spent my first 1 1/2 years hating the school. Everything was controlled, there was no music, a strict food plan, hard work crews, and really odd rules. I never saw John and rarely saw Colleen. However, Since February 2006, the school has changed completely. We have now food plan, we make our own decisions regarding most things, we only have mandatory group 5 nights a week, and we go on trips almost every week. This is much different than the first 18 months I was there. Also, John comes every day of the weekend, and Colleen every day of the week. We are able to change things through proposals, John is trying to find a way to have music now, work crew is limited, and freetime is the most I have ever seen. I know that when some of you were there it was awful- my first 18 months sucked. But having graduated in August this year, and fully considering my stay, I would suggest that rather than bashing on MMS, try to do something productive with your anger. Closing down this school is not the right thing to do anymore, and anyone who tries to close it now will end up hurting more people than helping. Rather than being a rule-based community as we were before, the school has become highly focused on self-regulation and girls learning how to handle their lives without interventions or extreme consequences like before.
My heart truly goes out to all that had a horrible 2 years, but just as you most likely have changed since then, so has the school. Please think of this next time you post.
Much love to all, and I hope you find your peace again.