Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Benchmark Young Adult School / Benchmark Transitions
Public letter of Response to Benchmark Tour Offer
Anonymous:
So, you allege that they claim they will help you get a high school diploma, and then don't? If that is true, then obviously this isn't offering what it claims in it's advertising. Which brings me back to my original point, you have two legs, which work, nobody is stopping you from walking out - so if it is so bad, why don't they just leave? Especially if the program isn't as it's advertised.
Anonymous:
::troll::
ignore the troll and post the info you have on Benchmark. most of us around here know how these programs work. and how many 18 year olds know their rights and/or can't be convinced that they've signed them away, 20-30 year olds for that matter. it's not like teens are taught their legal right in school. where are they supposed to acquire this information?
most states have laws that allow a teen to refuse psychiatric and drug abuse treatment at a certain age (14-16). hospitals and rehabs are required to inform the patient of their rights. how many do?
and we can guess the number of programs that do.
psy:
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---So, you allege that they claim they will help you get a high school diploma, and then don't? If that is true, then obviously this isn't offering what it claims in it's advertising. Which brings me back to my original point, you have two legs, which work, nobody is stopping you from walking out - so if it is so bad, why don't they just leave? Especially if the program isn't as it's advertised.
--- End quote ---
Already answered that question. They refused to give me my property, money, or identification. It's easy to say "just leave" and many attempted it, later to realize you need some sort of starter in order to emancipate. Early on in the program's history they would let students save up their "allowance" and leave. They eventually stopped this practice after they didn't come crawling back for food and shelter as they do now. After all, they lose a valuble source of income if they can just walk away sucessfully.
In an area like Redlands, you did not want to be on the streets. Riddle me this alleged staffer: How exactly does one "walk away" without any identification, posessions, or money?
AAaah. But that's the point isn't it : You establish the program as the person's only hope for emancipation by removing all other options.
In tough love this would be called "helping somebody hit rock bottom" (so they can be built up as desired)
When hope is gone, you break, the programming starts to work, and they overwrite your old self with one more loyal to program. Since your only hope, from the new, "self-actualized" perspective is the program, you become dependant on every whim of the staff. How long they think is appropriate for your stay, is exactly how long it will take for you to graduate. You follow the program and it becomes your hope.
Remember though. It's an ARTIFICIAL dependancy.
Most of the kids I knew were there for ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other mild psychological issues. They would have been fine were it not for the program.
While i was there i personally witnessed at least over 100 students go through the program and only 3 "graduation" ceremonies (otherwise they would have no testimonials).
They advertise a 97 percent graduation statistic to parents. This is technically correct since they graduate the kids they drop on the streets, as well as the AWOLS who manage to make it (very rare).
Anonymous:
--- Quote ---How exactly does one "walk away" without any identification, posessions, or money?
--- End quote ---
You put one foot in front of the other, find a payphone and call a friend. Or whatever, this isn't children we are talking about. Call the cops, tell them somebody stole your ID and won't give it back.
psy:
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---::troll::
ignore the troll and post the info you have on Benchmark. most of us around here know how these programs work. and how many 18 year olds know their rights and/or can't be convinced that they've signed them away, 20-30 year olds for that matter. it's not like teens are taught their legal right in school. where are they supposed to acquire this information?
most states have laws that allow a teen to refuse psychiatric and drug abuse treatment at a certain age (14-16). hospitals and rehabs are required to inform the patient of their rights. how many do?
and we can guess the number of programs that do.
--- End quote ---
LOL. I know. The asshole is just giving me some good suggestions for topics. So for once a programmie is useful. I think I know who he is anyway. He's unwittingly helping me compile a FAQ as we speak. Idiot troll.
Exactly. Add this lack of education to a portion of the student population which were dumped into Benchmark directly out of programs like CEDU schools. Most of them had very little will to resist left (although some were almost invulnerable to the brainwashing, being so familiar with it).
As far as we knew, we had no rights and they took full advantage of this. If students misbehaved enough, they were sent to motels which provided Benchmark with extra student capacity. At any given time i would estimate 40-50% of students were motel-bound. Motel students (known as sink or swim students) were forbidden from talking to normal students in an effort to restrict outside contact.
Now combine these three aspects:
no refunds after 5 days in program
$55000 / year (cheaper than when i was there)
60 dollars a week expenses on a motel room.
What does that equal. That's right kids. A fucking boatload of money.
To be fair they did pay for 3 cup 'o' noodle soup cups a day, and a granola bar. That's nutricious enough right? Why kids on this diet for months lost tons of weight collectively. This was known as the "Benchmark Diet" (not shitting you, staff actually named it this).
Oh but they let you get a job in motel though. You just had to put down Benchmark Young Adult School as your place of residence though, and the staff would (allegedly) take your phone calls. After all. They had to approve of the employer.
Ok. New question: If you're a business owner, flipping through a stack of job applications, where do you think he/she is going to file the one applicant from that school for fuck-ups down the street?
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