Caroline the Wolf

[Anonymous]

Ah, someone with a better memory than I.  Allison definately wasn't hispanic.

I think I can also offer some clarification on Matt from Philly.  Matt from Philly was a tall, blonde thuggish irish kid that showed up in 93 or early 94.  He is not to be confused with Matt Mikeljohn, who was a husky kid that had been there since 92 I believe.  Matt M. was on Caroline's team as well, but had been on a weird deal where he was pulled, reenrolled and pulled again (maybe he was 18) all within a year or so.  Matt from Philly knew how to get in Carolines pants from the second he layed eyes on her, and even though the kool-aid drinking masses couldn't understand why, we all knew they were doinking.

And yes, Caroline completely blamed Allison for the gang-bang.  I mean sure, she made the mistake of entering the most testerone filled, who gives a shit dorm on campus, but to blame her was just fucked up.  I will never forget rap call outs the day the story broke.  Caroline and all the other staff humiliating Allison in front of the whole house.  Nice, real nice.  It's not like the guys didn't get some hell (glad bags? - hey, condoms were out of agreement...), but it was clear Caroline was jealous.

[Anonymous]

I have a vague recollection of a woman who came on as a low level counselor at RMA sometime between 93-94 who was like a less attractive, lesbian version of Caroline.  She had brown hair, fashioned into a mullet, wore Caroline style bleached jeans tucked into tan boots.

From the little I recall, she immidietely starting hanging out with Caroline and her team.  In retrospect I am sure she was another female who suprised Caroline with the ability to make her cum.

Just as an aside....
When you look back on these times, do you ever wonder why in the name of sanity did your parents trust your safety to any group like this.  I know it was sold as a highly "theraupuetic(sp)" environment - but really - anytime you leave your kid alone with a group of adults you don't know - strange things can and do happen.  That's just the sad reality.  Makes you wonder don't it?

[dishdutyfugitive]

1. Condoms were out of agreement? That became an agreement after 1990?

2. I know realize how this happened. Once they converted to the system where you are with 1 'head counselor' for your entire stay Caroline knew she could control her kids.

3. Why didn't anyone indict Matt/Caroline? Or maybe write an anonymous dirt list (for matt/caroline0 and put it in the rap box? I would have.

[AuntieEm2]

I wish parents were more aware/mindful of the power differential between students and staff in programs. It's fundamentally dangerous. When staff members have so much power to control students, and students (some of whom may have learning disabilities, mental illnesses or history of trauma/loss) have so little power, there is an inherently high risk of abuse. Add to that the profound isolation of the facilities...a recipe for abuse, as many of you know all too well.

This should be brought to the attention of the GAO and Rep. Miller, if it has not been already, because it has bearing on the need for oversight of the schools. (I know not all of us have confidence in oversight, and most are worried that it will be insuffient or toothless). I'll include it in the letter I am writing to them. I urge each of you to write your own letter over the next few weeks as there is another Congressional hearing expected in January.

Related Links/Info
Congressman George Miller
1333 Willow Pass Road, Suite 203
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 602-1880
Fax: (925)674-0983
kutzg@gao.gov

Video of the Oct. 10th, 2007 hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor http://http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/multimedia.shtml

GAO report in PDF, entitled "Residential Treatment Programs: Concerns Regarding Abuse and Death in Certain Programs for Troubled Youth." http://http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08146t.pdf


Auntie Em

[Anonymous]

wow. is sheila the staffer you were talking about, INTERNET?

I'm glad Auntie Em posted that. it'll be helpful to refer people to.

[AuntieEm2]

Re the urgency of writing to Congress about abuse in programs, be aware that the programs and their supporters are organizing and mobilizing pro-program parents to contact Congress.

Don't miss this chance for your voice to be heard!

Auntie Em

[stina]

wow. is sheila the staffer you were talking about, INTERNET?

I'm glad Auntie Em posted that. it'll be helpful to refer people to.

If you're talking about Sheila Clairemont, than no, she was there way before that.

[Anonymous]

Nope, I wasn't referring to Sheila.  She was partial to bleached jeans and tan boots though.

I really doubt that Sheila would ever leave the comfort of her recliner, a carton of smokes and a case of Budweiser to bother with the crap that Caroline pulled.

I think Sheila still holds the title of Queen Alcoholic of Northern Idaho.

That is all.

[Anonymous]

e

I have a vague recollection of a woman who came on as a low level counselor at RMA sometime between 93-94 who was like a less attractive, lesbian version of Caroline.  She had brown hair, fashioned into a mullet, wore Caroline style bleached jeans tucked into tan boots.

From the little I recall, she immidietely starting hanging out with Caroline and her team.  In retrospect I am sure she was another female who suprised Caroline with the ability to make her cum.

Just as an aside....
When you look back on these times, do you ever wonder why in the name of sanity did your parents trust your safety to any group like this.  I know it was sold as a highly "theraupuetic(sp)" environment - but really - anytime you leave your kid alone with a group of adults you don't know - strange things can and do happen.  That's just the sad reality.  Makes you wonder don't it?

I think you're referring to the Gigantress Katherine something-or-other. She did dress like that, and had a mop of fluffy brown hair. I could see how she came off as a lesbian, but she was actually having an inappropriate relationship with Charles E****. (Don't wanna call him out, I actually kinda liked the guy.)

[Anonymous]

Nope, it wasn't Katherine either.  She was actually fairly nice and easy to get along with.  Northern Idaho pretty much sucked for her because she was straight, single and had an ass the size of a Mack truck.

She was just looking for some male attention.  She really liked one of my good friends there, but he never doinked her.  She eventually left to see if she could salvage what was left of her 20s.

[try another castle]

wow. is sheila the staffer you were talking about, INTERNET?

I'm glad Auntie Em posted that. it'll be helpful to refer people to.

If you mean sheila claremont, then no. She was indeed mulleted, but it was blonde, and she got there when I was still a student. Probably around 88 or 89.

[stina]

I could see how she came off as a lesbian, but she was actually having an inappropriate relationship with Charles E****. (Don't wanna call him out, I actually kinda liked the guy.)

I know exactly who you're talking about, but I didn't know about the elicit affair. So are the days of RMA. Big ass soap opera.

[stina]

Re the urgency of writing to Congress about abuse in programs, be aware that the programs and their supporters are organizing and mobilizing pro-program parents to contact Congress.

Don't miss this chance for your voice to be heard!

Auntie Em

Auntie Em,

How do you know that THEY are organizing pro-program parents to contact Congress. I mean, it doesn't surprise me, but how do you know this? Have they contacted your niece's parents?

[AuntieEm2]

I saw a couple postings after the October hearings from pro-program sources urging programs to organize parents ("your greatest asset") to write letters and tell their story. From there, Stina, I speculated.

Now I have to confess that I've looked for those dang postings and can't find them, grrrrr. I thought it was Lon "Woodenhead" but maybe it was the guy who offers the BBS software and service to programs, and I thought I'd also seen it on NATSAP, but I can't find it.

Sorry, I should get my research in line before shooting off my mouth, but I think it is reasonable to say that pro-program forces will want to put another spin on the GAO's story, and parents make good spokespersons.

Here's something from Struggling Spleens (spleen, as in archaic usage meaning "mingled ill will and bad temper"), framing this as an issue of "who should choose," government intrusion, and parental rights to control children:
http://http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/WhoShouldChoosePR_071209.shtml

(And a bonus article, not related, that will just make your skin crawl:)
http://http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/ClearingUpPerceptionsES_071212.shtml

If I can track down those source links, I will post them.

No, it had nothing to do with contact with my niece's parents. The only contact we have with them is the occasional "letter bomb" in which they carry on about what horrible people we are for "not caring about her emotional growth" and not showing any trust or respect for them, and not facing up to what a defective person my niece is.

Sometimes it's hard for us to know if maybe she's really better off anyplace but with her parents...but why o why a cult-based program?

Auntie Em

[stina]

I saw a couple postings after the October hearings from pro-program sources urging programs to organize parents ("your greatest asset") to write letters and tell their story. From there, Stina, I speculated.

Now I have to confess that I've looked for those dang postings and can't find them, grrrrr. I thought it was Lon "Woodenhead" but maybe it was the guy who offers the BBS software and service to programs, and I thought I'd also seen it on NATSAP, but I can't find it.

That doesn't surprise me that they'd come troll the message board trying to drum up support. So lame.

Sorry, I should get my research in line before shooting off my mouth, but I think it is reasonable to say that pro-program forces will want to put another spin on the GAO's story, and parents make good spokespersons.

Em, you shoot off your mouth here any time you want to.

(And a bonus article, not related, that will just make your skin crawl:)
http://http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/ClearingUpPerceptionsES_071212.shtml

God, she makes it sound sane. It's so vanilla, and if I didn't know better it might sound like something reasonable came out of that lady's mouth. But of course she's an educational consultant so that's simple PR.

No, it had nothing to do with contact with my niece's parents. The only contact we have with them is the occasional "letter bomb" in which they carry on about what horrible people we are for "not caring about her emotional growth" and not showing any trust or respect for them, and not facing up to what a defective person my niece is.

Sometimes it's hard for us to know if maybe she's really better off anyplace but with her parents...but why o why a cult-based program?

Auntie Em

Yeah, i've been thinking that her parents don't sound like the most stable people (no offense) but it sucks that they're just blindly trusting the school. That's the thing that always got me, that parents just believe what comes out of the staff's mouth (people they do not know and have no logical reason to trust), not their own kid, who, though they may have been misbehaving prior to being there, is their KID, and who they've known for their entire lives.