John Angelico
Severe child abuse crisis withing homeschooling community.
JOHN ANGELICO
Australian homeschool goes a book to far…
Hitting kids by the book, based on Proverbs and pain
A BOOK and DVD instructing parents how to hit their children with rulers, tree branches and belts is being sold from a Melbourne online bookshop.
The actions described in the book could constitute assault under Victorian law depending on the severity of the impact. Previously, parents have been convicted of assault for using objects to hit their children under the guise of discipline, and a NSW law has effectively outlawed the use of objects to hit children.
John Angelico is an Australian Christian Fundamentalist Homeschooler from Victoria, who openly sells articles by the Pearls promoting child abuse. These can be found on his website under “Family Life”. Kingsley Educational Pty.
His website appears to be hosted outside Australia, this means it is not subjected to the full force of Australian internet laws. This enables people like John Angelico to promote and sell literature advocating child abuse, with little recourse from this particular department. We are currently requesting new legislation to close this loop hole in the law.
What’s more disgusting is that you can learn how to beat a child with a pipe for just $9.90. As advertised on JOHN ANGELICO’S website. To Train Up a Child [Christian][For Parents] 200g $9.90 ($9) Pearl
You can even watch the video, where you can get a demonstration of how to whip your child. Joy of Training [Christian][For Parents] Pearl video seminar based on To Train Up a Child (above). Available on NTSC video (3 tape set) 300g $59.40 ($54) or DVD (2-DVD set) 175g $48.40 ($44).
WHIPPING YOUR CHILD WITH PLUMBING PIPING
We are appalled to see that the Home Education Association (HEA) have continued to list John Angelico on their website, even though they are fully aware he is selling literature which advocates hitting children with piping, paddles, branches and promotes the whipping of a 4 month old girl as a means of discipline. This was taken from the HEA website on wednesday 5th December.
The HEA says, “Families Honouring Christ is a Melbourne support group providing information, encouragement and fellowship to Christian parents training their children at home.” Yet it is run by a Mr John Angelico who sells this revolting literature on his website.
Contact Details:
Families Honouring Christ
PO Box 310
Mt Waverley VIC 3149
Contact: John Angelico
Ph: 03 9544 8792
Fax: 03 9544 2328
Email: talldad@kepl.com.au
Website: http://www.fhc.org.au
Last Updated: Nov-02
http://www.hea.asn.au/resources/disp_res.asp?type=3&id=689
Other homeschooling sites such as Mission Islam also continue to promote Mr Angelico’s website, although we have written to them on two occasions, outlining the seriousness of physical abuse that is being promoted. Homeschool Australia has also been informed of the promotion of violence against children by John Angelico. Beverley Paine owner and founder of Homeschool Australia is fully aware that Mr Angelico openly admits to caning his children, yet continues to promote and support his work.
We have tested these methods to experience the pain that is inflicted, I only managed to endure 2 licks with a 1/2 inch plastic pipe, before I reeled in pain. Seven hours later and I still have the marks on my skin and the pain was excruciating.
John Angelico is also the Convenor of the Maintenance of the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.
We contacted the church for reassurance that they do not support this type of physical abuse against children, with some rather alarming responses.
All three of the Reverend’s we contacted failed to deny that this type of abuse is used within the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.
I have personally reported Mr Angelico to the Police and Child Protection Services.
John Angelico also posts on a blog called “Culture Watch” run by Bill Muehlenberg, a Fundamentalist Preacher originally from America but now residing in Australia. This is a quote by Bill Muehlenburg,
“Moreover, there is wisdom in using an object, e.g., a wooden dowel. First, it disassociates the punishment from the parent. Otherwise the hand of the parent might become an object of fear, instead of love and affection. In the same way animal trainers recommend using an object instead of the hand.
Unfortunately these are not isolated incidents. This is from a magazine called the ‘Good Report‘ – The Good report is written by Janne and Murray Peterson who are members of the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group).
On p.12 there is a drawing of a baby and some very specific instructions on how to hit babies and small children with a ‘rod’ or paddle. The picture indicating that they are hitting babies for being irritable, the heading, “A smack at nap time saves nine”.
The majority of homeschoolers are Christian or Christian Fundamentalist.
USING A ROD OR ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT TO HIT YOUR CHILD, IS ABUSE.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
Please write directly to your MP and request that Mr John Angelico is investigated immediately, for selling literature promoting the physical abuse of children. We will campaign rigorously until this literature is removed from his site. One could presume that if you promote this literature, you would seek to use its methods on your own children.
If you are outside Australia, please write directly to the Australian Prime Minister, The Hon Kevin Rudd MP.
JOHN ANGELICO
Quote from Mr Angelico, “Obedience is of course the only scriptural instruction to children. This greatly simplifies life for the child – and his parents. There is no need to enter into theological wrestlings on the finer points of the Law and its New Testament applications. God planned that they should be apprenticed to us, to reflect back to us our life-view so that we may see it and adjust our own un-Godly traits before we are allowed to lead in wider society.”
A picture of John Angelico and family. Mr Angelico admits to caning his children. We have hidden his children’s faces to protect their identity.
The email below was sent to a homeschooling parent who was bullied by Mr John Angelico for voicing her opinions. We have received numerous emails in regards to Mr Angelico’s behaviour.
–Forwarded Message Attachment–
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 07:10:15 +0000
From: mutt71 (at) gmail.com
To:
Subject: Hi …from a fellow homeschooler
Hi *******,
I really feel sorry for you. I know how you feel, too. I was kicked off AHC, without doing anything wrong, too. I also received an email from John Angelico, saying that my posts on AHS were going to be moderated. I didn’t think that this was very fair either, so I haven’t posted on there since.
People wonder why my son and I set up Australian Secondhand Homeschooling Curriculum and Books…I couldn’t say anything on AHC without a particular member attacking everything I wrote. This is what
I received in my PM box one morning:~
Do you call ‘foot in mouth disease’ affirmation??? or ‘poor Jill’??? Your foot in mouth disease is really mostly a pain for everyone else, Jill… nothing to feel affirmed about…
There was so much more, which is why my son set up a homeschooling site for me to express my opinions, without all the nastiness associated with Aussie Homeschooling Classifieds. However, they were not content to leave me alone. They have had a thread on AHC about my board, and I have no doubt that they will constantly nitpick until
somebody else comes along that they can gossip about.
I pray that you will find peace, and also that you will know that you are a valued member of the homeschooling community. It’s a pity that you are so far away from us, for I would like to get to know you better.
Christian love,
Jill
