Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - concerned father

Pages: [1]
1
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Current state of BCA
« on: March 10, 2006, 09:32:00 PM »
I want to comment on a few issues raised here, but let me first thank everybody for their input.  Though the opinions vary, I appreciate what everybody has to say.

Could somebody explain to me what the "propheets" are?

Regarding taking my son off campus to talk to him, I can see where that could be a potential problem for him after we leave.  All of the time scheduled for "parents weekend" is on campus, which, frankly, strikes me as odd, especially since it appears there will be multiple blocks of 2-3 hours of unstructured time.  Why shouldn't we be able to take him somewhere, whether it be for a short hike or to get a dish of ice cream or something?  I am going to ask this question.

I am planning on delving into the school's curriculum.  I want to see what they have planned for my son, and want to see syllabi (along with examples of completed assignments) for his classes.  I don't understand why he has been there for almost two months and I've yet to see any type of educational plan for him.

There seems to be a consensus that BCA overmedicates.  Just a microcosm of our society, I guess.  I'm prone to believing the UK's National Institute for Health, which has ruled that antidepressants should only be prescribed to young people in moderate to severe cases.  I'm sure BCA won't be thrilled if I request an "independent" evaluation, if, after seeing my son and discussing the possibility with him, we decide to move forward with it.  No doubt that consulting with somebody other than their regular doctor makes their job more difficult.  And having my son on meds might make their job easier.  But given the stakes and the amount of money we fork over every month, I'm not going to feel guilty about making either of those requests.

2
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Current state of BCA
« on: March 10, 2006, 02:13:00 PM »
"Are you a member of a CEDU parents group?"

As I understand it, CEDU folded up their tent and declared bankruptcy.  BCA was sold to Universal Health Services (UHS).

Regardless, no, my wife and I are not in a "therapeutic boarding school" parents group -- and am unaware if such a thing exists in our area (Seattle).

3
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Current state of BCA
« on: March 10, 2006, 11:38:00 AM »
Thank you, Bean2 for sharing that.  I'm glad things have worked out well for you.

4
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Current state of BCA
« on: March 10, 2006, 11:36:00 AM »
"Please don't buy the program line that if he complains to you about the treatment he is receiving there, that he is just "being manipulative.""

No, I am in this with my eyes open.

When I see my son in two weeks, I plan on talking to him extensively away from the group setting.  Anything he says that might be worrisome will be investigated, in addition to concerns that I already have.  Despite all the troubles that he has had, he has never been a manipulative person, so if anybody from the school tries to feed me that line, it won't placate me.

5
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Current state of BCA
« on: March 09, 2006, 04:12:00 PM »
"I get upset when parents make the huge decision to send their kid to one of these schools and then come on here second-guessing themselves."

I'd be more worried if parents weren't constantly assessing (or as you call it, "second guessing") their decision to send their kid away.  I think about him constantly, and want to do all I can to make sure he is healthy and safe.  And I want him to feel emotions--not spend his days in a medicated haze.

Thank you for your opinion on the propensity of the BCA staff to medicate.

6
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Current state of BCA
« on: March 09, 2006, 04:02:00 PM »
"This is a short list"

I'd be happy to hear a longer one, if you're willing to take the time time to lay it out.  I am curious what you base your opinion on.  Did you attend BCA?  Work there?  Heard horror stories from people who did one or the other?

Your question about why are we sending him there is a legitimate one.  I could write a short novel, but will instead say that we made what we felt was the best choice we could based on the information we had, people we spoke to and consultants we hired.  If we felt there was any way our son could live at home without hurting himself and putting himself at risk, he would still be here.

7
CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones / Current state of BCA
« on: March 09, 2006, 03:00:00 PM »
I currently have a son at Boulder Creek Academy, and would appreciate hearing from people who have a sense if things have changed under their new ownership and staff (much of which has remained from when it was under CEDU ownership).

This note was prompted by the fact that I received a call from the staff yesterday that my son seemed depressed.  They wanted him to be tested by folks from Northwest Psychiatric Associates, likely to be followed with a presciption for "meds".  This raised a big red flag with me.  I am not giving any type of permission until I do some research and visit my son (that will happen in a couple weeks).

In general, I am against putting kids on meds, especially if its being done just to make things easier for the staff.  I'd like to get some honest feedback from folks with knowledge and opinions on the current state of BCA.

Fire away.

Concerned Father

Pages: [1]