Morgan I used to work in programs and here are general rules/scenarios. I am not passing judgement whether they are good or bad.
* You will wake up at *** a.m.
* You will go to sleep at *** p.m.
* You will do chores
* You will eat breakfast at *** a.m.
* You will eat lunch at *** p.m.
* You will eat dinner at *** p.m.
* You will not watch television in your dorm room
* You will use "appropriate language."
* You will wear "appropriate clothing." - No punk type clothing etc.
* You will leave your personal space immaculate before breakfast
* You will not fight
* You will not smoke
* You will not drink
* You will not do drugs
* You will leave the program when your parents feel you're ready
* You will not have access to a telephone if you want to report abuse
* You will be supervised by staff with poor qualifications
* You will stay within staff supervision
* You will not get the quality education the program advertises
* You will be present when staff search your personal property for contraband { Bear in mind staff search your personal property when you are not around}
* You will read approved reading materials
* You will write mail to whom your parents approve
* You will complete work assignments as consequences for rule infractions { This happens at many programs today }
* You will complete writing assignments as consequences for rule infractions { This happens at many programs today }
All the above still listed are things that Chesley has stated herself, or that my mother has told me are true.
As for being allowed home on major holidays/birthdays, they don't specify one way or another - "it can be earned" - but the fact that the place is a four hour drive from my home and friends, means that's probably close to impossible to work out for an overnight stay.
You aren't even allowed telephone calls to anyone until you move to the second campus, which takes a long while, and it's not who your parents approve, it's who your case manager approves.
I'm not sure on the cutting hair part. From the girls my mother took photos of at the first campus in the mountains, they had colored hair, cut at their chosen styles.
The clothing is true as well. They say no bands, no logos, no styles because it's a "conservative dress code".
Drugs, drinking, smoking, those are obvious.
This whole education fiasco is starting to piss me off, frankly.
It needs to be cleared up by facts, so I can present this to my parents if it is a true issue.
From a parents perspective many of these kids are not going to high school at all so getting them into a class room and studying is a big step by itself. In my daughters case the program she attended worked with a local high school and was able to hand out diplomas. (She graduated from the program and graduated from her local high-school after she got home). I believe the Academy at Sisters has a similar set-up.
What I suggest is to have the parents ask the school how their academics are set up and how the kids typically do after they go back to their highschools. Many of the kids at the Academy at Swift River were gaining acceptance to college right from the Academy itself, but it depends on what grade you are in when you enter. Most programs can gain the children access to taking PSAT's or SAT's.
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From my parents perspective, high school is not the issue, college is.
Just to give you an insight as to how the Academy says their education set up is, Chesley told us that all curiclum, programs, credits, etc. is run through Bend High School.
They have to meet the criteria that teachers in that high school would, and as a student, you have to be at the same level as the students attending.
Apparently, your stay at the Academy shows up on your transcript as if you were attending Bend high school.
If all goes well and as is planned, I am only attending this year - which is my sophomore year, - which means I wouldn't be receiving a diploma anyway.
Dysfunction Junction, I don't think my parents see any signs of the Academy giving "unaccredited academics". I'm not sure either way.
Morgan, This is how the Academy at Swift River was set up too (through a local high school), very similar to AAS. Some of the kids and parents worried that having a Therapeutic Boarding School on their record would hurt their chances to get into college but all the kids got accepted into their school of choice after graduating. But it looks like either way Academy at Sisters will not show up on your transcripts.
Many of the kids ended up way ahead academically after they left.
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That's what Chesley said.
"They work ahead, and end up above level academically."
Makes you wonder why they have a, what was it, I think 40% success rate, or graduation rate, or something like that.
I may be wrong on the number, but it wasn't to good.
