By Fred Jackson
July 5, 2001

(AgapePress) - A report says a Christian school in rural northeastern Missouri is under investigation after five of its staff members were charged with felony child abuse.

It is called Heartland Christian Academy. It was founded by 73-year-old Charles Sharpe, who reportedly made millions in the insurance business and then decided to use his wealth to help troubled young people who had passed through juvenile courts, foster care, and broken homes. But now, according to The New York Times, the Academy is under the spotlight for allegedly forcing some students to stand in pits of cow manure at a dairy near the school as punishment for misbehavior.

The five staff members were arrested after some workers at the dairy reported seeing the students in the pits. Eleven of the children were removed from the school.

Sharpe says the charges of child abuse are false. According to The Times, Sharpe admits the manure pit was used as a form of punishment, but he stopped that. He says what the dairy workers saw was students who were sent there to do some work.

Sharpe has now filed a lawsuit against county officials, saying they have been involved in a systematic campaign of harassment against the school and it staff.

© 2001 AgapePress all rights reserved.

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