I need references please......

[Anonymous]

Haven't there been movies made over the last 20 years or so that show the horrors of "behavior modification programs"? If so, does anyone know the titles of these movies so that I can have a friend of mine's son watch them? He is a typical teenager (rebellious and everything else that goes with it) and my friend is at her wits end with him. She even said at one time that she wanted to send him to boot camp.  :eek:

I sent her a link to these forums and she has since changed her mind (for now), but I fear that if he dosen't get an idea of how bad these places are and that if he dosen't stop being such a shit to his mother, he will end up in one.

Thank you in advance!

[Antigen]

There's been some fictin. A Disney movie called "Holes" and some other ones that don't spring to mind. But I can't remember having seen or heard about anything that would really convey the reality in a way people could accept.

If the kid is any bit inclined to, he'll probably have to read about it. If he'd rather chat, lots of former clients like to chat.

To the mother, I'd only give this advice:

Start looking for reasonable, least restrictive, least rash options. Can he go for an extended visit w/ a relative? Maybe a traditional boarding school (where any kid can use a pay phone any time night or day w/o monitoring) Maybe a different school district in the area? Maybe a different plan than regular highschool enrolement? Some kids who, for various reasons, don't get along well in highschool register as homeschoolers, take the silly GED as soon as possible and then start racking up college credits in the year or two before their peers graduate.

Explore other options but don't nag him. When he knows he's due for a change (and mothers always know, IF they're paying attention) THEN offer those other options.

An individual who should survive his physical death is beyond my comprehension, nor do I wish it; such notions are for the fears or absurd egoism of feeble souls.

--Albert Einstein

[Anonymous]

Someone recommended:
Louise Armstrong's "They Call It Help"
A book by Joe Sharkey-- forgot the name
And, the movie Girl Interrupted.

Can't vouch for any, as I've not read or watched them.

[jjpinks]

I had him here at my house this morning (he is like one of my own kids, even went so far as asking me to adopt him. Obviously, I told him that wasn't an option) and I had him read through some of the threads and also told him about some personal experiences that I had growing up. I think that he realizes, maybe just a little bit, the seriousness of all of this.

Anyway, I am going to call his mom this evening when she gets home from work and talk to her a little more about it. I was thinking along the same lines as you, as far as staying with a family member. He is close with an uncle in another town and I think that it would be good for them to consider maybe letting him go to live there.

He has told me that alot of his problems are with school (we all know that high school sucked at times) and I told him that I understood. I quit highschool (Riverview) and went to New Directions alternative school and finished there. I told him that there are alternatives that we could help him find if he would just sit down with his mom and talk to her about what is going on.

He is not really a bad kid, just a kid stuck between being a child and a man. I feel sad for him and want to help out anyway that I can.

Thank you so much for the input.

Oh by the way, I didn't mean to make my original post anonymous, I thought that I was signed in! DOH! lol

Nikki

[Tony Stark]

Why not? A tutor would do him more good than the stress at school if he's already having problems. Colleges are really sort of an association of assholes. I dropped out of college. They don't let you think for yourself either. No room to learn anything anyway for me. I already had the arts mastered and now I reject my education in the secular schools and institutions. Unless of course he wants to be a surgeon. Get that man on my team. We need doctors and surgeons especially. Now that's a respectable vocation. :smokin:

A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it.  That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit.
-- In the August 1993 issue, page 9, of PS magazine, the Army's magazine of preventive maintenance

Yeah no shit.........I'm glad I was in communications. I didn't even carry a gun._________________
"This is a Republic"-Miguel Reese, My VA Man.[ This Message was edited by: The Seeker on 2005-01-28 21:18 ]

[jjpinks]

He has gone to live with some family members. I hope that for this kids sake, it will work.

Thanks for all the input!!!

One has to multiply thoughts to the point where there aren't enough
policemen to control them



--Stanislaw Lec

[Erinys]

'Specially for jjpinks 'cos I see you're in GA too.

5th grader has the A.D.V.A.N.C.E. (Avioding Drugs and Negative Choices) Student Workbook (copyright County Sheriffs Dept.) Parents are supposed to work through the book with the kid. I have a few (political) issues with the content.
Especially this one:

"Drugs fall into 2 categories. Some drugs are helpful and some are very dangerous.

Good Drugs: (student fills in the blank)

Bad Drugs: (student fills in the blank)

I think this is a very complicated issue. Maybe more complicated than a 5th grader is ready for. Certainly not a subject a 5th grader can debate with the officer conducting the class.
Still, I'm looking for ways to discuss this with Kiddo, besides just helping him give the answer they're looking for.

Any thoughts?

The legislature is to society as a physician is to the patient. If a physician ignored side effects of medications like today's legislators ignore the side effects of their legislation, the physician would be accused of malpractice. I accuse today's legislators (with rare exception) of legislative malpractice. Many of the ills that are so obvious in our society are a direct result of previous legislation. Their solution? More laws!
-- John A. Bennett, DO

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it would be appropriate for a fifth grader, it would depend on their level of maturity, but I bought a great book for my kids written my Dr Andrew Weil called, "Chocolate to Morphine".
It's straight forward and honest about the effects of all mind altering substances. Accurately outlines the concerns of taking street drugs without a lot of fear or scare tactics.
It also provides some alternative ways to alter one's consciousness which are safer.
His mantra is, "Use don't abuse". Although, he doesn't advocate drug use.

[Erinys]

Thanks! That sounds like a good one!

Hands that help are far better then lips that pray.
--Robert G. Ingersoll, American politician and lecturer

[jjpinks]

Wow! I didn't realize that they were getting that into the drug scene in the 5th grade! Guess that I am a little naieve huh? lol

I would look into that book that was recommended above, sounds like a good one. I wish that I could be more help to you.

By the way, glad to see another person here from Georgia! :smile:

N

[Erinys]

Yeah, I was like, 5th Grade?

I guess they want to get their message across before the Middle School thing kicks in.

There's a focus on tobacco and alcohol, and I am now of course a pariah at home, because I smoke.

There's also a section on gangs and violence as well as ways of resisting peer pressure, and avoidance tactics.
There's a page on "positive" and "negative" peer pressure, another complicated idea.

Next is a project, a poster about avoiding bad drugs.
WhooBoy!
Let's do one on another of those exotic South American alkaloids; chocolate!

Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet.
--Napoleon Bonaparte, French emperor

[jjpinks]

LOL guess that I will be chastized when my kids get into this as well, I smoke too.  :eek: ha!

I can't believe that they are doing this in elementary school though. Why not wait until they are at least in 7th grade. If I remember correctly, that is when I first started hearing about drugs and all. But then again, times they are a changin....sigh

N