son in WWASP program

[Anonymous]

Even if the hobbit were gone, isn't the purple walled isolation cell still there? This is all WWASP knows how to do... 're-invent' the SAME SHIT with a fresh coat of paint. I can't believe parents fall for this crap!

[MightyAardvark]

On 2006-04-20 13:24:00, emaree wrote:

"To be completely honest, I've been out for over a year. So, it's possible that they "got rid" of the hobbit, but I seriously doubt it. "

It's still there.

[Anonymous]

thats fine, I will get over it. That is what he told me. When did emaree get out? Maybe he knows my friend who got out in march 2006. and was in the courage family.

[Anonymous]

On 2006-04-21 04:44:00, Anonymous wrote:

"thats fine, I will get over it. That is what he told me. When did emaree get out? Maybe he knows my friend who got out in march 2006. and was in the courage family."

you sure sound like you know what you are talking about for not even being there.  :roll:

[Irish Mom]

On 2006-04-18 10:00:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Even with purple walls, it's still cruel and inhumane. I wonder why they even bothered to pretty it up like that? Must of been for reporters. SCL uses isolation as a punishment and coercion, not as a safe place for a teen to calm down for 30 mins like psych hospitals do. They keep you in there for 72 hours at least for a CAT 5, and some kids stay in there indefinitely, or until they are transfered to a more abusive program outside of America.   ::noway:: "

I find it amazing how many different takes there are on if the Hobbit exists and if it does how long you're in there.  I don't know if people post just for drama or what.  I really think some of the post on here are just to cause excitement in those that have never been there and are ready to shut the place down.

I'm all for closing it down, but geez, let's stop the bullshit and at least get the facts right...

I WAS staff at SCL and as a matter of fact I was just out there not too long ago.

THE ROOM THAT KEEPS GETTING SHOWN AS STILL BEING THE HOBBIT DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE.

I'm not saying it makes it right to have ANY kind of isolation room, I'm just pointing out that THAT room isn't there in that condition anymore.

Also, kids are NOT kept in isolation for 72 hours or more.  A student is sent to Intervention for 30 minutes.  They are given that time to get it together and decide if they want to rejoin the family or go back to worksheets.  If they are able to do so then they can go back, if not, then they stay another 30 minuts.  They are given the chance every 30 minutes to decide.  It's not even real isolation anymore since there are 3 rooms in the boys side and 2 on the girls side, and no doors on the rooms.  I've spent a lot of time up there and what a lot of people describe just isn't true.

I've posted my feelings on SCL before, so you all know I'm definitely not PRO the program.  I just get tired of reading stuff that's not true.  I'm probably going to get a lot of flack now for what I've said, but I had to finally point out the inconsistencies in the description of the facility. Oh, btw, that is Chaffin, not Cameron in the pic/

Do I agree with their program and policies?  No!

[MightyAardvark]

what do they that you disagree with?

[BuzzKill]

Irish Mom,

So they painted the room. It doesn't change the fact that it exist.

And maybe you didn't know of a kid being kept there for long stretches of time - but it did happen.

It is not in dispute that the France boy spent 9 months in that hell hole. It happened.

Just because you are personally unaware of such a situation does not mean it doesn't happen.

You are out of line to infer these kids are liars or insinuate they are drama addicted.

It may not be your truth - but it is theirs.

[Badpuppy]

Excellent Post Exit Plan

[MightyAardvark]

Exit plan, no one is attacking you here and no one is questioning what happened to you. We all agree that WWASPS is wrong and needs to be shut down. The last thing we ought to be doing is fighting amongst ourselves.
Irish Mom never said she supports WWASPs and she doesn't need you to lay into her. Acknowledging the wrongness of what she has done is a big step and it's only with the support of people like her that we will close these places down for good.

[MightyAardvark]

Exit plan, no one is defending WWASPS.
No one here is defending WWASPS.
Go back and re-ead her post, you don't need to defend yourself because no one is attacking you.

[emaree]

Yes Irishmom, the kids are given a choice to leave every half an hour. But this choice is thrown out if they are violent, hurting themselves, making too much noise, swearing, disrespecting the flex staff, etc. That, therefore, constitutes a LACK of choice. Rather, it is manipulating the child to act a certain way to avoid the hobbit. That is not real choice.

Not to mention that many kids cannot control their behavior, especially in such stressful and extreme conditions. They are thrown in a room away from everyone else, fed cold food on paper plates, forced to use a portapotty, given no exercise or schooling, restrained constantly and embarrassed by it...who wouldn't react with anger?

Unfortunately, anger just gets you a longer sentence. I was never put in the hobbit, but I know many girls that spent days, weeks, or months there. Not continuously, but probably 2/3 of the day, back and forth between "worksheets", which is just a tamer version of it. You sit in a cubby and either listen to tapes or do schoolwork (that is not always allowed). It is still ridiculous.

I think the problem with WWASP employees is that they defend what they do based on the "rules" of the facility, they believe the bullshit doctrine in the same way the parents do, that "everything is a choice"...Most of them don't understand that they are carrying out a much bigger set of rules, those that determine the easiest way to coerce and brainwash children...

[Irish Mom]

On 2006-04-21 11:20:00, Exit Plan wrote:

"Okay I will spell it out.

I find it amazing how many different takes there are on if the Hobbit exists and if it does how long you're in there.

They kept kids int here indefinitely while I was there. Do you think they would have addmitted to this? Remember Mighty Aardvark -- they LIE.

I don't know if people post just for drama or what.

No, because I still wake up shaking from nightmares, that's why.

I really think some of the post on here are just to cause excitement in those that have never been there and are ready to shut the place down.

No, almost all of us that post information about SCL have been there. Obviously, some of the smaller details might be wrong because time passes. But this insinuates that we are posting lies and exxagerations in order to cause a frenzy that is unjust. That is not true. In fact, if the real truth was known, there would have been a frenzy a long time ago. WWASPS biggest fear is information, and truth exposing them for the scam they are. They don't care what they do, they just care what it appears they are doing to the general public. Then they label us who speak out as liars and crazies with vendettas.

I'm all for closing it down, but geez, let's stop the bullshit and at least get the facts right...

What bullshit? That the hobbit doesn't exist? Great. You guys built a new isolation cell. Do you really want to shut them down, have the abusers arrested and their profits taken away?

I WAS staff at SCL and as a matter of fact I was just out there not too long ago.

You want them shut down, but you visit? Doesn't make a lot of sense. I wouldn't be able to even go near the place without shaking in fear.

THE ROOM THAT KEEPS GETTING SHOWN AS STILL BEING THE HOBBIT DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE.

It does in many of kids nightmares.

I'm not saying it makes it right to have ANY kind of isolation room, I'm just pointing out that THAT room isn't there in that condition anymore.

Of course it's not right. Parents aren't allowed to treat children the way SCL does, what gives SCL the right to do it? They are't a psychiatric hospital with trained staff.

Also, kids are NOT kept in isolation for 72 hours or more.

They sure were when I was there, and much longer too in fact. Months on end. The policy when I was there was 72 hours standard stay, and kids would stay for weeks and months. Just because something is not supposed to happen at SCL, doesn't mean that it won't. So long as ANY isolation at SCL exists -- nay -- so long as SCL itself exists, abuse will occur. The environment breeds it, too little staff, overcrowded kids, unqualified EVERYONE, no treatment, etc... I could go on and on.

A student is sent to Intervention for 30 minutes. They are given that time to get it together and decide if they want to rejoin the family or go back to worksheets.

And what if they can't calm down? What if they are having a serious nervous breakdown or another psychiatric problem? Are you saying the kids get to decide whether they go back to their family or worksheets? Why would a kid EVER choose worksheets? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense. "Choose" is another program term for do what we say otherwise you are choosing your own punishment. Choose -- my ass.

If they are able to do so then they can go back, if not, then they stay another 30 minuts.

Ah, how convenient. So a kid who isn't able to get back into line with the program could theoritically stay up there forever then, right? Again, nothing has changed. Smoke and mirrors.

They are given the chance every 30 minutes to decide

Decide to live in a box or comply? How long could you stand that environment, you would do whatever is necessary to get out. C- O - E - R - C - I - O - N. That is not treatment, it's punishment.

It's not even real isolation anymore since there are 3 rooms in the boys side and 2 on the girls side, and no doors on the rooms.

Cosmetic differences, same psychological effect.

I've spent a lot of time up there and what a lot of people describe just isn't true.

So what qualifies you to have authority over other people's children to keep them locked up in a hole in the wall? Do you treat YOUR kids this way at home when they misbehave?

I've posted my feelings on SCL before, so you all know I'm definitely not PRO the program.

Good -- so you don't support child abusers. Most people don't.

I just get tired of reading stuff that's not true.

Me too. It comes mostly from the pro-program side.

I'm probably going to get a lot of flack now for what I've said, but I had to finally point out the inconsistencies in the description of the facility.

And I have to point at the exact same type of abuse that occured in the hobbit, worksheets, in the cabin while no one was watching -- can still happen. This is a small change, but the biggest of problems all still remain.

Oh, btw, that is Chaffin, not Cameron in the pic/

They are both look alike, easy to confuse.

Do I agree with their program and policies? No!

That's the most reaonable thing I've heard all day.











 



I was not defending myself Might Aardvard, or attacking anyone. Or maybe I was, I don't really care anymore. I am just saying my truth, my experience. I never wanted to be throwin into this shithole, and have every right to say my peace. If you really want to know, what really pissed me off was the statement that we post to 'create drama' or exaggerate. Fuck that, couldn't be further from the truth.

A government resting on the minority is an aristocracy, not a Republic, and could not be safe with a numerical and physical force against it, without a standing army, an enslaved press and a disarmed populace.
http://memory.loc.gov/const/fed/fed_46.html' target='_new'>James Madison, The Federalist No. 46

"

Exit Plan I never once doubted what you said about your experience while at SCL. In fact, I believe every word you've said.  I was just pointing out that I've read posts by people that are recently out of SCL and what they describe is not what I saw while there.

I am so, so very sorry for what you suffered while there and for what you're still suffering.  I am still trying to do something about this horrible place, but I keep hitting brick walls.

I respect you for the strength it must take to deal with this on a daily basis, but I've never once attacked you for what you've said.  Maybe I'm not as creative in my wording as some who post here, but I agree with all you say about this place needing to be shut down.  

I'm not making excuses for working there and I'm not making excuses for WWASP.  I hate what they have done to people like you and what they continue to do.  I am just trying to do what I can with what little resources and talents I have.  It's people like you that will eventually have the voice that makes a difference and will hopefully someday make it right.

I apologize if you thought I didn't believe your description of what SCL was like when you were there, but I was just pointing out that I feel that there are people that post on here that have no idea of what it's like now and just go off what other people say.  It's almost like they're riding on your coat tails and living through your experience when they hadn't even lived it.

My reasons for going back up there are personal and I don't wish to share them on this forum, because as you know it is very closely monitored by people that are still at SCL.  That should say enough :smile:

[MightyAardvark]

Exit plan, would you be willing to talk to me about your time at SCL?

[emaree]

I agree with Exit Plan. I posted more to inform than argue. And there were staff while I was there, although few and far between, that truly cared. I have a feeling, and hope, that you're one of them.[ This Message was edited by: emaree on 2006-04-21 12:55 ]

[Badpuppy]

Even if they changed the policy regarding isolation the fact that they would ever use the Hobbit  at any time testifies to the lack of conscience, poor judgement, and unprofessional conduct of the operators.

A further testament to their amoral conduct is their transfer of "half baked pizzas" (kids in their care) to Tranquility Bay where US laws have no juridiction.  The fact that they would would reccommend transfer to TB is a "de facto" endorsement of the harshness of their disciplining methods. Methods so extreme they have no acceptance in the civilized world.

Speak to  mental health professionals about a system where inmates in their care give consequences to other minors which result in loss of privileges and a lengthening of incarceration time.

These are the people that a child is entrusted to. Please read "Help AT Any Cost" Check the impartial research on residential treatment put out by The United States Surgeon General. Even if you don't believe a single story, evaluate the WWASP system with an independant mental health professional. I am praying for all of you and your families

[ This Message was edited by: Badpuppy on 2006-04-21 13:09 ]