Anon Friend - I was on the BBS and I know from that, that the 'schools' are all run in the same way, and the parents all told the same lies.
I don't have to have had personal experience with the state side schools to know what goes on. I have spoken personally with many who've been in them, and parents who placed students in them.
They and Dundee differed only in location. I actually think Dundee was superior in ways.
The Costa Rican people have kind and patient temperaments, which helped make it a kinder gentler version of a WWASP program. If they had kept the dam Jamaicans out, the brutality would have been missing. So, they brought in plenty of Jamaicans.
I know what they tell you about the condiments - thats the crap, my friend. They withhold much more than condiments.
I understand what you mean about not wanting to talk from day one - I felt the same way. They use this natural tendency to want to avoid an emotional stressing situation, to convince you to wait to speak with your kid till they say its OK. They told me it would be a couple weeks; two or three. Three or four months is the truth, on average; And if your on the BBS, you know well many parents go much much longer!
Even then - the call is monitored. By then the kid had figured out they had best play along if they ever hope to get out of there, and so they tend to be careful what they say with staff around and listening. They by then know how unpleasant life can be when they are caught 'manipulating.' It takes time to get them to this stage - and so you must wait.
They lied to me about how long it would take. They lied to me about how long graduation takes. They lied to me about the way restraint is used - and my friend - this is a common factor in ALL these programs. The explanation of what restraint is like in a WWASP program is just the same in all the 'schools.'
They never told me about OP; and when I learned of it and asked what it was - they lied about that -to me - the parent - paying the bills - I was flat out lied to. OP exist in the same form in all the 'schools', tho called by various names. You may hear of R&R, or the Hobit, or OP.
I was lied to about the Mormon indoctrination that takes place.
I was lied to about the food - and my friend - this to, is a common factor. There is a reason for it. Its important enough that the new and lower level kids be kept hungry that a family rep was reprimanded for letting the kids eat mangos from a tree, and another time for providing a kid with a birthday cake. Extra food is forbidden. This is why, in my opinion, you are so limited in how many packages you can send. Parents are prone to send food items - and this they can't allow. FOOD is part of the punishment and reward system.
I was simply never told my son wouldn't be allowed to TALK. Not allowed to Talk. I thought that was one of his attempts to manipulate me - but no - turns out thats true - the lower level kids aren't aloud to speak, except to ask permission to sit or stand or walk across a space or to use the restroom. By the way, permission is often denied - sometime to the point the kid can no longer hold it. Humiliation is also an important part of how this program operates.
The other anon mentioned confrontation - no body dose it like WWASP, except maybe those Straight people. These kids are emotionally battered. Its worse in many ways than an out right beating.
You say you know the state side schools - ALL you know is what THEY have told you!
You THINK you know. So did I! Hell, I thought I knew how the program was run - They had told me all the same Crap they told you!
I believed it just like you! I fell for the lies and was just as easily manipulated as you - and I don't mean by our kids.
I'm not perfect. I don't mean to seem as if I think so. I don't mean to sound as if I have anything against you - not you. With This program tho - I do have a problem. My personal opinion is they are evil. I base this on the many lies they told me, and the many conversations I've had with WWASP students, from most of the 'schools.'
I am well aware, as I explained, some kids need a more secure setting. I would even go so far as to agree there are occasions when an escort is needed. However, no kid needs to be treated the way WWASP treats these kids. Nobody needs that. For some it is devastating! You never get to hear their stories. Their dead or locked away on mental wards, or simply missing in action. And in many cases, their parents are still singing the program's praises. They go on forever about how great the program is - and Never mention their kid.
As for the escorts - my own experience wasn't bad. No real complaints - but this is often not the case, and so this to something else that needs serious regulation and any breach of decent and responsible treatment by an escort ought to be punishable by very heavy fines and jail time. The kind of trust place in an escort demands the highest levels of accountability.
And for the Program operator who allows the students to be treated in the WWASP fashion - they ought never be able to look up and see stars again, in other words - they need a prison cell for the duration of their lifespan. In My Opinion.
