Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Troubled Teen Industry

WWASPS Academic Program

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Anonymous:
P.S. - ALL of my credits transferred back to my home high school.  I got caught up when I was there and just graduated H.S. in June - I started out at Spring Creek and graduated from Cross Creek over 2 years ago.  Get a life and find something else to do...

Anonymous:
Our school works so well because it is self-paced," said Mary Ann Gustafson, director of development.

"We get 11th-grade students who are reading at an eighth-grade level. They can work separately using packets for each of their subjects, so they never have to feel embarrassed. They just do their work."

Subjects are broken down to chapterlike packets, and students are tested at the end of each. With a score of 80 percent or more, students pass and move on to the next packet. Lower performers are required to repeat packets until their scores are up to par, Gustafson said.

*************

Okay, it's NOT like homeschooling, it's like a charter school. It sounds EXACTLY like what the wwasps programs offer in the classroom.  For the complete story:

 http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... 827Z2.html

spots:
Here's a little more of the quote from the Arizona Republic newspaper:

"Subjects are broken down to chapterlike packets, and students are tested at the end of each. With a score of 80 percent or more, students pass and move on to the next packet. Lower performers are required to repeat packets until their scores are up to par, Gustafson said.

"There is a 15-1 student-teacher ratio. Students spend most of their time working independently, and class work is self-paced. Faculty and staff members teach, tutor, counsel and listen."

Lower performers repeat?  endlessly?  Low performance usually indicates a serious gap in earlier education.  Repeating packets will not improve dyslexia.  Repeating packets will not teach how to cope with ADHD.  Repeating packets will not teach anything, except most kids realize after 6 repetitions of the same material, with the same tests, that there is a pattern to getting the right answers.  They may not know the answers, but they can find the pattern of right answers.  

Also, repeating until an 80% score is attained is why WWASPS can boast that their students have a "B" average.  If they don't, they just keep retaking the same "class".  IOW, to count in the statistics, you HAVE TO HAVE a "B".  You have not completed the packet unless you do.  

To the Anon who has come on strong here; you are making a blanket statement that we are supposed to fully believe, based on your own experience at Spring Creek and Cross Creek.  No one on this board is attempting to be "funny". You may have had a more rounded education at Cross Creek, but that experience seems to be unique.  In other words, not a lot of folks seem to have had the same experience.  My personal knowledge through letters from a still-confined child [which I believe, because I see no reason not to believe what she is saying about her schooling] is this:

---she goes to school (sits in a room at a table) 6 hours a day, 6 days a week.
---she is allowed to "study" only one subject at a time, her choice, until she passes the packet and can then choose another.
---she can pick a "hard" subject, for which she must submit 2 pages of notes on each chapter read, or she can pick an "easy" subject, for which only one page of notes is required per chapter. The Program determines which subjects are hard and which are easy.  There is very little demand for the Biology book, and the Careers and Health courses see a lot of action.
---she cannot take a test unless she can find a complete testing packet (missing no pages), which is hard to find and often delays completion of the subject.  
---she tried Biology, but without labs, group discussion, etc., she was forced to pack it in.  She is currently taking Geometry, but I am sure one of the neatest things about geometry (working with protractors and compasses to make geometric figures) is not allowed, as these tools would constitute weapons in WWASPS' mind.
---she has no...repeat, NO...teachers.  The majority of staff at her facility speak only Spanish, and spoken English is usually punishable.  Staff is typically young and very under-educated.  From a relative who is a contact working at other Gringo schools in the norther Mexico area, pay runs between $1.00 and $2.50 an hour.  I cannot speak exactly for the WWASPS facility, but this wage is average for similar facilities in the area.  The only non-student in a classroom is the staff serving as a guard.  Contrast this with the charter school 15:1 accredited teacher ratio.  

I simply cannot fathom how the featured charter school can be compared with a WWASPS education. Nor can it be compared with home schooling.  In my somewhat-rural community, home schoolers (a large number are involved) have "study groups" where the group is transported frequently on field trips, or work together in social groups for science projects, etc.  I have a group that visits my ranch to participate in clinics on animal training.  The benefits of 1:1 teachers (the parent) is multiplied by the time spent within a social situation.  Home schoolers do learn how to fit in with their peers, AND ARE NOT PUNISHED FOR SPEAKING WITH PEERS.  In fact, communication and chatter is a happy useful thing, as each student learns from peers instead of from a packet.

Transfer of credits is an "iffy" thing, with more school districts closely examining the accreditation group.  If your high school does accept full credit, you may expect further hurdles when you submit these credits to the college of your choice.  It is already hard for parents to convince college admissions that the education from a therapeutic boarding school is "the same" as from a public or private school.  With publicity mounting, a WWASPS education and transferable credits is looming as a real problem.  Other than the universities in Utah or Idaho, admissions boards are taking a very close look and rejecting a lot of school credits.

Anonymous:
Spots - good points.  I've certainly heard that Cross Creek has certified teachers,excellent therapists and trained staff.  I understand the points you've made on Casa by the Sea. I'm assuming they are different.

This should definitely go to the "recommendation" thread that all teachers be certified with at least a 15-1 ratio-teacher/tutor involvement.

Most charter schools don't have the same "tools" to use as their previous high schools, but these kids seem to get it nevertheless.  This is especially true of ADDers in being able to work at their own pace.  Once they pass with 80% or greater, they usually understand the content, whereas in a regular classroom it was a constant battle just to keep up.  This constant battle results in not feeling good enough, feeling stupid, etc., and the teachers aren't there for them nor do they have alternatives needed to help them create a successful school experience.

Taking a GED is also a good alternatives, but wwasps seems to prefer the classroom approach over that.  I see a lot of good in this type of education for many previously unsuccessful students.

Anonymous:
Can't speak for any of the other programs with wwasps, but my son's credits all transferred to his high school a couple of years ago.  He has been attending college, and there was no problem with this.

Secondly, the academic program was exactly what he needed. It doesn't matter that he would have to take or retake tests with an 80% orhigher.  He learned HOW to study, retain and take tests, which is something his school and tutors were never able to help him with.  He wasn't open to it.  He's not stupid, just didn't fit in with the ADDers that took meds, or the kids that did well in school.  I personally appreciated the time the teacher took with him and probably the other boys too.  I never heard any complaints about his academic experience there.  I guess if you've never experienced a kid that never got past C's in school, and those were rare, finally get A's honestly and by his own work, you'd have issues with this type of learning.  Life isn't always black and white.

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