice for their Faculty Spotlight

In August 2007, a 63-year-old school bus driver in a suburb of Indianapolis left a 5-year-old child on the bus. The little girl slept for five hours before walking into school. She never expressed any fear and was fine. The driver was charged with Neglect of a Dependent, which is a Class D Felony. She was fired. Her license was revoked ending her long career. She was ordered to serve 100 days in jail (she was able to serve house arrest because she was the sole caretaker of her ailing parents) and was put on probation for an additional 445 days. She was also ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and has to pay all fines and court costs.

In February 2005, an English teacher at Darlington School, a private school in Rome, Georgia, led an outdoor excursion during which he changed the course to one that required the kids to be in the ocean in kayaks and canoes. The only communication device was his personal cell phone, the water temperature was 58 degrees, numerous severe weather warnings had been issued, and he got not one parent’s permission. His decision killed two boys, Clay McKemie and Sean Wilkinson. Darlington’s attorneys showed up at the Florida church where families were awaiting word on the boys. Prosecutors decided not to prosecute.....

Two years later, Steve Hall’s teaching contract was not renewed (not because Darlington decided to do the right thing, but because parents demanded it). Still unable to find any friends his own age to play with, he went to work as the official Outdoor Recreation Coordinator for another private school in Utah called Wasatch Academy. He is still at Wasatch, and, just as he was at Darlington, is now advertised as an English teacher. In February, he is in the school’s Wasatch Wire newsletter’s “Faculty Spotlight” just in time for the school’s 2010 Family Weekend and the five-year anniversary of Clay and Sean’s deaths. LIVE link and PDF link.

In 2009, when asked about their interactions with Hall and told about his past, Wasatch kids shared their own experiences and asked some interesting questions.

“He’s creepy.”

“He makes vulgar remarks to us.”

“He left us to walk back from the watering hole by ourselves.”

“Hardy split his head open on a snowboarding trip.”

“We had to sign all sorts of papers saying we wouldn’t sue him if something went wrong.”

“The school wouldn’t let us go out with him if they knew this, would they?”

“There’s just no way Mr. Loftin knows about this. Does he?”

“This is horrible. I’m talking to a staffer now.”

Then, as quickly as they came, they left, refusing all contact. Can’t you just feel the intimidation by the adults at that school assembly?

Steve Hall is as happy and unaffected as a sociopathic pig in mud (although, I’d bet a year’s salary that he wrote the article himself – he tends to do that, because, after all, it’s the only way to effectively get across how truly glorious he is).

Wasatch Academy leadership had better be greasing their palms. In addition to being fully aware of Hall’s past, there is actually a school requirement that every student participate in three outdoor activities each year. So, not only do they encourage the students to be subjected to Steve Hall, they require it. No Liability Release Form or insurance plan will save them when his actions cause another kid’s death.

Judith Van Meter has about 100 days left on her probation, legal bills she will never be able to pay and a permanent felony on her record.

The 5-year-old girl on the bus now rides to second grade in her parents’ cars, because they were given access to information enabling them to decide what’s best for their child.

If only Clay and Sean’s parents, and every other parent of a child on that trip in 2005, were given the same opportunity.

***For some more history…

Comments

[Jennifer Ryan]

With all due respect, I have to honestly wonder how much research you did prior to writing this piece. My name is Jennifer Ryan, I was one of the 6 surviving students on the trip where Sean and Clay died and am an alumna of Darlington School. I was the last to have any form of contact with the two boys before we were separated by the waves. The outdoor excursion was an entirely voluntary spring break trip, run through Steve Hall's private outdoors company, "Orr Treks". We were required to sign waivers, as were our parents seeing as how we were underage (17 at the time, I had to fax mine home to my parents for their signature as I was a boarding student). The trip was not through the school, but was advertised in school due to Mr Hall's job there. Those present and representing the school in Suwanee Florida in the days following the accident involved the headmaster and his wife, the dean of students, and Sean's head of house, who were there to help with those of us that survived and with the Mckemie and Wilkinson families. As for Steve Hall, he was an extremely beloved English teacher at Darlington prior to the accident. His passion for both his students and his teaching material was undeniable, as was the countless praise for his trips prior to the accident. Following the unexpected rise of the storm while we were out on the water, it was Steve Hall who went searching for Sean and Clay who had until then been always in sight, and in yelling distance. Steve nearly died trying to save those two boys, and the rest of us. Had he not gone searching for them, he would not have been able to get close enough to land to receive enough cell phone service to call the Coast Guard who would then save the rest of us. His cell phone was not the only method of communication, but following the storm, it was the only one that worked. By no means am I declaring Steve Hall to be a hero, as clearly mistakes were made. But to call him happy and unaffected is entirely wrong. The Steve Hall we all knew as "Meester" prior to the trip was never the same man again, no longer coaching varsity sports, no longer cracking jokes with his advisees, no longer making witty announcements at chapel, but a broken man. His decision to hit the water was not what killed Sean and Clay, but rather the beginning of a hellish ordeal that no one could have predicted, nor stopped once the storm had begun. Steve Hall was quoted as saying he'd "be living in a black hole for the next 20+ years" immediately following the accident, but somewhere under the brokenness of February 27th & 28th 2005 is a man who has an undeniable passion for combining education and outdoor adventures. If you had ever bothered to interview Hall, the survivors, or his former students, it might have been a real eye opener.

[Jennifer Ryan]

I do however, give you credit to Steve not conducting trips anymore. His credibility is undoubtedly ruined, as is the ability for any parent to feel comfortable sending their child on a trip with Steve. Steve Hall will likely never give you a full account of that weekend's events, as it will likely make no difference after losing Sean and Clay. Sean and Clay were both absolutely bright, wonderful, happy young men who represented the best of Darlington by being themselves regardless of circumstance. I can tell you 5 years later, both the boys are still very very dearly missed and remembered regularly. While Steve Hall is not entirely the monster you've made him out to be, the loss of Sean Wilkinson and Clay Mckemie should be enough of a red flag to unfortunately prevent further trips from taking place. Meester's trips were an escape from the small town prep school environment where students regardless of class, race, or social status could enjoy themselves and discover one another in a setting previously unavailable. However, if by preventing an expedition means potentially preventing what I and 5 other former students still live with, then I pray Steve finds some other way to fulfill his passion for outdoor education.

[Karen Rutherford]

Hello Jennifer,

I am so sorry that you were a part of this tragedy. I'm sure it will forever change you. I am happy that you did understand the point of my posting everything I could about the tragedy here on this site. In turn, however, I have to question how much you read here and also your perspective since you were just a child at the time.

Hall was 100% responsible for those boys' deaths. 100%. Without question. In my opinion, he should have gone to jail. At the very least, he should have had his outdoor licenses revoked and been required to provide information about this trip (and his questionable past) to future employers that involve children.

I do understand parental responsibility. And I understand legal disclaimers. However, when he made decisions altering the course of the trip, he notified no one and got no approval. He should not have put other people's children in that situation in the first place. He wouldn't have had to try to save anyone (as you perceive he did) had he made the correct and responsible and sane decision NOT to be on that course and in that water. For God's sake, the man didn't even have proper communication devices. Onlookers were quoted about their concern watching your group getting in the water! There are links and information here on the site, if you'd like to go through them, but like you said, you were there.

There were newspaper articles and Coast Guard reports galore until Darlington's attorneys got involved. That's just the way our justice system works. People stopped talking and news reports were no more. Lawsuits are terrible things in that way - someone does something wrong and nobody can ever find out to protect themselves or their children.

I do know the history of Orr Treks back to Hall's Chattanooga days, but make no mistake, Darlington's insurance company paid the legal bills and lawsuit settlements, so the connection is absolute. (In fact, the equipment on the trips, albeit inefficient and outdated, was paid for by Darlington.)

Have you read anything about Hall since he's been at Wasatch Academy in Utah? He is indeed over-the-top happy, just as he was at the soccer game days after the boys' bodies were found. If only he were living in a black hole, as he said. If only. But, he's not. Again, there are links to that information here as well.

I thank you for understanding why I have posted about him here. Had your parents known about his past, they probably wouldn't have signed a disclaimer to send you anywhere with this man. I just want a place where people can get information should they choose to research. It has been here for over 5 years now and has served that purpose well.

Not only is this not the best place to try to defend Steve Hall, it's also 5 days before what would be Clay McKemie's birthday, so this is not the best time either.

Karen Rutherford

[Nick Crowhurst]

I have been haunted by this dreadful incident throughout the period since it occurred. To explain why I am posting this, and my qualifications for so doing, I need to explain some of my history.

My wife and I are the joint authors of the free on-line guidebook to sea-kayaking on the stretch of coast where this appalling incident occurred. The book can be found via www.hiddencoast.blogspot.com where you can also find some details of our background. (We are from the UK, and spend months each winter in the Suwannee area).
We have spent the last thirteen winters exploring this region by sea kayak, and the past fifty years paddling, offshore sailing, rock climbing and mountaineering whenever work permitted. Our book details 16 sea-kayak day paddles, one of which details the trip the boys were attempting to make, from Suwannee to Coon Island. I have British Canoe Union qualifications in sea kayaks (4*) and canoes (2*). I retired after a career in the British Police Service, latterly as a Chief Superintendent. We have a son and a daughter and six granddaughters. I am writing this post after much consideration.

Risk cannot be eliminated from our lives, but it can be managed. We accept the risk of allowing our children to travel in motor vehicles, even though this is a major cause of child deaths. Children need to learn to deal with risk, and to balance these risks with the rewards gained. Some risk-taking is thus beneficial, within limits. My son, when a young teenager, followed me on many multi-pitch high grade rock climbs in circumstances which would horrify most parents who lacked specialist knowledge. I will happily take a granddaughter through the early stages of kayak training, and then introduce her to waves and rocks on the sea, when, of couse, she is wearing a wetsuit, a crash helmet, a PFD and a sprayskirt, and has a ratio of two supervisors to the one child. Incidents of danger still occur. I give these details to indicate that I seek the adrenaline of risk, but only when the "dumb risks" have been eliminated. These can be eliminated by gradual training, good and appropriate equipment, increasing experience, and, above all, humility in the face of the immense power of nature.

Parents of children offered the chance to partake in such "adventure activities" are in a very difficult position, as they will probably lack the specialist knowledge required to assess the risk of the activity. I, for instance, could not assess the risk involved in a school trip involving horse-riding.

In the case of a suggested trip from Suwannee to Coon Island for my young son, I do have the necessary knowledge, so I would seek answers to these questions:

1. What are the qualifications and experience of the trip leaders? (I would require advanced and appropriate qualifications from the ACA (American Canoe Association) or BCU and for first aid from a minimum of two supervisors for this trip)

2. How many support craft will there be, and, if powered, do they have auxiliary means of propulsion in case of breakdown, as well as anchors, flares,smoke signals,lights, strobes, compasses, GPS? (Two support craft would be a minimum in this case)

3. Are there several fall-back plans to deal with bad weather, illness, exhaustion or lack of emotional control? In strong offshore winds, which appear safe but are a greater danger than onshore winds, alternative campsites could be pre-arranged at Suwannee, Munden Camp or Cat Island, very close to the mouth of the Suwannee.

3. Are the boats supplied fit for purpose? Canoes are out of the question on this coast. They are too much affected by wind, and would be uncontrollable by young inexperienced children. Are the kayaks fitted with watertight buoyancy, reflective tape, sprayskirt, towing facility, deck-lines, and are they of suitable design and condition?

4. Have the children received prior training to fit them for the purpose? ACA and BCU approved training will provide whatever levels of skill are required. At a minimum, capsize and escape and rescue procedures, and basic stroke-making need to be trained.

5. Will the children be properly clothed and equipped for the worst case scenario of immersion in the anticipated water temperature after capsize? Wetsuits would be a minimum, with wind-proof outer garments, skull-caps and gloves and well-designed specialist PFDs. Each child should wear a strobe, and carry a waterproof torch, and have proven ablity to swim 50 yards in the clothing. Spare dry clothing in drybags and emergency food and water should be carried.

6.What are the communication arrangements, either routinely or in emergency? Each supervisor should have a waterproof hand-held VHF set with an agreed boat to boat working channel on dual watch with channel 16. A spare VHF set and batteries should be carried within the leaders.Cellphones should be carried, in waterproof containers, but cellphone coverage in this area is the exception, rather than the rule.VHF communication, which is line-of-sight, with a range of perhaps 4 miles from a small boat, is problematic in this remote area. In case of emergency, an EPIRB or PLB is vital in each support craft. My current PLB cost about $250. At the touch of a button, the international marine rescue organisation is alerted by satellite of my identity, my accurate GPS position, and that I am in distress. It also sends out a VHF signal for homing-in on my position. This is an incredible facility, particularly at the price.It is the ultimate "get out of jail" card.

7. Who is the shore contact in possession of the float plan and details of the party, to act as an information point for parents or the Coastguard, and how is that person contactable?


I could go on, but I've made my point, I hope. The non-specialist parent cannot hope to know all this detail.So, what's to be done?

A very similar tragedy occurred in England in 1993, near where we live. It is known as the Lyme Bay Canoe Tragedy, and Googling will find many references. One excellent one is here:
http://www.aals.org.uk/lymebay01.html

This describes the prosecution of the adults involved, and the eventual setting up of a national statutory body to regulate such activities, and help prevent such disasters. This may give food for thought to those considering these issues in the USA.

In the absence of such controls, I would advocate that parents should obtain as much information as possible about a possible trip, and submit these details to an independent qualified source for comment. For example, a well-qualified ACA or BCU instructor would look to be satisfied that all the above questions, and more, were satisfactorily covered. A fee would be well spent.

I am so desperatly sad about this tragedy, and the years since have not reduced that sadness.

Nick Crowhurst, from near Suwannee,FL, 20th Febrary 2011.

[Karen Rutherford]

Nick, thank you so much for your post. I have reprinted it as a blog post,with your permission. I know Clay and Sean's families will be touched by your words. I know I feel a new sense of courage and inspiration to learn about what I can do here. Thank you for that! I hope I can stay in touch with you. You are a wonderful resource and credit to the kayaking community!! Karen

http://www.karenrutherford.com/journal/2011/2/21/clay-and-seans-message-of-courage-and-inspiration-from-anoth.html