What exactly does the world expect when 300 emotionally challenged brat criminal asshole kids and a few former addict adults congreagate and try to "get better"?
Elan was not its own entity. each resident contributed to the whole of Elan.
Those who blame Elan for their problems must take a little resonsibily for fucking up someone elses life too.
Those who were sent to Elan have to take a little responibility for behaving in a manner that warranted some sort of intense treatment (Im not saying Elan provided that) But children were not plucked from society at random by the courts, the education departments, and/or their parents to be shuttled into Elan, especilly considering what Elan cost.
I hold those who decided to send me there responsible more than I hold "Elan" responsible for what happened there. As an adult parent, I have to ask myself how irresponsible it would be if I didnt ask a million questions about the program and not only HOW it is run, but WHO it is run by. A little research on Joe Ricci, and a few Key Staff members would have me high tail it to another more suitable solution for my troubled child...one with QUALIFIED directors.
Ask yourself this, would you want your child in an environment that you are NOT permitted to witness in its entirety for any period of time?
We are all a product of our surroundings. We grew up victims of people who made the decision to send us to Elan without some serious scrutiny. THIS is the problem, impatient STUPID insensitive parents, educators and legal players. The effort to "close Elan" emulates this behavior. When Elan is gone, there will still be troubled kids out there with parents like us who will find another Elan to send them to rather than putting an intense effort into a solution.
