Comments left for the above blog entry, "
Shepherd's Hill Farm is a hell-hole" (by PZ Myzers; Feb. 27, 2010;
Pharyngula blog), #s 61-68:
#61 Posted by: stevieinthecity#9dac9 | March 31, 2010 12:55 PMSP ignores the fact there's no evidence that the "camp" has any ability to get anyone the skills they need to cope.
They are not educators or trained therapists.
They are christian bullies. Paddle that anger out of him.
Brilliant.
#62 Posted by: S P | March 31, 2010 4:05 PMStevieinthecity has not checked into the staff, apparently, as you would see that there are two trained therapists on staff now. The head of education is a retired school administrator with nearly 40 years of experience. I don't know what the place was like in the beginning, so I can't speak to the staff then, nor to the content of their education, but I am more qualified to speak to it than any person who has only read this blog as a source of information, then pulled their ideas from it.
To Gyeong Hwa Pak, I was actually speaking only specifically about the blog regarding Shepherd's Hill Farm, not the overall site. Certainly Mr. Myers has a science background and may write other articles pertaining to science, and he is welcome to an opinion about anything he likes, but this specific article has gone to no apparent length to investigate any claim by former students/residents. I contribute to this discussion because I think an informed opinion beats one formed from looking at a single side. If you are slanted against anything labeled 'Christian', or 'religious', you are very narrow in your view as well.
#63 Posted by: Twentyfathoms | April 18, 2010 9:50 PMI was raised in a "Christian" community, baptist fundamentalists. What I discovered through my journey is that my parents did what they thought was right based on biblical beliefs. The problem with those beliefs is it leaves no room for reason. I witnessed abuse on other kids by "good christian" adults and pastors of the community. There was verbal, psychological and physical abuse on a regular basis that was sanctioned by the "administration". No one has the right to abuse a child, be it in the name of God or any other name. I walked away from that life when I was 20 years old and have never returned, I am now 44 years old. I have raised my children to be good, kind, considerate people. To SP with the angry child, my heart goes out to you, I have one myself. The only thing you can provide is love, understanding and guidance. I have 4 children, only one has been a problem, but he is my problem. The biggest problem with "child experts' and homes for "wayward children" is that there is no vested interested in your child, it comes down to the almighty dollar. I am not slanted against Christianity or religion as long it is kept in it's place, as a part of your life not your entire life. SP I wish you luck with your child and hope his homecoming is joyful one.
#64 Posted by: TC | May 27, 2010 10:06 AMI've got to hand it to Mr. Myers! He's very good at taking facts out of context, placing them in his own context, and using those facts against the original author! Some of Mr. Myers' facts can be considered true, IF you read them in their original context. However the true meaning of those facts ARE NOT how Mr Myers' portrays them; in the context that he uses them, THEY ARE ENTIRELY FALSE! His colorful analogies and metaphors are quite crafty - but they're all just a bunch of rhetoric designed to inflame the reader to the point that they think he knows what he's talking about and consequently believe his statements. He has NO CLUE!!!
Shepherd's Hill Farm IS Christ centered, in EVERY facet of its program. They recognize that only through a relationship with God, can a child (or an adult, Mr. Myers) battle against his/her troubles/weaknesses. If you're not a Christian, you will work to find facts that can be twisted to be used against Shepherd's Hill Farm, and you will succeed, at least you think you will. If you are a Christian, then you will recognize what's truly going on here. I encourage you to throw out Mr. Myers' pathetic reasoning and search for yourself: visit Shepherd's Hill Farm, find out for yourself. I did. I saw NO SUCH EVIDENCE of what Mr. Myers claims (in his context). I sent my son there. He has since graduated from the program and now has a healthy relationship with God. As a result he is successfully battling he troubles/weaknesses that, in the past, led him down a self-destructive path.
If Shepherd's Hill Farm can turn a child away from his self-destructive patterns and point him towards a healthy relationship with God and consequently into a good citizen, making his/her own choices, then I'd say they're quite successful. If you prefer to let your child continue to have a "wild soul" and be self-destructive, end up in jail, or dead, or worse cause the death of others, then accept what Mr. Myers says, and let your child battle his troubles on his own, and without a relationship with God.
I pray you make the right choice… find out for yourself! Don't take mine or Mr. Myers' opinions as your sole research in making your decision regarding your child and Shepherd's Hill Farm.
#65 Posted by: yeah.. | May 27, 2010 10:33 PMHi TC
If what PC says makes people angry it is probably because they are not brainwashed by the SHF cult like you are. The things that PC has said here are not out of context, they are true. I am the original author. I am an ex student of SHF. You really have no idea what this, and other places like it will do to your childs mind and body. The mental pain I suffered because of SHF for so long is hard to put into words. SHF is not operated by Christians, but by wolves in sheep clothing who take advantage of the weak and the vulnerable.
The fact is the Government has received thousands of reports of abuse, neglect and fraud about the "troubled teen industry". I highly suggest you watch the CAFETY Capitol Hill briefings. They contain testimonies from ex students of wilderness camps, parents of children who died in wilderness camps, mental health professionals, lawyers, and Greg Kutz, who is the managing Director of Forensic Audits and Special Investigations for the US Government Accountability Office describes reports from two GAO investigations into the troubled industry for teens. Here's a link to all of the videos-->
http://www.saferchildren.net/wilderness ... lhill.htmlMy parents paid a tuition that is as high as some Ivy League schools. Was I left with a good education, morals, self esteem, or anything else? No, not even close.
Homosexuality we were taught is an abomination, and unnatural. Homosexuals will go to hell for "going to brown town on each other" to suffer with those of other religious beliefs.
In school we did very, very little work. We watched Kent Hovind videos, and "Hell's Bells" (about Satan controlling the media and everything secular). My teacher did not even know what plate tectonics were. He swore I made the whole thing up when I described it to him.
My family used to be fairly well off. However, Trace used his Christian powers to have my father give him all of our money for tuiton. My mother can hardly afford to feed herself now. I was in my eyes, my mother, family and friends eyes abused in the name of science and mental health. I have kept in contact with 5 other ex students (as many as I can find). All who claim to have been abused at SHF and claim they were not helped in any way. If you look at Peter Harris blog about this you will see an ex student by the name K. Hicks left a comment detailing his account at SHF and the abuse he was subjected to.
When I was there they had one nurse who lived on campus in a trailer far from where we lived. The staff who were with us 24/7 were college students with no training or qualification. What good is one brainwashed nurse when you are running a facility that is supposed to treat children with severe mental issues? The children are also encouraged to stop taking their medication, and to be skeptical of science, doctors and medicine.
These children do not need a self appointed guru cult leader teaching them the ways of jeebus. They need real help, from real doctors, with real degrees, who use real science, that is backed up by peer reviewed medical journals.
For all this money in my eyes I was abused, stripped of my identity and basic human rights, starved, beat, humiliated, made to live in unsafe living conditions in a wood hut I built with no electricity, or running water, or contact with outside medical services, or legal services. Children have rights and freedoms too. They are people and we have to protect them from these places.
Now granted for fairness sake I will say this. I was a student there years ago in the early stages of the camp opening. The camp may have changed some over the years or may not have. I do not know. I do know what went on there during the years I was a student there. I believe that the time that the other students, and I suffered there counts for something. Even if it has changed for the better.
In solidarity with all the oppressed around the world,
Ex student'(s) of SHF.[/list]
#66 Posted by: Link | May 30, 2010 12:28 PMMy 17 year old is currently enrolled at Shepherds Hill Farm. Reading through these blogs, I can't seem to find a first hand account of abuse, neglect, brainwashing, etc... except of course #65). Some of you seem to be extremely educated in your writings and opinions, however why would you choose to make such statements and arguements on a program such as Shepherds Hill Farm if you have no first hand knowledge about it? Is it because it is Christian? If it is, enough said. I'm not blogging to defend the Christian faith. If I didn't want my son to learn about the faith, I would of enrolled him in a secular program. I just thought it important enough to put what first hand accounts I've had with Shepherds Hill Farm. Yes, my child lives in the woods in a cabin he helped build with his own two hands. He used his brain, some muscle and learned a whole lot about construction and engineering. It's a strong and study cabin made to withstand GA's heavy rains and winds. He actually takes much pride of this cabin and what he was able to build and accomplish. #65, you're correct in saying that there's no running water or electricity at the campsite. You have to walk up the hill if you want any of that or a shower. Actually you don't spend much time at your cabin. It's mostly school, eating, and chores then maybe some down time. Swimming, basketball, softball or just hanging out playing cards with one another or doing homework. I would have to say that most of the kids are on some form of medication for one reason or another. Including my son. He has never not received his meds. (They're refilled every month at the local parmacy.) I've been there to witness the kids taking their individual meds as well. So, no it doesn't appear that anyone is being deprived of any of their meds. As far as no medical treatment, well, I can only say that my child has been to the doctor more times there than at home. He's taken to the doctor for a simple cold. I get to take my child on home visits, speak with him weekly using Skype and take him on family vacations. I would have to assume that if it is as horrible as written about, he would not go back under any circumstances. Yes, he would receive a special meal should he choose to. If he fights, lies, steals, abusive towards others and swears. I have those same rules in my workplace. My consequence wouldn't be a special meal, it would be termination. #65- claims you were beaten? How? With the paddle? My son has been there over 1 year and hasn't received the paddle. What do you have to do to receive that consequence? My son has been taught and given every opportunity for success in the real world. So much more than I could ever have offered him. He is living a clean and sober life, learning to respect himself as well as others. Focusing on college and taking responsibility for his own actions and establishing his goals, both short-term and long-term. This would of never been accomplished back home. I've listed to GAO investigations, however, they didn't mention anything about Shepherds Hill Farm. In fact, the speaker went on to say there are some good residential camps and they are not there to target them. I would catorgorize Shepherds Hill Farm as one of the "good" ones.
#67 Posted by: rsspug | June 19, 2010 12:34 PMI have a 13 year old son soon to be 14 at Shepherds Hill Farm. He entered the program in October of 2009. I did a lot of homework before I sent my son to a Wilderness Program. I have to admit there were some of them out there that I was not comfortable with, but this was not the case with at Shepherd's Hill. While of course no program is perfect as nothing is in life is this program has changed my son’s life. As a parent it is quite a step to send you son/daughter to any type of program let alone a wilderness one for help especially one that costs approx $58,900.00 for a years worth of tuition. If I were to believe all of the allegations and false information I have read that was written about Shepherd's Hill Farm in this and other blogs I might have made the biggest mistake in my life and not sent him for the help he needed. Help that no matter how hard I tried I could not on my own or with the help of local counseling programs provide for him, I do not know what caused him to go off track at such an early age, but I believe that based on his actions I would not have had to worry about saving the dollars I spent helping him at Shepherd's Hill Farm for college because he would have not made it that far, either he would have ended up in jail or worse yet dead. Pretty drastic words from a parent, but at least I accepted the fact that he needed help and I got it for him. So if any of you are doing your research on Shepherd's Hill Farm and you are reading all of the negative information about the program from people who know very little about the program please be cautious as to the validity of the information posted. Do your homework, visit the campus, talk to Trace and Beth Embry, talk to the staff, and ask the office for referrals of past students and their parents. They have an open door policy.
#68 Posted by: daveb | September 7, 2010 11:28 PMARTICLE AND COMMENTS ARE NOT TRUE! I know a number of parents who have had their teen in this program, and some that still do, and this article and its comments have no basis in truth. It is an atheist ranting against anything (anything) Christian, and others chiming in beause they hate Christians. That's all! It is sad that people have a public platform to make such false, hateful and spiteful comments. I guess all we can do is pray for them. Like Paul, who killed and persecuted Christians, maybe someday God will also show them the light. On the other hand, I also wish there was an ACLU-type advocacy that would take on cases like this and sue each of them on the part of Shepherd's Hill for libel and defamation. Perhaps people would reconsider before defaming a good organization that's just trying to help youth and their parents.
I guess these people would prefer to see these troubled kids end up in jail, addicts on the streets, or dead. I know that my son would have been if we hadn't gotten him into a similar program.[/list]
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