Hey... yes, I do have extra time on my hands this week. Glory to God! Those of us who produce in society do occasionally have a week or two off each year. Just so happens that I have had a few days off. Perhaps you guys dont understand, due to the fact that you dont have real jobs. It must be wierd not having a job, having extra time to be on the Internet talking to folks on web forums. I know that my time is short and soon I will have to be back to work so I will enjoy myself while I can.
To answer your questions. One, I do not know of any case where Abundant Life Academy has hired an escort service. Also, most of our students come to Abundant Life Academy on their own accord, by their own choice. They may not be happy about it, but they chose Abundant Life Academy over other schools because we are not a lock down facility. Almost 100% of our students are thankful that their parents found Abundant Life Academy and choose ALA over the "lockdown" type of program.
Our students are out and about in the community every day. Our students participate in Mercy Ministries (feeding the poor and elderly, building homes for the homeless, teaching job skills to the jobless, etc), they work at regular jobs, they drive, and they can call their parents all the time, and visa versa. They are not given all this freedom all at once, but as they prove themselves able they are given more opportunities to strive for great heights then they have ever had.
We do scrutitize our students decisions, but instead of trying to control them we coach them. We expect greatness from them so we must give them wings to fly. We give our students tremendous freedom and liberty to strive for greater things. We do have structure and discipline, but it is not imposed. The students live communially, meaing everyone does their part. Those who loaf or fail to pull their weight get challenged. Our students hold one another accountable.
We do not have a locked down program. If a student left we would call call their parents and the authorities, and we would make every effort to make sure they were safe. And, we would compell them to come back to the school in order to complete their commitment to themselves, to the other students, and to their families.
So, now you know why I did not answer your questions. Had you known ANYTHING about Abundant Life Academy you would not have lumped our school into the same kettle as the other programs. I hold the same feelings toward the WWASP type programs as you all do. Instead of being nasty toward them, I have created an alternative program where kids are encouraged to strive for greatness and given the opportunity to do so.
Also, Abundant Life Academy is a positive peer culture. Meaning, it is not a staff driven program, it is a student driven program. Our staff are not the focal point. The students are the government and they have a great deal of influence on the day-to-day decisions of the school. Our students are not held down, they are empowered to rise up and go for more.
Abundant Life Academy is a leadership program and we want our students to soar. We want them to fly the coup and to go make a difference in the lives of others. Abundant Life Academy IS NOT THE ANSWER TO THE STUDENT'S FUTURE. We teach our students that they dont need us to be successful. We are only short term life coaches helping them to come into their own. We believe that an relationship with Jesus is the only answer and we teach that. However, we also teach that it is not our job to make the relationship between the student and Jesus a reality. It is up to the student.
Our program is short term (6 to 9) as opposed to the 15 to 18 months that is demanded from therapeutic program. Additionally, we dont crame religion down the student's throat, we give them a chance to serve others in the spirit of Christianity and explore their Chrisitian heritage.
We also have students on scholarships. We are not about profits and money. We are about serving others, and empowering others to get out of themselves and start giving. We are about taking down walls that keep our students bound. We are about freedom.
You all have no clue what Abundant Life Academy is all about. You have no idea that our school is designed to fight against the WWASP type programs. We are the positive alternative to the WWASP type of programs.
One last thing... if you guys could get past your own wounds you would find that there are progressive schools out there that are doing a good job. When Abundant Life Academy and other progressive alternative schools become successful we can put WWASP out of business. If parents had an effective alternative to the WWASP type program, then WWASP would not be able to harm children.
There is a need for alternative progressive schools for kids that are struggling to make the transition from adolescences into adulthood. They need encouragement, not punishment. They need freedom, not imprisonment. They need a dose of reality so that they can become empowered to fulfill their destiny.
Again, all you guys do is complain, bitch, and moan. You make all kinds of nasty remarks about something you are not willing to do anything about. I say, "role up your sleaves and get to work. Create the alternative school to the WWASP type program. Design the most ideal school to help struggling teens and then go make it a reality. Get off your duffs. Make your alternative school so successful that you put WWASP out of business. Put your money where your mouth is and shut up. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. All your hate is drowning your message."
Believe it or not I am just as disgusted as you are over the fact that so many parents are sending their kids to WWASP type programs. But screaming about it on Fornit's forum is doing no one any good. Actually, you are hurting your own cause. People like Ginger and Deborah should get rid of the clowns who take up space on this forum and encourage progressive thinkers to join the cause. Recruit people who want to make a positive difference.
Just Get real!
