Academy at Swift River - Information Needed - IMPORTANT

[Anonymous]

On 2006-06-24 12:12:00, TheWho wrote:


Thanks Deborah, but the school has come a long ways in 8 years, whole new direction, administration etc. "

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.  


Did I get the saying right?  Oh well, if not you get what I mean.

[Badpuppy]

On 2006-06-22 15:11:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Boredom on the weekends is definitely worse in the winter when we are cooped up, but we do offer ski/ snowboarding club, snow shoeing, crafts, use of our indoor athletic facilities and indoor climbing wall.  In the summer we send kids outside a lot and try to have a lot of organized sports and activities.  As I'm sure you know, it can be difficult to get teens excited about participating in group events-  many complain and perfer to do their own thing.  Once they are pushed to try something new, they often love it.  So it's a bit of a push pull.  If we had more money or bigger vans, we could get more kids off campus, volunteering, visiting museums and other cultural spots, bring more varied performers to ASR, etc.  



We have not had a kid try to run away in at least 6 months.  We are taking much "softer" kids than we did a few year back, and they are generally more compliant and less out of control.  So they are more apt to talk things through with staff instead of trying to run.  We do not confront as hard as we used to.  We give kids more healthy outlets for their frustration than we used to.  



I would say that most kids adapt well to our environment and are happy on a daily basis.  I often see kids laughing and participating in fun events, yet then go into a phone call with their parents and talk about how much they hate ASR.  I wish I had a videotape to show the parents that life at ASR is a pretty fun, very safe place.  Once kids make it thru the halfway point, they usually can admit that they are making great friendships and love most of the staff.   Of course, there are always a couple kids who cannot adapt and are abnormally unhappy at ASR, and usually they move onto other places before long."
[/quote

Your notion that kids are happy on daily basis is refuted by the test results in the Shapiro study. And BTW, the kids did not leave their or waive their first amendment rights because ASR does not have a fence.  You say that ASR is taking softer kids. This assessment is based on exactly what?  If they are softer why do they need to be in residential treatment?[ This Message was edited by: Badpuppy on 2006-06-24 15:07 ]

[TheWho]

BadPuppy,  Let me step in and see if I can take a shot at answering some of these.  Hopefully the ASR person will respond also.

Your notion that kids are happy on daily basis is refuted by the test results in the Shapiro study.

I think he/she is basing this on her observations on a daily bases as things are today, 2006.

And BTW, the kids did not leave their or waive their first amendment rights because ASR does not have a fence.

Agreed, but the fact that they don?t have any fences and they haven?t had anyone attempt to leave on their own (for 6 months) is an indication of how desperate they may or may not be to get out of there.  This sort of plays into the next question:

You say that ASR is taking softer kids. This assessment is based on exactly what? If they are softer why do they need to be in residential treatment?[

They, ASR, use to take kids that had used knives to settle battles and/or were very aggressive and I believe what he/she means by softer is that the kids are less aggressive and the acceptance criteria for getting into ASR has changed and is more competitive.  I don?t believe they take any kids by force.  

It really seems like they are taking strides to improve their success rates.  I wish there were more current studies so we could review the data.

[Anonymous]

All right, let's cut the shit, shall we?

The whole business about kids not running away, kids not needing to be taken by force, no fences, is all probably true.

By limiting its intake to kids who can be controlled through intimidation and fear-by-authority, ASR paints itself as a "progressive" school, minimizes violence (and thereby prevents embarrassing news articles), and creates the illusion of the remotest sort of consent.

All by just taking the kids who won't fight back.

It's not something to be proud of, Who.

[Deborah]

Who is the Clinical Director?

[TheWho]

By limiting its intake to kids who can be controlled through intimidation and fear-by-authority

I didnt see where this was said?  Every private school in the country has acceptance criteria that must be met in order to attend or be accepted.  How can you single out one school and pretend to know how they screen their applicants

ASR paints itself as a "progressive" school, minimizes violence (and thereby prevents embarrassing news articles)

I think that is the point, why would a school want violence, especially if there are kids there who are very sensitive to it?  Plus parents don?t want their kids exposed to other kids who are violent.
No business/school in the country wants violence and to end up on the 6 o?clock  news, this isn?t unique to ASR.

and creates the illusion of the remotest sort of consent.

I don?t think they are trying to create an illusion of consent.  Parents are well aware that some of the kids ran out of options that were working and had to make some hard choices, kids included.  Most kids don?t want to be in any school, hell we had kids taking off from the school I attended.  They were promptly kicked out and the same happens at ASR.

[Anonymous]

hell we had kids taking off from the school I attended.

Obiter.

FUCKING.

Dicta.

(Translation: Words in passing. Refers to the aside that means more than it's supposed to.)

So you just needed to pass it on, eh? Is that what this is all about?

You can shit out all the bullshit about "out of options" and "hard choices" you want, Who; it doesn't work here. Haven't you learned that by now? It's nonsense. We know it's nonsense. YOU know it's nonsense. The parents reading this site have quickly found a lot of other options out of reflex instinct. They, too, know it's nonsense. There wasn't a real, rational reason you sent your daughter away, and you very well know it. That's why you're here, Who. Not to educate anyone. Not even to prosletyze for ASR. You're here to justify yourself. You're here to defend your ass getting shipped off, because otherwise you'd have to take a hard look at the brainwashing you received.

Does your daughter even talk to you anymore, I wonder? I'm guessing not. Either that or she makes polite conversation when appropriate, just to make sure she doesn't get taken out of your will.

You were a piece of shit when you started posting here, and a piece of shit you remain. In your entire one thousand, one hundred and forty-nine posts here, you have accomplished exactly nothing. Your decision was still unjustifiable, and you're still a mockery of a human being.

Now get the fuck off our forum.

[TheWho]

On 2006-06-24 16:58:00, Anonymous wrote:

"

hell we had kids taking off from the school I attended.

Obiter.



FUCKING.



Dicta.



(Translation: Words in passing. Refers to the aside that means more than it's supposed to.)



So you just needed to pass it on, eh? Is that what this is all about?



You can shit out all the bullshit about "out of options" and "hard choices" you want, Who; it doesn't work here. Haven't you learned that by now? It's nonsense. We know it's nonsense. YOU know it's nonsense. The parents reading this site have quickly found a lot of other options out of reflex instinct. They, too, know it's nonsense. There wasn't a real, rational reason you sent your daughter away, and you very well know it. That's why you're here, Who. Not to educate anyone. Not even to prosletyze for ASR. You're here to justify yourself. You're here to defend your ass getting shipped off, because otherwise you'd have to take a hard look at the brainwashing you received.



Does your daughter even talk to you anymore, I wonder? I'm guessing not. Either that or she makes polite conversation when appropriate, just to make sure she doesn't get taken out of your will.



You were a piece of shit when you started posting here, and a piece of shit you remain. In your entire one thousand, one hundred and forty-nine posts here, you have accomplished exactly nothing. Your decision was still unjustifiable, and you're still a mockery of a human being.



Now get the fuck off our forum."

You're here to defend your ass getting shipped off, because otherwise you'd have to take a hard look at the brainwashing you received.

I think you must have misread one of my posts, I never attended military school or a TBS.  The school I was referring to was a parochial school.  Interesting enough it did have a fence around it and the gate was closed all day except for lunch time.  I could have been brain washed by the nuns there, but I doubt it.

Anyway, it is obvious that you dislike my position, opinions and are very closed minded.  I think you are upset because I disagreed with you over the past few days and exposed some of your short comings and I am sorry about that but you really pushed it.  You should check your facts the next time before you call someone else a liar.

But you are right, we are all here for a reason, but lets be civil and respect each others opinions and experiences.  Because when you think about it that?s all they really are, there is no malice or intent to hurt.
Take the weekend, relax, cool down, Log back in on Monday and start fresh.  The information that we are providing parents is helping them and their kids and we need both perspectives so keep it honest and moving forward, just calm down on the language a little it tends to side track the issues and put people off.

[Anonymous]

I think you are upset because I disagreed with you over the past few days

I think you have no idea who the fuck I am.

And guess what? I'm right.

[TheWho]

On 2006-06-24 17:46:00, Anonymous wrote:

"

I think you are upset because I disagreed with you over the past few days

I think you have no idea who the fuck I am.



And guess what? I'm right."

Of course you are, that?s the way it needs to be with you and you know what?  It is okay.
New topic, new week.  Lets focus on others, the kids and parents looking for help and guidance.

[Anonymous]

There's no sense in pretending this argument has any validity or that there's anyone else reading this, Who. You can make as many proxy anonymi as you like. The parents reading this have already all left this thread and won't ever be sending their kids.

Or, for the kids, going to that or any other program. Handcuffing yourself to the bed works, but I strongly recommend locking your door at night, barricading it with heavy objects, and having a knife on your person at all times. Don't do the extended stab like you see in kung fu movies; rush towards the target and keep your blade clutched close to your chest. Only perform the stab when you're inches away.

[Anonymous]

Who, again STFU you stupid ass.

[Anonymous]

On 2006-06-24 16:24:00, TheWho wrote:

 Most kids don?t want to be in any school,

Maybe most kids raised by YOU.  I don't want to go to work, but I do.  Most kids that don't want to go to school still do.  A good many do want to go.  Really, where do you come up with this shit?

hell we had kids taking off from the school I attended.

I took off from my high school all the time.  I got a detention or suspension.

 

They were promptly kicked out and the same happens at ASR.

"

If a kid 'walks away' from ASR (not that I really believe they can) they're immediately kicked out?

[Anonymous]

Who, AGAIN you are making statements that are not valid. MOST kids do like to go to school. It is the minority of children/kids who dislike going to school.
And, I am not surprised to know that YOU would know those that disliked school.

Again: STFU

[Anonymous]

Who, I think you must be new here, since you seem to know nothing about the teen help industry.