Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Hyde Schools => Topic started by: Anonymous on May 29, 2007, 05:30:29 PM
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This recent lawsuit against Hidden Lake Academy should make Hyde School very nervous. Hyde would likely hide behind their usual claim that "technically we're not a therapeutic boarding school." Yeah, right. Hyde accepts many of the same kinds of kids that Hidden Lake accepts. Hyde pretends it's not a therapeutic boarding school. One of these days someone will take Hyde to task in court for a wide variety of abuses and incompetence.
Here's information on the lawsuit: http://www.bergermontague.com/case-summary.cfm?id=155 (http://www.bergermontague.com/case-summary.cfm?id=155)
Here's the actual court complaint: http://www.bergermontague.com/pdfs/Hidd ... plaint.pdf (http://www.bergermontague.com/pdfs/Hidden%20Lake%20Academy%20Complaint.pdf)
It's instructive to think about some of the stuff that goes on at Hyde as you read through this legal complaint.
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I've always been struck by the similarities between Hyde and Hidden Lake. Certainly there are some differences, but just as certainly they are birds of a similar feather.
Hyde would likely hide behind their usual claim that "technically we're not a therapeutic boarding school." Yeah, right. Hyde accepts many of the same kinds of kids that Hidden Lake accepts.
Hyde advertises on Lon Woodbury's site Struggling Teens, and pretty much has for as long as he's been in business (as an Educational Consultant). There really aren't any "normal" boarding schools on that site; its market is the Troubled Teen Industry.
Hyde wants to claim that it is no TBS. That's because it doesn't want to be held to the kind of scrutiny, regulations, and standards in that industry. But Hyde is, in fact, a Therapeutic Boarding School, regardless of whatever Hyde-specific term (cult lingo) they want to attach to it.
I highly recommend the pdf in the above link (court complaint). Despite it's being 70 pages, it is a surprisingly easy read.
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Hyde advertises on Lon Woodbury's site Struggling Teens, and pretty much has for as long as he's been in business (as an Educational Consultant).
Any former parents out there care to chime in? How and where did you hear about Hyde?
I am guessing that much if not most of the recruitment still works via the Amway model (those infernal teas). But maybe I'm wrong. I would love to hear from someone who found out about the place via another route.
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Hyde advertises on Lon Woodbury's site Struggling Teens, and pretty much has for as long as he's been in business (as an Educational Consultant).
Any former parents out there care to chime in? How and where did you hear about Hyde?
I am guessing that much if not most of the recruitment still works via the Amway model (those infernal teas). But maybe I'm wrong. I would love to hear from someone who found out about the place via another route.
Our kid's former teacher (the school year before Hyde) had a neighbor whose kid went to Hyde. The teacher said she heard that Hyde accepts kids who have some defiance issues and organizes its program around core values and character education. The rhetoric sounded good; we liked the presumed emphasis on values and character education. Unfortunately we had no idea what we were getting into. It took us about 10 weeks to figure out that Hyde is appallingly incompetent, arrogant, and hypocritical. We were astonished, to put it mildly, that Hyde survives. Once we detected the sick nature of the Hyde environment, we immediately planned our escape. During the course of our Hyde saga we met many parents who hated Hyde as much as we did but decided they had to keep their mouths shut and get through the year.
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I've always been struck by the similarities between Hyde and Hidden Lake. Certainly there are some differences, but just as certainly they are birds of a similar feather.
Hyde would likely hide behind their usual claim that "technically we're not a therapeutic boarding school." Yeah, right. Hyde accepts many of the same kinds of kids that Hidden Lake accepts.
Hyde advertises on Lon Woodbury's site Struggling Teens, and pretty much has for as long as he's been in business (as an Educational Consultant). There really aren't any "normal" boarding schools on that site; its market is the Troubled Teen Industry.
Hyde wants to claim that it is no TBS. That's because it doesn't want to be held to the kind of scrutiny, regulations, and standards in that industry. But Hyde is, in fact, a Therapeutic Boarding School, regardless of whatever Hyde-specific term (cult lingo) they want to attach to it.
I highly recommend the pdf in the above link (court complaint). Despite it's being 70 pages, it is a surprisingly easy read.
I think you're probably right that Hyde doesn't call itself at therapeutic boarding school so that it won't be held to the standards typically associated with TBS's. Hyde is very slick in the way that it flies below radar. So much for Hyde's belief in truth. Hah!
P.S. I'm not sure Hyde actually advertises on Lon Woodbury's site.
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This recent lawsuit against Hidden Lake Academy should make Hyde School very nervous. Hyde would likely hide behind their usual claim that "technically we're not a therapeutic boarding school." Yeah, right. Hyde accepts many of the same kinds of kids that Hidden Lake accepts. Hyde pretends it's not a therapeutic boarding school. One of these days someone will take Hyde to task in court for a wide variety of abuses and incompetence.
Here's information on the lawsuit: http://www.bergermontague.com/case-summary.cfm?id=155 (http://www.bergermontague.com/case-summary.cfm?id=155)
Here's the actual court complaint: http://www.bergermontague.com/pdfs/Hidd ... plaint.pdf (http://www.bergermontague.com/pdfs/Hidden%20Lake%20Academy%20Complaint.pdf)
It's instructive to think about some of the stuff that goes on at Hyde as you read through this legal complaint.
This lawsuit is amazing. I see lots of Hyde's "qualities" in all of these allegations about Hidden Lake. I wonder how many times Hyde has been sued.
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P.S. I'm not sure Hyde actually advertises on Lon Woodbury's site.
I should have been more specific. I don't think that they shell out money for a little blinkety-blink-blink square that touts and flashes their name in such and such a corner of the page for specific categories (of destinations for troubled teens). Actually, I don't really even know about that, but then... I don't think a lot of people pay much attention to those ads and I myself wasn't actually thinking of them when I thoughtlessly made that statement (re. Hyde advertising on Lon's site).
Rather, Hyde periodically sends Lon info about news and events, and/or he periodically requests it from them, which he then posts in his "informative" reference work, which is the bulk of his site, and the portion that sustains the most credibility. He has the Woodbury Reports Newsletter, which also includes the 'Seen N Heard' column, they are often mentioned in there, also reviews of the place by members of his team (site visits), former parents... And I am sure Hyde is in his tome (directory of recommendations aka Parent Handbook) that you have to pay $50-$75 for in order to obtain...
not so recent blurb from 'Seen N' Heard':
http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/p ... 5288.shtml (http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/article_5288.shtml)
HYDE TO HOST SPRING RECEPTION
(March 9, 2006) Johanna Malen and Beth Barker, Admissions Coordinators, Hyde School's California North Bay Region, Bath, ME, 415-456-9046, announced that on May 7, 2006, the school is hosting the annual Spring Reception for families and professionals. The reception is in the Westminster House, 2700 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA.
All the reviews of Hyde on the website are laudatory save one; however, authors of noted negative review also furnished another (laudatory) review of a different school for Lon. On the whole, I don't think he much likes being given negative reviews, but if you write well enough, and are persistent enough, I think he might publish them. The big problem is having to lose your anonymity. For some people, that can be difficult for practical reasons; for some, downright traumatic for emotional ones.
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From Hidden Lake Court Complaint, Class Action Suit (http://http://www.bergermontague.com/pdfs/Hidden%20Lake%20Academy%20Complaint.pdf) (pdf download), pp2-8:
NATURE OF ACTION
1. This case is about the tragic mistreatment of troubled teenage students and their families by a private residential boarding school and its founder and principal, Dr. Leonard Buccellato ("Buccellato").
2. Hidden Lake touts itself as a "therapeutic boarding school" geared to highschool-aged students typically between the ages of 12-18 who exhibit oppositional-defiant behavior, low self-esteem, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, attention-deficit disorder, deteriorating family relationships and other social deficits. HLA offers a 1721 month comprehensive program supposedly blending therapy, counseling and education aimed at modifying its students' troubled behavior. HLA holds itself out as one of the foremost such programs in the country. The families and other caregivers of these children, in turn, pay HLA thousands of dollars per month -- currently over $5,900per month -- in what is represented by HLA to be "an all-inclusive tuition."
3. To attract such students and their families to the program, HLA has made a number of written representations regarding HLA's costs, operations and educational and therapeutic offerings. Families were told via HLA's parent Handbook, website, and other marketing and promotional materials, among other things: that "academic classes are led by state certified teachers who are supported in their work by a certified learning disability specialist"; that "all counseling staff are full time and are clinically trained, holding a master's degree or higher"; that HLA employs "a full-time nurse on staff seven days a week"; that "prescription medications are distributed by a nurse or another trained staff member four times per day"; and that its "students are not court ordered and do not include violent or severely disturbed children." All of these claims are meant to lend Hidden Lake an air of exclusivity -- i.e., that parents are sending their children to a nurturing and safe "therapeutic" environment which differs fundamentally from other schools meant for troubled teens, and which is commensurate with the high charges parents pay for the program.
4. However, beginning in 2000 and extending through the present (the "Class Period"), the reality of HLA belies those representations. In fact, throughout the Class Period a large number and, at certain times, an overwhelming majority, of HLA's teachers have not been certified, while a sizeable number of the counseling staff lack bachelor's or master's degrees in areas related to social work, counseling, or psychology, and have not been clinically trained in counseling or social work. HLA has also during the Class Period only rarely employed a licensed learning disability specialist, and within the past several months or longer has not even employed a registered or properly licensed nurse. Hidden Lake also provides students with deficient medical supervision, allowing unlicensed staff such as secretaries and pharmaceutical technicians who are unsupervised by a nurse, or proper medical authority to dispense prescription medication to students, and even uses students improperly to do manual labor around HLA's premises to save money on employing sufficient HLA staff.
5. Further, during the Class Period HLA has also enrolled a number of "court-ordered," "violent" or "severely disturbed" students. The enrollment of these children has led, among other things, to several incidents during the Class Period in which students have been violently assaulted by other students -- the precise opposite of the "therapeutic" mission the school tells families it follows. Indeed, an internal HLA email sent in February 2006 by Clarke Poole, HLA's former Director of Admissions during the period January 2000 through March 2006, to HLA's current Director of Admissions (and Public Relations), Nicole Fuglslang, detailed the exploits of three of these students, including one female student who sexually assaulted another female student, and two male students -- who both reportedly were referred to the school by defendant Buccellato himself despite the clear risks these children posed -- who brutally attacked other students. Further, because of the violent and anti-social behavior of some of the students that Hidden Lake accepts, the school has made it a standard practice during the Class Period to strip-search students purportedly as a safety measure, another fact not disclosed sufficiently by HLA to parents prior to the enrolling of their children.
6. HLA has also misrepresented that the monthly tuition it charges, which parents have to pre-pay in full in advance, is "an all-inclusive tuition." In fact, throughout the Class Period HLA has charged families numerous incidental costs and also imposed big undisclosed profit mark-ups for many other items which in some cases exceeded 100 percent. For example, HLA charges students excessive transportation fees for "off-site" visits to physicians both locally in Dahlonega and in the Atlanta area; assesses a $10 fee for "processing" students' prescription medication; imposes shipping surcharges on packages that HLA sends back to parents; levies a graduation fee of $150 or more (with some families paying $350) which all students must pay ostensibly to purchase a graduation outfit; obtains large, undisclosed markups on toiletries and supplies that all students must purchase from its internal store; and significantly overcharges on other items, such as SAT/ACT tests, college applications and required vaccinations.
7. During the Class Period alone, these undisclosed overcharges have reportedly totaled some $800,000-$1,000,000, all of which amounted to pure profit to HLA. Parents have no choice but to pay these charges not only for fear of reprisal against their children enrolled at HLA, but also because if they were to withdraw their children from HLA before completion of the program, they would have to forfeit the final three months of non-refundable tuition they pre-pay (well over $15,000), and their children would not earn any academic credit, which can be earned only upon graduation from the full program. Indeed, HLA has reportedly withheld recently a transcript from at least one family over an outstanding balance of just $8.95. Nevertheless, despite the fact that parents incur huge educational and financial costs for pulling out their children before graduation, more than 50% of HLA's students during the Class Period -- nearly 400 families total -- have failed to graduate from HLA, and instead have left the program prematurely.
8. HLA's zeal to cut corners and misrepresent itself stems from the fact that it is run in large part for the personal enrichment of its founder, defendant Buccellato. Buccellato dominates all of the HLA entities, including both the for-profit Hidden Lake Academy, Inc. and the not-for-profit HLA, Inc. and Hidden Lake Foundation, Inc. Buccellato's control over HLA is well-known amongst the HLA community. Hidden Lake Academy, Inc. receives hundreds of thousands of dollars in "management fees" from HLA, Inc., the bulk of which is distributed in turn straight to Buccellato, who is CEO, CFO and Secretary of the for-profit corporation. Buccellato uses HLA, Inc. as his personal bank and employment agency by, among other things: billing to it significant amounts of his personal expenses, including extravagant dinners, gifts to friends and family, and lavish vacations totaling thousands of dollars; using school maintenance staff to maintain and repair personal rental properties; having the school pay his personal taxes and service his loan payments; arranging for present or former school therapists, such as Dr. Steven Taylor and Dr. Brad Carpenter, to work up to four days per week in his private psychology practice; enlisting school employees to work part-time at St. Francis Day School, a school that Buccellato also helps operate; and getting the school's food service provider to privately cater personal affairs, which he then bills to the school. Buccellato also arranges for HLA to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to Ridge Creek, Inc. ("Ridge Creek"), a for-profit corporation he founded in 2001 which is located adjacent to HLA, and whose property is mostly owned by Hidden Lake Academy, Inc. and HLA, Inc.
9. Buccellato has placed his long-time companion, Kenneth Spooner, as HLA, Int.'s CEO, CFO and Secretary. Spanner also serves as HLA, Inc.'s Board Chairman, while Spooner's sister, Diane Cooper, and Spooner's father, Robert Spooner, serve as the other two Board directors. In reality, however, Buccellato dominates all aspects of HLA, Inc.'s affairs, making almost every school-related decision unilaterally, with the Board of Directors rarely meeting or, when it does meet, engaging in only perfunctory meetings. Indeed, Buccellato has reportedly even gone to the extent of forging Spooner's signature on certain school-related documents, such as contracts, tax returns, and loan documents between HLA and its lenders, including First Cherokee State Bank, Lumpkin County Bank and Nexity Bank, among other things, as Spooner was not present to sign the documents.
10. In addition to falsely touting its costs and operations, another reason why Hidden Lake has been so successful in recruiting students to the school is because of Buccellato's close -- and, in certain instances ethically questionable -- relationship with education consultants. In general, education consultants are hired by parents to provide impartial advice as to where parents should send their troubled children to school. Realizing the significant role consultants play in the school selection process, Buccellato showers consultants with gifts and other dorms of undisclosed compensation. For example, Buccellato pays the traveling expenses of many consultants and even the consultant's family members who happen to visit the Atlanta metropolitan region for personal reasons. In such situations, Buccellato arranges for the consultants to quickly meet him, with Hidden Lake picking up the consultant's traveling and incidental expenses. Each year, Buccellato also gives expensive Christmas gifts, some totaling over $1,000, to consultants as way of ensuring their fealty.
11. Plaintiffs enrolled their children at HLA during the Class Period, and were injured by the misconduct alleged in this complaint. Plaintiffs bring this action against Buccellato and the HLA Defendants individually and on behalf of a class of similarly situated families whose children were enrolled at HLA during the Class Period. Plaintiffs' claims arise under the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act and Georgia common law. Plaintiffs seek damages, restitution and injunctive relief.
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From Hidden Lake Court Complaint, Class Action Suit (http://http://www.bergermontague.com/pdfs/Hidden%20Lake%20Academy%20Complaint.pdf) (pdf download), pp15-19:
OPERATIVE FACTS
A. Background Information
25. Founded in 1994 by Buccellato, Hidden Lake bills itself as a "therapeutic boarding school" geared toward students who exhibit oppositional-defiant behavior, low self-esteem, depression, alcoholism and drug addiction, attention deficit disorder, deteriorating family relationships and other personal problems. The program extends at least 17 or 18 months and more typically 21 months or even longer, usually involving students 12-17 years old.
26. Hidden Lake is actually made up of three corporations all dominated by Buccellato. Two of these corporations, HLA, Inc., and Hidden Lake Foundation, Inc., are not-for-profit corporations, with HLA, Inc. functioning more as the primary corporation that actually runs the boarding school. HLA, Inc. has throughout the Class Period had substantial assets, while Hidden Lake Foundation, Inc. is a shell corporation whose main purpose is to raise money for HLA, Inc. The third corporation, defendant Hidden Lake Academy, Inc., is a for-profit corporation which owns most of the property that the boarding school is located on and whose CEO, CFO and Secretary is Buccellato. Its main source of revenue comes in the form of lucrative "management fees" paid to it by HLA, Inc., which in 2004 exceeded over $1.3 million.
27. Although HLA, Inc. has a nominal Board of Directors consisting of Kenneth Spooner and Spooner's father and sister, Buccellato in actuality dominates all three corporate defendants. Indeed, Buccellato negotiates all contracts with suppliers, and Spooner and the Board have virtually no say in the running of the boarding school . Moreover, Buccellato has forged Spooner's signature on important documentation, such as contracts, tax returns and loan documents, as set forth fully below. The Board rarely meets, and when it does the meetings are pro forma in nature lasting sometimes only a few minutes.
28. According to its website, Hidden Lake purports to offer its students a "detailed, sequential therapeutic program which allows for a high degree of program accountability." Specifically, HLA breaks down students into "peer counseling groups", each "consisting of 14 students that are led by 2 to 3 master's-level counselors," with the counseling groups meeting three times a week for a total of seven or seven and one-half hours. HLA's treatment also entails a "wilderness component" which consists of daily outdoor activities and two-to-seven day wilderness trips that are "carefully integrated into the [therapeutic] program."
29. The final element of HLA's treatment program involves a comprehensive system of "agreements and consequences," or more precisely rules that students must abide by and rewards or punishments they face when consistently following or violating the rules. On enrollment, students must agree that they will abide by HLA's rules, with three of the most important being: that they will refrain from using or threatening to use any type of violence toward people and property; that they will avoid using or glorifying any kinds of drugs or alcohol; and that they will avoid all physically intimate activity with another person, including holding hands, kissing or touching. Other rules include wearing appropriate clothing, keeping clean living quarters, consistently and timely doing homework and class work assignments and respecting people in positions of authority, among other things.
30. If a student fails to abide by HLA's myriad rules, they face various punishments, some ranging from the mundane like extra work assignments or routine physical activity, to the more severe which can include the loss of all free time or in some cases being sent to HLA's more demanding off-campus wilderness program at its "sister" institute, Ridge Creek. HLA calls these punishments "restrictions", a term well-known around the campus. Even more severe punishments include "interventions," where HLA might limit food, deprive students of sleep, or force them to perform heavy physical labor. If students exhibit consistently good behavior, they are to be rewarded with "positive consequences" such as greater free time, participation in the student activity center and attending off-campus trips.
31. Throughout each student's tenure at the school, Hidden Lake closely monitors how students communicate with their parents, other family members and friends. Specifically, students are allotted 15 minutes per week to call parents, with each phone conversation transpiring in the presence of at least one Hidden Lake employee who then records his or her observations typically in a notebook which then may be shared with other HLA personnel. Hidden Lake employees also read all incoming and outgoing mail to and from students, and all emails which as a general rule can only be sent to pre-approved family members. Hidden Lake claims that it must monitor such communications to ensure that students do not attempt to "manipulate" parents and to ensure the "confidentiality of counseling sessions." Not surprisingly, this monitoring also ensures that it is very difficult for students to say anything negative about HLA while they are enrolled there, let alone disclose timely to parents the adverse facts concerning the day-to-day reality of their actual HLA experience. Indeed, this monitoring as a practical matter extends even to students' offcampus visits with family, as HLA dissuades its students from disclosing their experiences with threats of restrictions on students' return to campus.
32. Despite claiming to be a "therapeutic boarding school" with a comprehensive treatment program, Hidden Lake is not regulated as a mental health facility or a therapeutic residential child care program by the Georgia Department of Human Resources ("DHR"). Indeed, Hidden Lake has fought bitterly attempts by DHR to classify it as a mental health facility or a therapeutic residential child care program, to avoid being subject to appropriate state regulations. If Hidden Lake were classified as a mental health facility or a therapeutic residential child care program, it would face strict policing from DHR and receive far greater scrutiny from state regulators than it does now. For instance, DHR would closely monitor, among other things, that HLA's teachers and therapeutic staff are properly credentialed.
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From Hidden Lake Court Complaint, Class Action Suit (http://http://www.bergermontague.com/pdfs/Hidden%20Lake%20Academy%20Complaint.pdf) (pdf download), pp23-27:
OPERATIVE FACTS
C. HLA's Specific Representations to Parents Concerning HLA
36. Prior to their child's enrollment at Hidden Lake, parents are given a detailed Handbook, totaling over 60 pages, spelling out specifically Hidden Lake's rules, regulations and academic requirements. Hidden Lake also disseminates information to parents through other avenues, like brochures, form letters, email and via its website.
37. Hidden Lake has throughout the Class Period made a number of representations to families, including Plaintiffs and other Class members, regarding HLA's educational and therapeutic programs, among other things. These representations were made in HLA's Handbook, website and in other documents including form letters to parents, and were intended to give HLA an air of exclusivity, and to justify Hidden Lake's expensive tuition. For instance, Hidden Lake has represented, among other things, that it:
- a. charges a fixed monthly tuition amount which is "all-inclusive";
- b. offers a comprehensive academic program with classes taught by "state certified teachers" who are supervised by a "certified learning disability specialist";
- c. provides a "safe environment";
- d. does not accept for enrollment at HLA any "court-ordered," "violent" or "severely disturbed children";
- e. employs only "clinically trained" counselors who hold "a master's degree or higher";
- f. employs "a full-time nurse on staff seven days a week" who either personally distributes or "supervises trained staff" in distributing prescription medications "four times per day"; and
- g. enlists a pediatrician and a staff psychiatrist, who visit "the campus on a weekly basis," to evaluate students as necessary, including to dispense prescriptions for psychotropic medications.
OPERATIVE FACTS
D. The Truth Concerning Hidden Lake
38. The truth concerning Hidden Lake throughout the Class Period has been far different from what Defendants portrayed. In fact, during the Class Period HLA misrepresented to families significant aspects of its educational offerings, operations and business practices, and omitted to disclose numerous material facts . These misrepresentations and omissions all similarly affected families' decisions to send their children to Hidden Lake, as all such families similarly relied on the veracity of HLA's statements in enrolling their children in the program. Among others, HLA's specific misrepresentations and omissions concern the purported certification of its teachers and counselors, the nature and background of the students it admits, the medical and other supervision it offers its students, and the purported "all-inclusive" nature of the tuition payments it charges families, all as explained more fully below.
1. Certified Teachers
39. Despite Hidden Lake's claims that all of its teachers leading classes are state certified, a significant number and, at times during the Class Period, overwhelming majority, of the teachers on Hidden Lake's staff have not been state certified. Indeed, over the past five years the number of certified teachers on Hidden Lake's staff have fluctuated at times between zero and three each year.
40. The reason why Hidden Lake failed during the Class Period to employ consistently certified teachers is twofold. First, because Hidden Lake's program runs all year, teachers are expected to work for 12 months, with no summers off. Second, Hidden Lake reportedly pays well-below the market rate for teachers in the state of Georgia, with a pay scale ranging from $30,000to $44,000.
41. Because of its difficulty in attracting and employing certified teachers consistent with its representations to families, Hidden Lake instead has employed unqualified teachers with no certification and little, if any, relevant training and insufficient experience.
42. Significantly, moreover, Hidden Lake attempts to address these deficiencies by gaming the Georgia state certification system by having uncertified teachers apply for provisional licenses. Although these applications are usually turned down ultimately by Georgia officials within six months or so, HLA during that time portrays to families that these teachers are certified in accordance with Georgia state law. Further, some of these uncertified teachers who apply for the provisional licenses have no intention of actually following-up on the certification process, but apply only so that Hidden Lake can claim, however misleadingly, that its classes are taught by "certified teachers." In other instances, uncertified teachers do not even bother going through with the charade of applying for provisional licenses.
43. In addition to having few certified teachers, Hidden Lake has during times throughout the Class Period not even employed any certified learning disability specialist. Thus, not only does Hidden Lake employ unqualified teachers, it employs unqualified teachers who are improperly supervised.
2. Improperly-Titled Counselors
44. Hidden Lake claims to offer an all-encompassing therapeutic program, the bulwark of which occurs in intimate peer group counseling sessions that are led by counselors who are "clinically trained" and hold "a master's degree or higher." However, a significant number of the counselors HLA has employed during the Class Period simply have lacked any clinical training in counseling or social work, while others hold master's degree in areas completely unrelated to social work, counseling or psychology. Moreover, the overwhelming majority of the counselors HLA has employed throughout the Class Period have not been licensed by the State of Georgia which, among other things, violates O.C.G.A. § 43-10A.
45. The fact that HLA has misrepresented to families the credentials of the teachers and counselors it employs is all the more improper in the circumstances in view of HLA's overall purported mission to provide an effective therapeutic program for troubled children and because of the significant role that peer group counseling supposedly plays in HLA's program. In short, the credentials of HLA's teachers and counselors are indisputably central to HLA's mission.
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http://www.masspsy.com/leading/0703_ne_unlawful.html (http://www.masspsy.com/leading/0703_ne_unlawful.html)
“To try to ensure the quality of practice, the Massachusetts Psychological Association has also filed legislation to restrict the use of the term "psychotherapist" to only those practitioners whose licenses have psychotherapy within their scope of practice. . . As of now, anyone can present himself as a psychotherapist.
In New Hampshire, the issue of who can provide psychological services and under what circumstances is being considered. Currently, people without a license are prohibited from calling themselves by the five specified titles - psychologist, pastoral psychotherapist, clinical social worker, clinical mental health counselor, marriage or family therapist - that are recognized by the state's Board of Mental Health Practice. (It is also unlawful for an unlicensed person to represent himself as a "psychotherapist").
However, an exception to the state's licensing law allows "alternative" providers to practice "mental health services" without a license and without registering with the licensing board.
A bill now under discussion would eliminate the category of alternative provider and require those who now practice under this category to register with the board. All such future practitioners, meanwhile, would need to obtain a license, although the new bill does not state whether the license would need to apply to one of the five specific categories designated by the Board of Mental Health Practice.
If the license does need to be tied to one of the five categories, the bill "would be a big step forward," says Sandy Rose, Ph.D., president of the New Hampshire Psychological Association. However, she adds, the requirement that current alternative providers register with the licensing board "is deceptive, as registration implies oversight and there remains no regulation of practice for these providers." Rose and others would like to see the bill amended so that this group of providers would be subject to the same regulation to which all other practitioners are bound.
In Maine, meanwhile, complaints of a person practicing psychology without a license are followed up by a standard investigation process, says Jeri Betts, administrator of the state's Department of Professional & Financial Regulation, which encompasses the Office of Licensing & Registration. If the licensing office receives such a complaint, the complaint is docketed and investigated and then may be dismissed or referred to the Attorney General's office. The licensing office may also send a warning to an unlicensed person who is practicing, advising him to stop or to apply for a license. For this course of action, she says, "there has to be solid evidence, not just hearsay."
Addressing unlawful practice depends upon such cases being reported. "Our oversight begins with the filing of an application [for a license]," Betts explains. She adds that she does not recall a case in Maine as extreme as Tama Judd's. "Most often with us, a person might have failed to renew a license or has come to the state wanting to work but has failed to get a license, when he or she might be licensed in another state," she says.”
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I would suspect that Hyde School with it’s focus on “Character Education” would fall under the category of “alternative provider” and since they neither claim to be a “therapeutic” program or claim to employ “clinical staff” they would not be held to that standard. While many students may have mental health issues it seems from what I have read from previous posts that “therapeutic” and “clinical” counseling and medication management if referred out to local counseling/mental health professionals or students have their own medication management from home. I have to wonder why a parent of a child with serious emotional and/or mental health issues would send their child to a school that readily admits from the outset that they have no qualified, trained staff in these matters!
::drummer::
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The case mentioned in the above article (Tama Judd) is linked somehow to another case that came to light in Massachusetts shortly after the above "hit the press." In the latter case, a woman practiced as a psychologist, but with a degree obtained online, which was not recognized by the licensing board. I remember reading that if only she had touted herself as a psychotherapist, she would not have run amok of the powers that be...
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I would suspect that Hyde School with it’s focus on “Character Education” would fall under the category of “alternative provider” and since they neither claim to be a “therapeutic” program or claim to employ “clinical staff” they would not be held to that standard. While many students may have mental health issues it seems from what I have read from previous posts that “therapeutic” and “clinical” counseling and medication management if referred out to local counseling/mental health professionals or students have their own medication management from home. I have to wonder why a parent of a child with serious emotional and/or mental health issues would send their child to a school that readily admits from the outset that they have no qualified, trained staff in these matters!
::drummer::
They try to change the language. They offer parents the illusion that the "problem" their child is experiencing need not be addressed by "that blood-sucking psycho establishment. "
blove82 passed along that mindset, however innocently:You don't need a Psychology or Psychiatry degree to help someone, all that matters is that you care and are speaking from experience.
Seminars are not "group therapy" but "character education." Your child is not "depressed," he/she is suffering from not striving for his best. Likewise for self-esteem issues. Etc. etc.
Sorry, but rope-climbing challenges and character assassination just don't cut it for me, as far as addressing some of the above.
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The case mentioned in the above article (Tama Judd) is linked somehow to another case that came to light in Massachusetts shortly after the above "hit the press." In the latter case, a woman practiced as a psychologist, but with a degree obtained online, which was not recognized by the licensing board. I remember reading that if only she had touted herself as a psychotherapist, she would not have run amok of the powers that be...
There have been several posts by Gary Eskow, who, I think, filed a lawsuit against Hyde. He may know of other lawsuits filed against Hyde.
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The case mentioned in the above article (Tama Judd) is linked somehow to another case that came to light in Massachusetts shortly after the above "hit the press." In the latter case, a woman practiced as a psychologist, but with a degree obtained online, which was not recognized by the licensing board. I remember reading that if only she had touted herself as a psychotherapist, she would not have run amok of the powers that be...
There have been several posts by Gary Eskow, who, I think, filed a lawsuit against Hyde. He may know of other lawsuits filed against Hyde.
Just in case there is any confusion: the case referred to by Surfer Mouse and the second case which I brought up were not cases involving Hyde. They were cases involving people who were practicing as psychologists but who, in fact, were not licensed as such.
The parallel was being drawn to Hyde's practicing some type of "alternative" therapy, sans having anyone on board who has any professional training in such a thing.
As to your bringing up the question of the number of lawsuits, I'd be very curious to learn the full scope of said answer myself. Haven't heard from Gary in a while. Perhaps he is currently in a reading-only mode...
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BTW, for what it's worth, since this is the thread to put it in, here is a link to the HLA Class-Action Suit thread in the Hidden Lake forum:
http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?t=17700 (http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?t=17700)
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They try to change the language. They offer parents the illusion that the "problem" their child is experiencing need not be addressed by "that blood-sucking psycho establishment. "
blove82 passed along that mindset, however innocently:You don't need a Psychology or Psychiatry degree to help someone, all that matters is that you care and are speaking from experience.
Seminars are not "group therapy" but "character education." Your child is not "depressed," he/she is suffering from not striving for his best. Likewise for self-esteem issues. Etc. etc.
Sorry, but rope-climbing challenges and character assassination just don't cut it for me, as far as addressing some of the above.
Old post from someone there long ago:
There is a line. It is not a bright line but there none the less, where chemistry takes over and attitude and choice fade. Telling some one with a bipolar disorder that schizophrania is a choice is like telling some one with diarhea that shitting is a choice. Try it next time you are so afflicted. I remember kids with real problem being told to make the choice. I don't think it worked for most of them. I don't know if they do that any more. Hope not.
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http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ramones/ ... erapy.html (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ramones/psychotherapy.html)
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NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, presents this first comprehensive state-by-state analysis of mental health care systems in 15 years. Every U.S. state has been scored on 39 specific criteria resulting in an overall grade and four sub-category grades for each state. The national average grade is D. Five states receive grades in the B range. Eight receive Fs. None received As.
http://www.nami.org/gtstemplate.cfm?sec ... &lstid=701 (http://www.nami.org/gtstemplate.cfm?section=grading_the_states&lstid=701)
State by State:
http://www.nami.org/gtstemplate.cfm?sec ... e_by_state (http://www.nami.org/gtstemplate.cfm?section=state_by_state)
With mental health care services of this quality it’s no wonder that there is a big
business with private boarding schools and therapeutic adventure programs filling
the vacuum.
::puke::
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That handsome map from the link above:
(http://http://www.nami.org/images/gts/gts_map.gif)
Interestingly, Maine is one of the higher scorers. Not surprisingly, the poorest scoring states are where the majority of these troubled teen setups have seen fit to reside in.
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This recent lawsuit against Hidden Lake Academy should make Hyde School very nervous. Hyde would likely hide behind their usual claim that "technically we're not a therapeutic boarding school." Yeah, right. Hyde accepts many of the same kinds of kids that Hidden Lake accepts. Hyde pretends it's not a therapeutic boarding school. One of these days someone will take Hyde to task in court for a wide variety of abuses and incompetence.
Here's information on the lawsuit: http://www.bergermontague.com/case-summary.cfm?id=155 (http://www.bergermontague.com/case-summary.cfm?id=155)
Here's the actual court complaint: http://www.bergermontague.com/pdfs/Hidd ... plaint.pdf (http://www.bergermontague.com/pdfs/Hidden%20Lake%20Academy%20Complaint.pdf)
It's instructive to think about some of the stuff that goes on at Hyde as you read through this legal complaint.
I've read the lawsuit against Hidden Lake. As I read through it I was imagining all kinds of horrors I experienced at Hyde that seemed somewhat similar. I think Hyde is very dishonest about its ability to help many of the students I got to know when I was there. I met many students who couldn't make it at Hyde, or were always getting into trouble (2-4, 5:30's, getting sent to outpost) when it was clear to anyone who looked that they were off-track because of their serious mental problems. For the life of me I can't understand how Hyde could take these students in when they clearly didn't have the services or staff to help them. Isn't that worthy of a lawsuit? I'm surprised more parents haven't gone after Hyde. Not to mention how inferior many of the Hyde teachers are. I think sometimes the students knew more about the topic than the teachers. I have a feeling Hyde hires very young, inexperienced teachers and throws them in the classroom, even though they may not know much about the subject. I met Hyde teachers who talked about what lousy students they were. These were supposed to be my role models????
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For the life of me I can't understand how Hyde could take these students in when they clearly didn't have the services or staff to help them. Isn't that worthy of a lawsuit? I'm surprised more parents haven't gone after Hyde.
1.) And what has happened to these students that Hyde did not "help?" Where are they now? What impact, in the long run, did Hyde have on these kids?
2.) What impact has the shoddy treatment of certain kids had on the so-called "normal" kids, who felt that Hyde was beneficial to them? How does it feel to be in a "family" where some of your siblings are clearly getting the screws put to them unfairly?
3.) What take-home message do all kids ultimately get from coming of age in such a dysfunctional "family?"
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For the life of me I can't understand how Hyde could take these students in when they clearly didn't have the services or staff to help them. Isn't that worthy of a lawsuit? I'm surprised more parents haven't gone after Hyde.
1.) And what has happened to these students that Hyde did not "help?" Where are they now? What impact, in the long run, did Hyde have on these kids?
2.) What impact has the shoddy treatment of certain kids had on the so-called "normal" kids, who felt that Hyde was beneficial to them? How does it feel to be in a "family" where some of your siblings are clearly getting the screws put to them unfairly?
3.) What take-home message do all kids ultimately get from coming of age in such a dysfunctional "family?"
Notice how Hyde loves to advertise the high satisfaction rate of its graduates and the high college placement rate. How much do you want to bet that Hyde's statistics don't include the large number of student who leave or get booted out of Hyde? I wonder what the statistics would look like if these people were included.
I think Hyde is notorious for stacking its own deck to suit its own marketing purposes. If I had the chance to "clear the decks" with Hyde at this point in my life, I'd let them know how dishonest I think they are because of the way they "stack the deck"!
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Notice how Hyde loves to advertise the high satisfaction rate of its graduates and the high college placement rate. How much do you want to bet that Hyde's statistics don't include the large number of student who leave or get booted out of Hyde? I wonder what the statistics would look like if these people were included.
Hyde's statistics do NOT include any students who leave or get booted out. Outside of a seemingly life-long deluge of slick fund-raising requests for money, Hyde has zero concern for those wayward souls who don't get with the program. There is certainly no follow up to ascertain college attendance et al.
What do said college statistics also really mean? Someone mentioned somewhere in these threads about the pressure to apply to quite a few schools to ensure acceptance to at least one, some or many of which the student was disinterested in actually attending whether he got in or not.
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Notice how Hyde loves to advertise the high satisfaction rate of its graduates and the high college placement rate. How much do you want to bet that Hyde's statistics don't include the large number of student who leave or get booted out of Hyde? I wonder what the statistics would look like if these people were included.
Hyde's statistics do NOT include any students who leave or get booted out. Outside of a seemingly life-long deluge of slick fund-raising requests for money, Hyde has zero concern for those wayward souls who don't get with the program. There is certainly no follow up to ascertain college attendance et al.
What do said college statistics also really mean? Someone mentioned somewhere in these threads about the pressure to apply to quite a few schools to ensure acceptance to at least one, some or many of which the student was disinterested in actually attending whether he got in or not.
Hyde seems to "pride" itself on its commitment to honesty. Isn't it something that Hyde is so willing to mislead the public when it comes to honestly acknowledging the REAL statistics related to the school's drop-out rate, parent satisfaction with the school, students who fall apart at Hyde, etc.? I guess Hyde can't afford to publicize the REAL statistics concerning what happens there; that would be a disaster for Hyde's public image.
Could it be that Hyde is more concerned about image than it's willing to admit? When I was at Hyde I heard staff lecture students about how they needed to be less concerned about image. Me thinks Hyde doesn't practice what it preaches. I'm shocked!
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Notice how Hyde loves to advertise the high satisfaction rate of its graduates and the high college placement rate. How much do you want to bet that Hyde's statistics don't include the large number of student who leave or get booted out of Hyde? I wonder what the statistics would look like if these people were included.
Hyde's statistics do NOT include any students who leave or get booted out. Outside of a seemingly life-long deluge of slick fund-raising requests for money, Hyde has zero concern for those wayward souls who don't get with the program. There is certainly no follow up to ascertain college attendance et al.
What do said college statistics also really mean? Someone mentioned somewhere in these threads about the pressure to apply to quite a few schools to ensure acceptance to at least one, some or many of which the student was disinterested in actually attending whether he got in or not.
Hyde seems to "pride" itself on its commitment to honesty. Isn't it something that Hyde is so willing to mislead the public when it comes to honestly acknowledging the REAL statistics related to the school's drop-out rate, parent satisfaction with the school, students who fall apart at Hyde, etc.? I guess Hyde can't afford to publicize the REAL statistics concerning what happens there; that would be a disaster for Hyde's public image.
Could it be that Hyde is more concerned about image than it's willing to admit? When I was at Hyde I heard staff lecture students about how they needed to be less concerned about image. Me thinks Hyde doesn't practice what it preaches. I'm shocked!
Hyde has built the kinds of self deceit and rationalization mechanisms around it self that it seeks to break down in the families that it serves. In the ethos of Hyde, if you fail at hyde it is your fault, not Hyde's. Failure at Hyde is portrayed in those terms. It is not a mismatch of need and service provided: it is your failure.
So when you have star student go out into life and self destruct, even then, it is not the failure of Hyde, it is the failure of the student to live what they have learned.
The Father of success is Hyde, failure is an orphan.
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Could it be that Hyde is more concerned about image than it's willing to admit? When I was at Hyde I heard staff lecture students about how they needed to be less concerned about image. Me thinks Hyde doesn't practice what it preaches. I'm shocked!
I have never seen a place more obsessed with "image" than Hyde. A bit ironic, don't you think, given their professed ideals? They are obsessed with the image of Hyde as perceived by the public, and they are obsessed with the image of the kids as they presumably see themselves.
When I was at Hyde, a multitude of criticisms re. my so-called concern for my image were leveled at me and I beat myself up something awful about it. It wasn't 'till years later that I realized that faculty at Hyde had had absolutely no clue as to who I was in the first place, and that the criticisms, such that there were, had absolutely zero basis in reality. Moreover, said criticisms were nothing but pro-forma verbiage leveled at everyone in my class (save perhaps the "chosen ones"), and had never been unique to me! Shame on me for being so obtuse as to not figure that out earlier! Shame on Hyde for stigmatizing kids so unnecessarily!
Show me a teenager who is NOT concerned about their image, and I'll show you a teenager who is either extraordinarily mature for their years (and thence not someone whose parents would opt to send them to Hyde anyway), or a teenager who is utterly out of sync with themselves or in denial. It is almost a matter of definition for teenagers to fret about their image. And whether or not anyone points this out, they will grow up and out of it in a few years simply as a function of becoming an adult!
What I do find abnormal, however, is adults in their thirties and older who are so concerned with "image" that they see fit to torture teenagers about the concept. Give me a break! Just who exactly needs to "grow up" here?
Adults should first and foremost lead by example, eh? What kind of examples do we see held up as the epitome of good character vis a vis good self image at Hyde? Superficial preoccupation with prom transportation! Pah-leeez! This is supposed to teach a good example of "image-consciousness?" Don't try to tell me it's a matter of more egalitarian finance considerations! Even if the limo was 200 bucks, split amongst 3 couples that comes to $33 and change per person! Surely Hyde could have found find something better with which to waste everyone's time!
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I'd like to hear some more about these "more egalitarian finance considerations", especially in light of the substantial amount of mullah the gauld family rakes in every year! that 33$ plus change doesn't really look so bad in comparison.
what happened to the "practise what you preach" philosophy? where's the "character" here? ha ha! if these people didn't damage some kids as much as they do, I'd laugh them down the drain as one of the bigger jokes of the past century.
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I'd like to hear some more about these "more egalitarian finance considerations", especially in light of the substantial amount of mullah the gauld family rakes in every year! that 33$ plus change doesn't really look so bad in comparison.
what happened to the "practise what you preach" philosophy? where's the "character" here? ha ha! if these people didn't damage some kids as much as they do, I'd laugh them down the drain as one of the bigger jokes of the past century.
Jesus H Christ! Economic Egalitarianism? Shit boy! We have third world infant mortality rates in the inner cities of these here United States do to a lack of access to basic health care AND we have folks shelling out 45K a year to patch up piss poor parenting. Marx isn't just rolling in his grave he is gonna rise up from the dead. The notion of Economic Justice in the US of A died with MLK jr in Memphis.
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I'd like to hear some more about these "more egalitarian finance considerations", especially in light of the substantial amount of mullah the gauld family rakes in every year! that 33$ plus change doesn't really look so bad in comparison.
what happened to the "practise what you preach" philosophy? where's the "character" here? ha ha! if these people didn't damage some kids as much as they do, I'd laugh them down the drain as one of the bigger jokes of the past century.
Jesus H Christ! Economic Egalitarianism? Shit boy! We have third world infant mortality rates in the inner cities of these here United States do to a lack of access to basic health care AND we have folks shelling out 45K a year to patch up piss poor parenting. Marx isn't just rolling in his grave he is gonna rise up from the dead. The notion of Economic Justice in the US of A died with MLK jr in Memphis.
The health care system in this country is worse than even many a third world country's. Given the resources available, you would think it to be among the best. Yet, despite spending probably more than just about every other nation to get the job done, the distribution of services rivals only that of third world dictatorships embroiled in civil war in terms of their disparity. People die because they are afraid to go to the emergency room because they can not afford it. People with chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes) and on-again/off-again insurance situations (e.g., due to spotty employment), cannot manage their illnesses appropriately, often suffering mortal consequences. It's disgusting, and oh so depressing.
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I'd like to hear some more about these "more egalitarian finance considerations", especially in light of the substantial amount of mullah the gauld family rakes in every year! that 33$ plus change doesn't really look so bad in comparison.
what happened to the "practise what you preach" philosophy? where's the "character" here? ha ha! if these people didn't damage some kids as much as they do, I'd laugh them down the drain as one of the bigger jokes of the past century.
Assuming that this edict came down from one of the headmasters, you have some one that is part of a family that is nailing between 12x and 20x the federal poverty guide line, that is make a call that says the students that have discretionary cash at their disposal after paying the tuition that is 2x + the FPG ( for a family of four) can't rent limo's because some of the kids don't have the cash. Where is the egalitarianism in this? You have rick folk making rules for the rick folk and the not so rich folk. sounds like the same old same old to me.
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For the life of me I can't understand how Hyde could take these students in when they clearly didn't have the services or staff to help them. Isn't that worthy of a lawsuit? I'm surprised more parents haven't gone after Hyde.
1.) And what has happened to these students that Hyde did not "help?" Where are they now? What impact, in the long run, did Hyde have on these kids?
2.) What impact has the shoddy treatment of certain kids had on the so-called "normal" kids, who felt that Hyde was beneficial to them? How does it feel to be in a "family" where some of your siblings are clearly getting the screws put to them unfairly?
3.) What take-home message do all kids ultimately get from coming of age in such a dysfunctional "family?"
I was a student at Hyde. I chose to discontinue my educational path there. I currently go to Columbia University and am preparing for my career as an educator. I recommend you discontinue your course of thought.
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Norwich Bulletin LINK here (http://http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070510/NEWS01/705100347/1002)
2007 May 10
Reach Amy Lawson at 425-4235 or http://forums.norwichbulletin.com/viewtopic.php?t=7613 (http://forums.norwichbulletin.com/viewtopic.php?t=7613)
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Oh,
So we are talking the 20x family
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Some reader comments...
If you read Laura Gauld's book, "The Biggest Job We'll Ever Have", you will learn she is all about control and regulation of every moment in a child's life. She even recommends forcing the "fun" activities. Despite this, Hyde seems like a decent school to me, and no one is forced to attend.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Fabulous way of thinking. We should also have a standard pay rate for all jobs and live in state owned apartments. :evil:
Don't think the Gaulds will be too happy with those suggestions...
This is a bit over the top. I went to two proms and rode in a limo to one. I believe the cost was split among the three guys riding with their dates and it cost something like $50 or $60 each. That's not so bad.
This is the most important social night of these kids' lives. They spend months choosing the right clothes, the right place to eat, the right transportation. Let them do it their way.
We all spend too much on excesses we don't need. How many of these kids' parents drive SUVs they don't need? How many have houses they heat and cool with a handful of extra rooms?
A limo for one night on prom, that will probably be split among friends is just kids having fun on a night that is supposed to be fancy and over the top. If the students can afford it, let them pay for it. Soon enough it's off to college, where life gets more difficult and demanding, then to the real world where nothing is easy.
They know things in life aren't equal and fair. THEY'VE BEEN IN HIGH SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS. They know it better than anyone.
I don't think anyone's going to let the fact that they didn't go to prom in a limo hold them down.
By the way, I went to my first prom in a limo and the second in my mother's 11-year-old Toyota Camry. I don't think it made a bit of difference.
What the story fails to mention is that the movement to bus kids to and from proms really has nothing to do with the cost of the limo (especially at places like Hyde -- with parents paying very steep tuition, a limo's cost is a concern? Give me a break!).
The real reason is that they want to keep kids from drinking and driving. I suppose kids can still go to after-prom parties when the bus drops them off back at school, but parents have the option of meeting the bus and knowing their kids are safe. And at Hyde, where all the kids are in dorms, after-prom parties are not an issue at all.
The article also fails to mention that Hyde is a "second chance" prep school that stresses "character building" for kids who have had behavior issues elsewhere. This population is more likely than other students to get into trouble on Prom Night.
So for all these reasons, what Hyde is doing is a wise move, but shame on them for trying to cloak it as a "cost of the limo" issue.
And by the way -- this is front-page news? Feh.
I was under the impression Hyde was a "last chance" Prep School...
This is why I love these forums! Every day I learn something new from you posters!
I would have rented a limo out of spite, armed with my video camera for a YouTube broadcast. I would have pushed it to the point of being arrested if need be just to prove a point.
Also because they cite the word "Excess" I would have rented the biggest, most gas guzzling, stretch, Hummer limo.
:rofl: ::drummer::
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For the life of me I can't understand how Hyde could take these students in when they clearly didn't have the services or staff to help them. Isn't that worthy of a lawsuit? I'm surprised more parents haven't gone after Hyde.
1.) And what has happened to these students that Hyde did not "help?" Where are they now? What impact, in the long run, did Hyde have on these kids?
2.) What impact has the shoddy treatment of certain kids had on the so-called "normal" kids, who felt that Hyde was beneficial to them? How does it feel to be in a "family" where some of your siblings are clearly getting the screws put to them unfairly?
3.) What take-home message do all kids ultimately get from coming of age in such a dysfunctional "family?"
I was a student at Hyde. I chose to discontinue my educational path there. I currently go to Columbia University and am preparing for my career as an educator. I recommend you discontinue your course of thought.
Pray tell, DontCareToShare, what you find so offensive about this discourse? Everyone throwing a javelin here has good and generally unassailable personal reasons for doing so. In light of your voiced "recommendation," I am curious as to why you chose to "discontinue {your} educational path" at Hyde.
Good luck at Columbia! Are you at Teachers College, or still undergraduate? I was more familiar with the former when Maxine Green was still a daily presence.
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/centers/ways ... Greene.htm (http://www.tc.columbia.edu/centers/waysofdoing/Greene.htm)
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/PeaceEd/philosophy.htm (http://www.tc.columbia.edu/PeaceEd/philosophy.htm)
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I would have rented a limo out of spite, armed with my video camera for a YouTube broadcast. I would have pushed it to the point of being arrested if need be just to prove a point.
Also because they cite the word "Excess" I would have rented the biggest, most gas guzzling, stretch, Hummer limo.
::roflmao:: ::bwahaha:: ::roflmao:: ::bwahaha:: ::roflmao::
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Govonor Deval Patrick - Massachussettes had the choice of two cars offered by the State Police when he recently assumed office. The $46,000 Cadillac DTS or a $37,000 Chrysler 300C. He chose to lease the $46,000 Cadillac Deville for $1,166 a month instead! He has called the model "useful and appropriate". The news comes as the governor calls for new local taxes and across-the-board spending cuts to cope with what he says is a $1.3 billion deficit.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1786526/posts (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1786526/posts)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants a Air Force Boeing C-3 ( a military version of the Boeing 757-200) passenger jet that can make nonstop flights to her home district of San Francisco.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17035721/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17035721/)
Perhaps Laura Guald should send them a short letter detailing her moral views on over indulgence and appropriate transportation. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling knowing she is there to be able to step in and make the correct moral judgment, and save us from our selves. God Bless.
:nworthy:
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New York Times - It must be true (http://http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/10/nyregion/10prom.html?ei=5088&en=bf1deb91e7bab0e0&ex=1291870800&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print)
December 10, 2005 – New York Times
Hold the Limo: The Prom's Canceled as Decadent
By PAUL VITELLO
Prom night, that all-American rite of passage that fell out of favor during the anti-establishment 1960's and then made a comeback in the conservative tilt of the Reagan era, probably always inhabited terrain destined to become a battleground in the so-called culture wars.It is about social manners, class, gender roles; and to a more or less open degree, it is about sex.That may explain why recent decisions by two Roman Catholic high school principals on Long Island to cancel proms for the class of 2006 - both citing exasperation with what the educators described as a decadent "prom culture" - seem to have struck a chord well beyond the worlds of Catholics, high schools or Long Island.Newspaper editorial writers, social scientists and parents across the country linked through Web sites have responded in the past two months with what seems like a giant exhalation of relief, as if someone had finally said what they had long feared to say."Strike up the orchestra for Brother Kenneth Hoagland, principal of Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, N.Y.," read an Oct. 23 editorial in The Chicago Tribune. "Not because he has canceled the Long Island school's spring prom but because in doing so he provoked what should be local discussions nationwide about prom night activities and about parents and educators who don't do their jobs."Underlying the concern seems to be a widespread uncertainty about the coming-of-age ritual embodied in the modern prom - the $500 to $1,000 spent on dress, limo and parties before and after the actual event. It has become not uncommon for parents to sign leases for houses, where couples room together, for post-prom weekend events or for parents to authorize boat excursions in which under-age drinking is not just winked at but expected.Trumping it all, of course, is the uncertainty about sex.
"Common parlance tells us that this is a time to lose one's virginity," Brother Hoagland and other administrators of Kellenberg High wrote in a letter to parents in March, warning them that the prom might be canceled unless parents stopped financing what, in effect, the school considered bacchanals. "It is a time of heightened sexuality in a culture of anything goes," the letter added. "The prom has become a sexual focal point. This is supposed to be a dance, not a honeymoon."Six months after the initial letter, administrators canceled the prom by fiat, citing not just sex and alcohol use, but also what they described as materialism run amok.A month later, in November, administrators at another Roman Catholic school on Long Island, Chaminade High School in Mineola, followed suit, explaining that the prom was being canceled because its decadence and "showcase of affluence" were "opposed to our value system."Both principals reported receiving letters of support and requests for interviews from all over the world. British, Australian, Japanese and Ukrainian newspapers, for instance, ran prominent features about the principals' bold stand against American decadence.
Whether those "local discussions nationwide" urged by The Chicago Tribune lead to a larger consensus about proms, or remain small countercultural acts in what has become a $2.7 billion prom industry, some observers viewed them as opening an interesting new front in the continuing battle over American values."I think there is a general desire to bring religious values into public life, and these actions against the prom seem like signs of that," said John Farina, a researcher at Georgetown University who studies the intersection of religion and culture. "To some extent, it reflects the influence of John Paul II - his willingness to confront and resist the dominant culture. As a teacher, I wish more educators had that kind of backbone."
An opposing view was expressed by George M. Kapalka, a professor of psychological counseling at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J.Resisting unacceptable behavior and banning it, he said, represent two different spirits in education. "This is just another example of the 'just say no' policy, which has failed miserably wherever it's been applied," Professor Kapalka said. "It would be better to start the conversation with kids about values earlier than to wait until senior year and ban the prom."Among disappointed students, there was a sense that the timing of the ban was arbitrary."It was like a slap in the face," said Shane Abrams, a 17-year-old Chaminade senior. "A lot of kids feel like: 'Why us? Why this year?' Why didn't they ban the prom last year, or the year before?" Countering the charges of prom extravagance, a number of students pointed out that the school was spending about $20 million on an athletic center, an expense they said was extravagant, also.Chaminade's headmaster, the Rev. James Williams, said the decision to cancel the senior prom this year was based on an accumulation of evidence that "the modern culture of the prom has become toxic and beyond remediation."He added: "It's part of a larger issue. Why are sweet 16 parties becoming more like weddings? Why are otherwise moderate kids suddenly pressured to go wild on one night at the end of four years of Chaminade education? "We are saying we admit that this takes place, and we won't be part of it anymore."William J. Doherty, a professor of family studies at the University of Minnesota and author of "Take Back Your Kids," a study about overscheduled children, said in a phone interview that prom excesses like those cited by Brother Hoagland and Father Williams were typical of what he calls "consumer-driven parenting.""We have parents heavily involved in orchestrating their children's experience because of this notion that experiences can be purchased," Dr. Doherty said. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, he said, he knew of one mother who did not want her daughter to go on a senior class trip to Cancun, but would not forbid it. "Her comment was 'how sad' it would be if her daughter was the only one at her lunch table to miss that experience."It's not that a whole generation of parents is crazy," Dr. Doherty said. "It's that there is a subset of parents who are crazy - and the rest don't want their kids to miss out."Prom night may never replace abortion on the front line of the culture wars, but in small increments, the issue of prom night does seem to be forcing itself onto the agenda generally described as family values.
Web sites ranging from those of the conservative Concerned Women for America to the nonpartisan Berkeley Parents Network, to those of various Islamic and Orthodox Jewish organizations, have in recent years posted advice to parents about proms, most of it highly cautionary.
In 2002, after several students who attended a junior prom were hospitalized for alcohol poisoning, the administrators at Rye High School in Westchester County began a dialogue with students and parents about how to proceed. One option was to cancel the prom.
"But we came up with a compromise," said Jim Rooney, the principal.Since 2003, Rye students attending the prom have to report to school that evening with at least one parent. The parent must sign a consent form and leave a phone number where he or she can be reached. All students then travel on a coach bus, provided by the school, to and from the prom - no limos, no sneaking drinks."The before-prom gathering has become a nice tradition," Mr. Rooney said. "The parents and kids gather in our courtyard for pictures, and I don't think the kids would give that up for anything, at this point."On the other hand, he admitted, the school has no control over what happens after the prom bus drops seniors off back at the school. After-prom parties happen. It is almost assumed that students will seek memorable experiences according to their own standards. "A lot of them go off to these Chelsea bars," Mr. Rooney said. "I understand that most of those places are quite porous."
::read::
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An opposing view was expressed by George M. Kapalka, a professor of psychological counseling at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J.
Resisting unacceptable behavior and banning it, he said, represent two different spirits in education. "This is just another example of the 'just say no' policy, which has failed miserably wherever it's been applied," Professor Kapalka said. "It would be better to start the conversation with kids about values earlier than to wait until senior year and ban the prom."
Personally, I think a great deal of the concern lies more with the "sex" issue than with the "excess expenditure" issue. There is an interesting thread on the Open Free For All forum re. Purity Balls "where fathers take their pubescent daughters to some kind of prom like event where the girl gets a ring and signs something claiming she will not have sex until marriage. The dad then passes the ring to the husband." Talk about excess!
http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?t=21894 (http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?t=21894)
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The Spoof (http://http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s3i19887#this)
Riding in a Limo can be dangerous too...
Man Rushes Pope-Mobile
VATICAN CITY - A 27 year old German man wearing sunglasses, a pink T-shirt, dark shorts and a beige baseball cap jumped over the barricade and attempted to commandeer the Pope mobile. He held onto it for only a few seconds before Holy Water was tossed on him and he released his grip."It burns...it burns..." he screamed as he thrashed about on the ground. The Pope was not hurt but appeared pretty pissed off. "Damn, right it burns. Don't ever touch my ride again," he berated the man over his shoulder as the procession continued the rest of the way without incident.The man reportedly told authorities that he was simply trying to give the Pope his business card. "I just wanted to pimp his ride, that's all. I mean, look at it. It's screaming for a make-over. Now, I figure some spinning red rims and maybe a couple of cobalt blue lightening bolts across the door to begin with..."
After listening to what the man intended to do with the Pope mobile, Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, appeared briefly before the media, still ashen-faced...he declared the man to be "mentally imbalanced." "What he wants to do with the Pope mobile is just plain wacked," he said. "I mean, a spinning, gold-trimmed Prophecies of Fatima license plate with neon outline? Neon? This is the Pope we're talking about here, not some TV evangelist." Vatican police took the unidentified man to an undisclosed hospital for psychiatric treatment. Remarking about his attire, Vatican security noted, "He needs some serious help with that fashion statement. Dressed like that, there was no way in Hell that the Pope was going to let him anywhere near his ride."
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Personally, I think a great deal of the concern lies more with the "sex" issue than with the "excess expenditure" issue.
I tend to agree with you.
"Excess Expenditure" is what this country thrives on. It's what most strive for- to earn loads of money and spend it frivolously and wastefully.
It's partly, sometimes primarily, what programs profess to be best at-
"Prepping" kids for college, not to persue what actually interests them. It's certainly what most parents want- their kid to finish school and get accepted to a prestigous university, college at the least.
Programs frequently define their 'success' by how many kids move on to college.
"Prepping" them to persue a degree and earn big bucks so they can become excessly expending consumers.
What they don't want is negative press associated with their program/school which might result from post-prom excesses. This is more a zero tolerance/ protect our image issue than and an excessive expenditure issue.
What? Are they really believing that kids stay virgins and refrain from substances all through high school, saving it for that special night? Hmmm. I seriously doubt that.
And, ultimately, isn't it still a parent's job to know where their kid is and what they're doing post-prom?
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Hadn't even thought about that:
What they don't want is negative press associated with their program/school which might result from post-prom excesses. This is more a zero tolerance/ protect our image issue than and an excessive expenditure issue.
Are you saying that Hyde was more concerned about what students might do in or to the town of Woodstock in the aftermath? Prom was held off campus. I bet the locals would be more than interested in that issue, ha ha ha!
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And, ultimately, isn't it still a parent's job to know where their kid is and what they're doing post-prom?
See Joe Gauld's piece on "Isn't Hyde Ever Wrong?" re. just what Hyde thinks of parent's say in their kids upbringing while they are at Hyde:
Since kids--and their parents--have been far more immersed in this counter growth culture than has Hyde, Hyde can be far more objective about how to best address the true growth needs of kids. And given the limited time available, Hyde insists on being the final judge on growth issues. We are in a better position than parents to determine a student's true best and further we consider our commitment to help each student realize that best a sacred trust.
So--Yes, we may be wrong, and thus we appreciate all the input we can get. However in the end, we urge parents that until graduation to defer to Hyde's judgment, not their own. To instead accept their own judgment becomes a clear statement to their children that the Hyde experience is simply an add-on to old family dynamics, and not a new beginning for the entire family.
http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?t=17336&start=14 (http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?t=17336&start=14)
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Personally, I think a great deal of the concern lies more with the "sex" issue than with the "excess expenditure" issue.
I tend to agree with you.
"Excess Expenditure" is what this country thrives on. It's what most strive for- to earn loads of money and spend it frivolously and wastefully.
It's partly, sometimes primarily, what programs profess to be best at-
"Prepping" kids for college, not to persue what actually interests them. It's certainly what most parents want- their kid to finish school and get accepted to a prestigous university, college at the least.
Programs frequently define their 'success' by how many kids move on to college.
"Prepping" them to persue a degree and earn big bucks so they can become excessly expending consumers.
What they don't want is negative press associated with their program/school which might result from post-prom excesses. This is more a zero tolerance/ protect our image issue than and an excessive expenditure issue.
What? Are they really believing that kids stay virgins and refrain from substances all through high school, saving it for that special night? Hmmm. I seriously doubt that.
And, ultimately, isn't it still a parent's job to know where their kid is and what they're doing post-prom?
I wonder whether Maine and Connecticut will follow suit and begin to regulate Hyde.
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Personally, I think a great deal of the concern lies more with the "sex" issue than with the "excess expenditure" issue.
I tend to agree with you.
"Excess Expenditure" is what this country thrives on. It's what most strive for- to earn loads of money and spend it frivolously and wastefully.
It's partly, sometimes primarily, what programs profess to be best at-
"Prepping" kids for college, not to persue what actually interests them. It's certainly what most parents want- their kid to finish school and get accepted to a prestigous university, college at the least.
Programs frequently define their 'success' by how many kids move on to college.
"Prepping" them to persue a degree and earn big bucks so they can become excessly expending consumers.
What they don't want is negative press associated with their program/school which might result from post-prom excesses. This is more a zero tolerance/ protect our image issue than and an excessive expenditure issue.
What? Are they really believing that kids stay virgins and refrain from substances all through high school, saving it for that special night? Hmmm. I seriously doubt that.
And, ultimately, isn't it still a parent's job to know where their kid is and what they're doing post-prom?
I wonder whether Maine and Connecticut will follow suit and begin to regulate Hyde.
What do you mean by "regulate?" They "regulate" pretty much everything about kids lives as it is while they are there...