Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Troubled Teen Industry
AA Abundant Life Academy
Anonymous:
You obviously are not a parent of a child there. As a parent, I personally do not want others to know where my child is. It is is not your business. However, having been there, I assure you that it is a clean and beautiful place. It is in a safe community. The only questions that need to be answered, really, is why is it such a big deal to so many people who do not have kids there? You all obviously have a lot of time on your hands. Why nont use your energies to do something constructive, like volunteer at the animal shelter or something, rather than critisizing the work of ALA? It really doesn't matter what you all think, what matters is that God is in control. The owners and the staff are accountable to God. Not to any one of you who sit back and judge their work. As a parent of a child, I am very pleased with their work. And, as a parent, my opinion is what matters, not yours.
Anonymous:
--- Quote ---How fortunate it is that all of you critics have never had problems with your teens. That is a blessing from God. Unfortuantely, there are many of us who do have problematic teens and need the help offered by Craig and the others. Just remember, as you all sit and make judgement, God will judge you accordingly.
--- End quote ---
Wait a minute, which one of us ever said we don't or never have had problems with our kids? We didn't. What we have said is that we chose to deal with those problems ourselves instead of turning them over to someone else to deal with. Big difference. I think we have a greater faith and belief in God then YOU DO. I think God can help my kids through me. I don't think I need the likes of a hypocit like Rogers or Karen telling me what is best for my child. Rogers and Karen have showm those of us reading this forum what they are all about.
Antigen:
Really? Whenever I went away to something like Sea Camp or Bible Camp, my mother had no problem telling anyone who asked exactly where I was. The ittineraries published by the programs well ahead of the trip dates listed in detail exactly where we'd all be off snorkeling or tubing down Ichatucknee Springs or at Pavillion # whatever on a particular evening in August.
That's not what's going on at ALA. At ALA, the "students" are not allowed to send or receive mail from ANYBODY except their parents, and even that is a "priviledge" they have to earn.
The only person in this discussion who's actively seeking to have contact w/ this kid is her brother's legal guardian. I can't imagine why in the world they should not know where the girl is and be able to communicate w/ her and to visit her freely.
I recognize some differences between The Seed/Straight and ALA. I wish I could take comfort in all thes assurances about the kids being well fed, well treated and getting adequate sleep. But I can't just overlook some of what has already been posted here. Program proponants claim, repeatedly, that it's not a lock down facility, that family members can visit "as often as they like" while Craig describes an attempted escape and an ALA search team and the manual, available online, clearly states that the "students" must earn the "priviledge" of communication, even w/ their own parents, and are flat out forbidden from communicating w/ anyone else. So, while I'd like to believe that these kids are getting adequate food, sleep, shelter and dignified, loving treatment, I have no such assurance because the people who are telling me this either don't have any firsthand experience, as they're depending on the word of those who do, or they are the same people who have told me nice, reassuring things before that have turned out to be untrue.
Folks, it is NOT NORMAL to be so paranoid about your nearly adult kids communicating w/ their own friends and family. What the hell do you think is going to happen in a year or two when they're legally able to tell you to take a hike?
Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.
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Anonymous:
// "students" must earn the "priviledge" of communication, even w/ their own parents, and are flat out forbidden from communicating w/ anyone else. //
This was not our experaince with ALA and I haven't talked to any parent who couldn't talk with their kid; and The parents I mostly talk with are the newer ones - so I'm puzzled at this being on the web site. This just isn't how they handel comunication.
As for friends and such, that is left up to the parents. When the teen becomes a young adult, they can and will call whom ever they like and the parents no longer have to worry about being held responcable for whatever fall out might result.
Its very different to have an 18 year old screwing up than a 15 year old.
Anonymous:
I agree with you. Students are not forbidden to communicate with their parents. There seems to be a lot of bad information out there. The ALA communications policy is excellent.
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