Author Topic: Carlbrook (Read 701493 times)

Anonymous · « **Reply #255 on:** February 07, 2006, 07:05:00 PM »

He was at Carlbrook for less than a year. He is 19, so he isn't likely to be kidnapped in the middle of the night. Yes, he made it very clear what he thought about Carlbrook- the good and the bad. He isn't one to hide what he thinks. He relied on us (his parents) to help him get into his next school. He communicates just fine when he wants something- just like most 19 year olds. I found that most of the wilderness and Carlbrook parents that I met were perfectly willing to admit their parenting mistakes. It is a process that lend itself to mistakes.

Troll Control · « **Reply #256 on:** February 07, 2006, 07:19:00 PM »

Quote

He was at Carlbrook for less than a year

So, if he didn't even "work the program" at Carlbrook, how do you credit them with fixing your kid?

Face the facts, you were a lousy parent, Carlbrook doesn't do shit and your kid grew up on his own, despite the fact you forced him into a stifling environment. Nice job, mom. Nice job.

Anonymous · « **Reply #257 on:** February 07, 2006, 07:28:00 PM »

Where was it I said Carlbrook fixed my kid? He got some things from Carlbrook, including some good friends. He did grow up while he was there and was safe while he figured out his life. Sending him to wilderness and Carlbrook accomplished what he and we needed it to do. He was able to repair his academic transcript, figure out how to get back on track, recognize the harm he had done to himself and others and then move on!
Why is it so painful for you to say, "Hey. Glad it worked out. Carlbrook might not be so bad!"

Troll Control · « **Reply #258 on:** February 07, 2006, 07:51:00 PM »

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He did grow up while he was there

Grew up in less than a year? Yeah, uh-huh. Sure.

Sure sounds like your violent, out of control, stealing thug of a kid only needed a few months at Carlbrook to get him to grow up. Get a grip, lady. You're shot.

So which are you lying about, how bad your kid was, or the Carlbrook miracle cure? It just doesn't jive with reality, honey. :smokin:

Anonymous · « **Reply #259 on:** February 13, 2006, 03:35:00 PM »

what a disappointing web thread =(

i am an alumni of the Carlbrook School. I graduated almost two months ago in December of 2005, with the Omicron peer class. i haven't read through this whole thing but it seems like people are debating whether the school can help people or whether it is an abusive lockdown that engages in brainwashing and deceit. the people posting don't sound incredibly open-minded and it feels like people are writing more to take stabs at each other than to actually try to understand the situation, so i'm not sure there's really anything i can write on this page that will be heard. I respect people like Rico (who is a close friend of mine) who have tried to share their experiences on this page.
so why am I writing this. i would rather not get tangled up in this argument, but if anyone out there would like to talk about Carlbrook and hear the opinion of one person, I would be more than willing to share my story. You can contact me via AIM at screenname dangerousdave or via email at dangerousdave@aol.com.
I hope you find what you are looking for.

David Korn
December 2005 Carlbrook Alumni

try another castle · « **Reply #260 on:** February 13, 2006, 04:54:00 PM »

Get back to us in about two years or so. That's how long it took me to get some perspective.

Anonymous · « **Reply #261 on:** February 13, 2006, 06:25:00 PM »

As a current Carlbrook parent - I have been somewhat skeptical over the 11 months our child has been there. I do not agree with a lot of the program, but I am now seeing a very mature person instead of a whiny selfish child evolving. Is it time or is it the Carlbrook system - who knows. All I know is that for the last 11 months I have known my child is safe and in an environment that offers a chance to change their prospective on where they want to go. I wish I could see into the future and know whether this was the right choice or just a very expensive experiment.

Anonymous · « **Reply #262 on:** February 13, 2006, 06:44:00 PM »

Parent- that was my experience with Carlbrook while my kid was there. He didn't buy into much of the therapy, and was on "program" for much of his stay. However, he was safe, and he figured out what he was costing himself with the things he was doing pre-Carlbrook. He matured, and made a decision about where he wanted to go. He is now a senior at a top prep boarding school and was recruited as an athlete by a top academic college. I had my battles with the Carlbrook administration, but all in all, I can not see what alternative would have been better.

Nihilanthic · « **Reply #263 on:** February 13, 2006, 06:56:00 PM »

So, it all boils down to "well, we dont know what to do, but if hes held captive in some program he cant run around and do things we dont think he should do or get access to drugs or the opposite sex, nevermind the seminars, hes physically safe, and even though we dont agree with it we'll just go along because we cant change our minds and doing something must be better than nothing" right?

:wstupid:

Truth does not have to be accepted on faith. Scientists do not hold hands every Sunday, singing, "Yes gravity is real! I will have faith! I will be strong! Amen.
--Dan Barker, former evangelist and author

Anonymous · « **Reply #264 on:** February 13, 2006, 07:07:00 PM »

They aren't actually held captive- they can leave. Seems like being at Carlbrook is better than being in jail or living on the streets.
A lot of Carlbrook works. Going into it, the hope is that ALL of it will work. It's very similar to going into a course of medical treatment or physical rehab- you hope it will all work and you will be fully recovered. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. It sure is better than doing nothing!
You just really can't stand to hear success stories, can you Niles?
My kid is almost 2 years out of Carlbrook (didn't graduate) and his opinion hasn't changed at all. The seminars were worthwhile (he didn't get to finish them all). A lot of the group therapy was bullshit and the kids manipulated the sessions to score points for themselves. He hated every minute of it. He made some good friends with students and faculty. He thinks he would have been OK at home after wilderness, but his life has worked out better since he spent the time at Carlbrook (in terms of where he was able to go to school next).

Nihilanthic · « **Reply #265 on:** February 13, 2006, 07:30:00 PM »

"You cant stand success stories" - trying to start another emotional responce to derail the topic and put me on the defensive? :rofl: but besides that) and two years of learning how to acutally be an adult! You dont learn how to be an adult and make your own decisions, meet and pick your own friends, and set your own rules living in some program. It does nothing to prepare you for outside life, unless youre going to join the military and spend more time being obedient to someone else.

May your days be joyfully challenging and your words artfully true
-- Ginger Warbis SMA, `00

Anonymous · « **Reply #266 on:** February 13, 2006, 07:47:00 PM »

Niles- learn to read. My kid was at Carlbrook for 9 months- he has been OUT almost 2 years (May).
No one is at Carlbrook for 2 years. It is a 14-15 month program.
I agree that many kids would mature on their own and see the light. I do not attribute most of his growth to Carlbrook. I DO credit his peers and his assessment of how they had fucked up their own lives with nudging him towards a different path. My son was at a much higher academic and athletic level than most of his peers- even though Carlbrook is one of the more academic emotional growth schools. However, my son no longer could live in our home or in our community and had no appropriate school to attend. This was the result of HIS choices- not ours. He had exhausted all his options. Wilderness was the right thing for him- he admits that and even chose to return to wilderness during his Carlbrook stint.
We've had this debate before. You can continue to ignore the reports from kids like Rico Moreno, whose letter was posted here. You have no experience with Carlbrook as a parent or a student. I doubt that you know anyone who has attended the school or worked there. The basis for your loathing is that you don't like the seminars.
Maybe Carlbrook has changed up the seminar content from what you seem to think it is, but NO grad has ever complained about them or found them harmful or painful.

Anonymous · « **Reply #267 on:** February 13, 2006, 07:49:00 PM »

Quote

On 2006-02-13 16:47:00, Anonymous wrote:

but NO grad has ever complained about them or found them harmful or painful. "

Wow, that's a bold statement. You no every single graduate and how they feel about the seminars?

Anonymous · « **Reply #268 on:** February 13, 2006, 07:51:00 PM »

Quote

On 2006-02-13 16:49:00, Anonymous wrote:

"
Quote

On 2006-02-13 16:47:00, Anonymous wrote:

but NO grad has ever complained about them or found them harmful or painful. "

Wow, that's a bold statement. You no every single graduate and how they feel about the seminars?"

excuse me.....know, not 'no'. I'm tired.

Anonymous · « **Reply #269 on:** February 13, 2006, 08:04:00 PM »

Yeah, they can leave to go live in jail or on the streets---allegedly. Sure. But what if one of their friends or their freinds' parents drove up to get them and offered them a place to live while they finished school, got a job, and got on their feet living on their own?

Somehow I bet if a friend or a friend's parents showed up at the door to talk to a kid and offer him a choice that was *not* jail or the street, said friend or friend's parent would be given the bum's rush and the kid never informed that he had another alternative.

Julie

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Author Topic: Carlbrook (Read 701493 times)

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An open discussion about the troubled parent industry