Author Topic: Another Newspaper Article About Brat Camp  (Read 3441 times)

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Offline Anonymous

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Another Newspaper Article About Brat Camp
« on: August 10, 2005, 03:33:00 PM »
These kids face harsh reality
By Joanna Weiss, Globe Staff  |  August 10, 2005

When Jada Chabot slammed her speedboat into a family's inflatable raft on Wrentham Pond last week, the local media pounced with more vigor than they might on the average reckless 16-year-old.

But then, Chabot is a TV personality, labeled a ''brat" and a ''liar" on ABC's reality series ''Brat Camp." She's famous precisely because she's troubled and underage.

And for ABC, she represents a ratings gold mine and an ethical dilemma.

''Brat Camp" which consistently garners high ratings on Wednesday nights, marries two burgeoning reality TV trends: a focus on personal crises (as in A&E's ''Intervention") and the increased use of minors as ''characters." Most reality-show kids seem vaguely well adjusted in front of the cameras, as they take part in mother-swapping social experiments and domestic games.

But for ''Brat Camp," ABC went looking for teens who were decidedly unstable. Network officials declined to comment for this story, but Marilyn Engelman, a Westborough psychologist and educational consultant, said ABC contacted her and other professionals with the promise of something valuable: tuition at SageWalk, an Oregon wilderness program for troubled youth, which can cost about $425 per day.

Engelman said her initial thought was, ''Why would a family want to expose themselves?" But when Chabot's parents walked into her office, they were desperate, Engelman said; Jada had failed at nine schools and needed something different. Residential programs were expensive.

And Jada, Engelman said, seemed to love the idea of being on TV.

Engelman said she warned Jada that the experience wouldn't be glamorous. What she didn't realize, she said, was that the edited-for-TV version of the camp would look so unrealistic, presenting outdoor therapy as a miracle cure.

''I think the idea of a therapeutic outward bound type of program is excellent," Engelman said. ''I have seen it do wonders for kids, but they usually need a next step."

Larry Solie, executive director of SageWalk, said he agreed to take part in the TV show -- described to him as a documentary -- because he wanted to ''show the public what wilderness therapy was all about." He said he's received only positive letters about the show, despite the outcry in some circles.

''These programs are meant for intervention and at no time do we ever say, they're long-term cures," he said.

But the TV version hinges on the notion that wilderness therapy yields instant results; in recent episodes, we've seen drug-addled Lauren talk frankly about her father's death; sexual assault victim Lexie face her fears by rappelling down a cliff; dyslexic Nick learn self-discipline through a primitive process of starting a fire. In a voice-over narration, with a knowing tone, program leader Tony Randazzo described each scene as a breakthrough.

In real life, the work wasn't finished. There was Chabot's recent boating mishap, for which she faces charges from the Massachusetts Environmental Police.

When the media hurricane struck last week, Chabot's mother, Karyn, dealt with her share of regret, and said the ''free" therapy ABC had promised wasn't worth the cost.

''If she's going to do a personal tranformation," Karyn Chabot said, ''it's got to be in private."

Earlier this month, Isaiah Alarcon, 17, described on the show as ''an angry punk," was picked up by California police for spray-painting racist graffiti in front of a black woman's house.

In both cases, the local-media storyline was the same: Oops, the kid's still a brat.

It was exactly what Andrea Watson had feared. Since the show launched, the founder of the local advocacy group Parents for Residential Reform has been railing at ABC for returning kids to their communities with continued troubles and newfound public profiles. She has helped to circulate a letter calling for a boycott of the show's sponsors, and asked local ABC affiliate WCVB (Channel 5) to pull the show. And in part, she blamed SageWalk -- whose officials did not return calls seeking comment -- for agreeing to take part.

''The more I look, the sicker I am," Watson said. ''Any responsible provider would never allow this to be."

Shay Bilchik, president and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America, said he fears the show sends desperate parents a dangerous message: that all outdoor programs are effective and safe. Bilchik said he is penning a letter to Congress asking for a General Accounting Office inquiry into residential treatment programs.

''I'm not condeming them as much as saying, 'Let's shed a light on it,' " Bilchik said.

Still, he questions whether ABC should have aired the show, and whether the producers should have pitched the idea. ''I think the people who put these programs on have a social responsibility," he said, ''to make sure they put on things that serve society well."

TV networks, in fact, do their share of second-guessing. In July, ABC pulled the slated reality show ''Welcome to the Neighborhood" -- which plunked a variety of ethnically diverse families onto a white Texas block -- after antidiscrimination and fair housing groups complained. (The Fox Reality Channel has reportedly offered to buy the series from ABC.)

But if networks are sensitive to bad publicity, they're also acutely aware of the bottom line. And for that reason, the viewers who made ''Brat Camp" a ratings success are complicit, too, said Clay Calvert, a Pennyslvania State University professor and author of ''Voyeur Nation."

''It's easy to point blame at the parents and the television production companies and ABC in this case, but we have to look at ourselves," Calvert said. ''If we didn't watch it, it wouldn't be on."

Still, networks should use different standards when minors are involved, said Mark Andrejevic, a University of Iowa professor and the author of ''Reality TV: The Work of Being Watched."

''If adults want to go on reality shows and make fools of themselves, or worse, that's their prerogative," Andrejevic said in an e-mail from Australia. ''But we ought to do our best to protect kids -- especially troubled teens -- from being used by TV producers as cheap labor to sell advertising."
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Offline Antigen

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Another Newspaper Article About Brat Camp
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2005, 04:32:00 PM »
So then, the only problems some advocates have w/ this are 1) the cameras and 2) the kids went home instead of to a lock down?  ::noway::

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.

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Offline Anonymous

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Another Newspaper Article About Brat Camp
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2005, 05:09:00 PM »
A next-placement doesn't mean a lock-down.  Only in your one-dimensional, bitter world.....
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Offline Anonymous

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Another Newspaper Article About Brat Camp
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2005, 05:20:00 PM »
Their are ways to fight battles, and I can't change the world.  Really can't you ever be happy that at least this is gaining some ground?  It is awful that this industry is able to boost itself through this kind of venue.  We are doing what we can - this is a one step at a time process.  While kids are going to these places I must make sure they are safe, that people are well informed, I can't stop parents from sending their children but by the Grace of God if they are sent they will be safe I am trying.  Give me some credit here!
If you can do a better job then do it!  Just close them all down, although I don't think it is going to happen so we work with good people and not work with the bad. Close down the bad programs, not all of them are locked you know not all of them will take kids in if the kid themselves don't agree.
Andrea
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Offline BuzzKill

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Another Newspaper Article About Brat Camp
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2005, 05:25:00 PM »
//A next-placement doesn't mean a lock-down. Only in your one-dimensional, bitter world.....//

An what does it mean in your three dimensional sacrine state?

I was glad to see this part:
Shay Bilchik, president and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America, said he fears the show sends desperate parents a dangerous message: that all outdoor programs are effective and safe. Bilchik said he is penning a letter to Congress asking for a General Accounting Office inquiry into residential treatment programs.
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Offline Anonymous

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Another Newspaper Article About Brat Camp
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2005, 06:57:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-08-10 12:33:00, Anonymous wrote:

" dyslexic Nick learn self-discipline through a primitive process of starting a fire."

dyslexic kids don't need discipline, they need picture-based languages, one that uses logograms such as chinese, hebrew, or to study mayan or egyptian hieroglyphs.  and they need art.  and lot's of freedom.  dyslexic kids are some of the most creative kids out there.

Quote

"But if networks are sensitive to bad publicity, they're also acutely aware of the bottom line. And for that reason, the viewers who made ''Brat Camp" a ratings success are complicit, too, said Clay Calvert, a Pennyslvania State University professor and author of ''Voyeur Nation."


also, put the word "nation" after something that's like a vice or recognizably american, and you too can write a non-fiction chart-topper.  =P



yeah looks like the camp did a lot of good, and like an RTC would have done better.  yeah right, ever stop to think that maybe some kids are just that way, whether it be moody or destructive or curious or having a reading disorder?  instead of trying to cure a disease that's not there, maybe parents should just play to their child's strengths.  sometimes unconventional people need an unconventional lifestyle so they can accomplish great things.  as far as what to make of it, i say just wait for more news stories to emerge.  =P
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Offline Anonymous

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Another Newspaper Article About Brat Camp
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2005, 07:03:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-08-10 15:57:00, Anonymous wrote:

"
Quote

On 2005-08-10 12:33:00, Anonymous wrote:


" dyslexic Nick learn self-discipline through a primitive process of starting a fire."




dyslexic kids don't need discipline, they need picture-based languages, one that uses logograms such as chinese, hebrew, or to study mayan or egyptian hieroglyphs.  and they need art.  and lot's of freedom.  dyslexic kids are some of the most creative kids out there.



Quote



"But if networks are sensitive to bad publicity, they're also acutely aware of the bottom line. And for that reason, the viewers who made ''Brat Camp" a ratings success are complicit, too, said Clay Calvert, a Pennyslvania State University professor and author of ''Voyeur Nation."




also, put the word "nation" after something that's like a vice or recognizably american, and you too can write a non-fiction chart-topper.  =P







yeah looks like the camp did a lot of good, and like an RTC would have done better.  yeah right, ever stop to think that maybe some kids are just that way, whether it be moody or destructive or curious or having a reading disorder?  instead of trying to cure a disease that's not there, maybe parents should just play to their child's strengths.  sometimes unconventional people need an unconventional lifestyle so they can accomplish great things.  as far as what to make of it, i say just wait for more news stories to emerge.  =P"


Well said, Anon.

 :nworthy:
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Offline Anonymous

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Another Newspaper Article About Brat Camp
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2005, 08:23:00 PM »
A kid with Dyslexia does not need Brat Camp, Wilderness Camp or an RTC they need special education services around the reading disability so as their abilities can shine through, in a public school setting.  This poor kid was probably acting out because of his frustration not being able to read, was probably harrassed while younger and no fault of his own, and no one helped him with his Disability.  

I just have been this route before wanting to close them all down.  I needed in order to be heard to be focused, approach things in the right way, and take it one step at a time.  Admittingly we know that some kids are going to need this level of care, hopefully not for long but for some period of time.  RTC's, Residential Schools, Etc. are over utalized for the wrong reasons which has allowed this whole "Troubled Teen and Struggling Teen Industry" is out of control.  

It is difficult raising kids these days no doubt, the pressure alone for teens is unbelievable more so or different than it was when I was a kid.  We struggle all the time but no we don't send our kids away because of stupid things most of us don't.  Their are kids with serious mental health issues, etc., that are going to need more for a period of time than what two or four hands can handle, only though after all Community and Home supports are exhausted, but for any succesful treatment (unlocked program) families must be fully involved from day one, as these kids need to go home and back into their communities.  Their are good providers out there who do this, and again I stress for those kids only who are going to need it.  The ones that take kids in, keep them from parents, family, friends, and community for any period of time are irresponsible to say the least and that is the nicest way I can put it.  Those programs should not be in business, in order to make things right it needs to happen one step at a time.
Andrea
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