Wow. this is a big handbook. Notes as I read (sort of skimming it here)
Section 2.1:
Students will respect and honor the confidentiality of other students, families and
faculty.
And faculty? So this means the kids can't talk about things the staff do? Red flag there.
Students will not discuss workshop experiences or workshop tools with other students
who have not been through the workshop.
Which implies students go into these LGAT workshops without informed consent. This is the main problem I have with the workshops. If people knew exactly what they were getting into, I would have no problem. The thing is that the workshops wouldnt' be nearly as "effective" in changing people without their knowledge or consent if people knew what to expect. There is also the issue of hypnosis and closed-eye guided imagery being reportedly used. Powerful tools that should only really be in the hands of professional psychologists (if anybody)...
Students will refrain from sexual or intimate activities with others.
This is fairly flexible. I can see "initmate" as having quite a wide interpretation. At teh CEDU based program I was in "intimacy" could be a close friendship.
Section 2.3:
Students will abide by the School’s guidelines regarding confidential information
involving other students, families and faculty.
They state it twice!
Section 2.5:
• All students are expected to actively participate in and benefit from group sessions.
Group sessions? is that kind of like group therapy, but not calling it that to get around licensing requirements?
• Students should make group requests regularly demonstrating an interest in the lives
and work of their fellow students as well as a means of taking responsibility for the
community as a whole.
This deserves a translation. Group requests were called Rap requests at Benchamrk, and I imagine the same at CEDU. You were expected to write what you wanted to talk about (somebody's problem, confront somebody, etc), and staff would select your requests from the stack of lists.
Student communication should be supportive, positive and reflect constructive
criticism. Caustic, sarcastic, insulting, demeaning, threatening, abusive comments or
behavior are not acceptable methods of expression.
That may be true, but i'm sure "brutal honesty" is permitted, which is often indistinguishable from the above to the target.
Absolute confidentiality for kids (they can't talk about stuff), but staff can tell the parents anything about what happens in group... nice policy. I'm sure it makes the kids real open knowing everything they say can be reported back to their parents...
Advisors may share what occurred in group with their colleagues, as well as with
parents, as deemed necessary and appropriate.
Section 2.9:
Movies and music that are not compatible with the general standards of the School (i.e.
those that are excessively discordant due to content that is overtly sexual, violent, drug-
oriented, anarchist, depressive, etc.) are considered unacceptable forms of
entertainment.
• The School will provide all media (including movies, music, and reference and utility
media), and only such media provided by the School may be possessed or used on school property.
...
Due to the unpredictability of content played, radio is an unacceptable form of media.
...
• All music that is to be played for a Last Light must be approved by the student’s
Advisor prior to asking permission from the Floor Coordinator.
Political content, sad music... all off limits. I see. Only group approved information.
Section 2.19
• Students will be allowed to call their parents at predetermined times with faculty
supervision and support.
No surprise there.
Section 2.21
• Students may not be exposed to any of the elements that influenced his/her
enrollment to Carlbrook School (clothing, music, jewelry, make-up, smoking,
etc.).
I see. That's something to reflect on. So basically anything having to do with an identity prior to carlbrook is "bad". And yet thy simultaneously say they're tryin to teach kids to be independent thinking and so forth.
more from 2.21:
• Students may not have contact with old friends from home at any point during
the visit (no phone calls, letters from old girlfriends/ boyfriends, pictures, etc.).
• Students may not call/contact any current or former Carlbrook students during
the visit.
• Parents have the right to end the visit at any point if they feel their student is
being disrespectful or dishonest.
• Students must be with a family member at all times except for short breaks.
• Students must stay on campus (see first and second on-campus visit standards
for specifics).
• No clothing, food or gifts (personal hygiene products, music/ movies, etc.) may
be given to students during the visit. Clothing requests must be discussed with
the student’s Advisor, and if approved should be mailed directly to the School.
Items given to students during the visit will be sent home.
• The use of personal electronic devices is prohibited during visits (“personal
electronic devices” from here on refers to mobile phones, all forms of music
players, handheld and stationary gaming systems and any new technology not
mentioned that involves music, movies, games, photos etc.).
• Students must have an adult family member present when listening to music or
watching a movie.
And those are the rules for *on campus* visits.
2.21e:
First visit only: Students will go through their room or personal space with their
parent(s) before they go to bed the first night. They must discard items that
represent their old lifestyle. They must choose one item that is the most difficult
to discard and send it directly to the School (labeled with their name and their
Advisor’s name) to the attention of Sandi Hughes in the Advising Department.
also
• Students will conduct themselves in a manner that is representative of their
Truth at all times.
(italics in original)
Of course this only makes sense once someobody goes through Truth. Castle can explain more about this.
I'll go through more in a bit. Very interesting reading.
