Lets get real

[Anonymous]

I have been reading posts on here for quite some time. I worked at CEDU recently and went through the entire emotional growth process. The propheets although a little odd at times were not abusive and I will not have to devote many years of my life to recovery from abuse in them. (There are a lot of experiences in them that need to be changed and that is happening)I believe that some people on here exaggerate their experience for shock value. Most of the people that I know that work there are there for the right reasons. Because they love working with kids and devote their lives to it. I will admit that some of them were trained under Mel's philosophy and are having a hard time admitting that there might be a different better way, but the schools are going through major reform right now to come in line with modern methodologies.

I also know that some of the people who post on here regularly crossed ethical lines when they left CEDU and attempt to convince people here that they know what they are talking about. I also know that there are therapists that post on here who claim they know what happens in the propheets but are only going off of heresay as I know that they did not go through the propheets.

If you are devoting years of your life to recovering from so-called "abuse" then maybe you went to work for CEDU for the wrong reasons. I did not work for CEDU to learn something about myself, I went to work to help kids and because I maintained this focus the experience was different for me. There were defintley philosophies in use that were far outdated so I worked to set an example and let people know that there is a different way that works and had success in this endeavor.

It just bothers me to see alot of the negativity that is rampant on this website and people ignore a lot of the positive things that happen there. There are some quality people who work there and continue to work there to help kids and they deserve "kudos" for that. I know there are people who visit this site that have some positve things to say and I encourage you to do so.

I am sure there are peope here who will have a heyday with this post. You can find something wrong with any place that you work, and you can also find a lot of good if you so choose. More people on here should question the intent of people who see only evil and wrongdoing.

Out
JT

[Antigen]

On 2004-05-14 08:25:00, Anonymous wrote:

I believe that some people on here exaggerate their experience for shock value.

JT

On the other hand, you know how rape victims almost always remember their attackers as having been much larger, stronger and more frightening looking than they turn out to be? Maybe people who exagerate their experience are not even doing it intentionally to begin with, let alone doing it for the purpose you suppose. Or maybe they're not the ones w/ the more distorted view at all. Ever consider that?

What a distressing contrast there is between the radiant intelligence of the child and the feeble mentality of the average adult.
-- Sigmund Freud

[Anonymous]

If they truly feel they have been raped(by CEDU) there are much better avenues to deal with their emotions than the way it is handled on here. I would not consider this site a teraputic forum.

Let it all come and go as it will. Enjoy it all, but never make your happiness or success dependent on an attachment to any thing, any place, and particularly, any person.
~ Wayne Dyer - 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace ~

[Antigen]

On 2004-05-14 09:11:00, Anonymous wrote:

"If they truly feel they have been raped(by CEDU) there are much better avenues to deal with their emotions than the way it is handled on here.

No, that's not what I was suggesting. Just that the psychological effect is very much the same. The term "mind rape" or "mind fuck" resonates w/ a lot of program vets, regardless of the housing structure or corporate banner under which we experienced the Program.

I would not consider this site a teraputic forum.

Me either. This is more of an ongoing, impromptu exposé. At least that was my intention.

The disrespect for the possession laws fosters a disrespect for laws and the system in general... On top of this is the distinct impression among the youth that some police may use the marihuana laws to arrest people they don't like for other reasons, whether it be their politics, their hair style or their ethnic background.
                                                                     
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/nc/ncmenu.htm' target='_new'>Marihuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding

[Hell on Wheels]

Hi! as the resident asshole on this board I feel the need to weigh in on this subject. Anti-gen is right. Of course there is a lot of negativity on this site, that's sort of what it is supposed to be. The point is to educate all people into the mind fucking that occurs at cedu, not see new kids enroll there. Either you are a CEDUized person, or just plain stupid, and no this site is not therapy, by any means, but it is a place to vent and share stories. Because all program vets will agree that it is impossible to tell the story properly, since the whole thing was a sham, lies built upon lies, deceit and treachery, and all that stuff.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for making my point. For the record not all program vets agree. This is also more than just a place to vent and share stories if the goal is to "not see kids enroll". If parents want to send their kids there great, if you want to make it your mission to stop them more power to ya. If you allowed yourself to be "mind fucked" then your bad. I think I'll claim stupidity after all-

"Stupid is as stupid does."
Forest Gump

[Anonymous]

I am one of the staff who began the process of making necessary changes in the program, specifically the profeets.  I was "crucified."  I am very happy that there are changes taking place since the methods that were practiced at CEDU for many, many years were criminal.  And I believe you come from knowing because it is the "old staff" who do resist these changes.  They structured their life around the morphed philosophies of CEDU's founder.  Humiliating and screaming at kids to get control is what they know.  They won't  change easily, especially since they have no other skills when it comes to working with kids.

However, knowing that CEDU is in this transformation from harmful to helpful (if that be the case), how can they justify the cost to parents?  How can they justify their policies which restrict kids from communicating with their families?  Do you as a parent want to send your child to a program with this track record?

As far as the "emotional" posts on this thread,  there is a reason for the feelings.  The feelings may very well be exagerated, but I guarentee you that the stories are true!  I worked there for many years, and I have seen evidence of every abuse listed here, and more.  If you have as much passion about your love of CEDU as we do for our hate of CEDU, please feel free to express them.

[cody]

new around here - but I've been thinking.  
it's obvious that some of the practices of cedu are abusive, we all experienced that and if you dont see it then you're just some kinda blind.  on the other hand, it does help *some* people.  I remember after ascent i was f*cked up.  they should NEVER have sent me there, it broke me, i couldnt talk for like 8 months without breaking down- felt like some kinda vaccuum had just been weilded on me and took away everything- it was not healthy and it was not theraputic and it was "mind rape" and it was totally wrong, every second of it, especially conciously watching staff that i knew didnt agree with what was happening stand by and watch seemingly helpless.  on the other hand, i know some kids who went to ascent and stopped doing stupid sh*t, had a sense of courage when they came back and it actually helped them.  anyhow, i was talking to theresa one day and she said yeah, they screwed up on you,- apparently there is a screening process because some kids are not the right emotional type for the place, and (this is the worst part) some kids slip through the cracks: some kids should not have been there, even by their standards.  its like the death penalty or something "whoops, you were innocent" and nobody even gets a sorry.  
i think cedu might be like that, and parts of it better for everyone and parts of it not good for anyone except a dangerous few.  Because i know people that it helped, and they arnt pro-cedu brainwashees, they just kids livin.  anyhow, i guess some parts of northwest helped me and i did learn some stuff that i didnt learn growing up in my psycho family about how to love and stuff and some parts i despise with all my heart, they make me feel sick to know that people like that have any form of power over any kids who might be screwed up anyway and these idiots are let loose on this twisted sadomasochistic power trip against people who maybe they are scared or or maybe they have some internal resentment or some sh*t but thats not fair and it should not be happening, not to anybody.

[Anonymous]

Well how CEDU is that?? Do I detect a "it's not them it's you theme here"?? Weird.

[Anonymous]

no, because they are wholly responsible for the screening process, and instead of working towards meeting the needs of everybody they have this thought that everybody needs this specific process and can be forced to fit it with enough pressure.  also, theres a conflict of interests between taking the careful time to decide what would be right for each individual kid and the bank they make off every kids parents.  plus if someone said, no this place isnt right for so and so- that would be admitting that the processes isnt almighty and universal which would shatter some ideals, and i think that this desperate clinging to the ideal instead of the actual is whats wrong with the place and what leads to the narrowminded refusal that anything is wrong, which in turn permitts abuse.

[cody]

oops i forgot to login before i posted that last one.  



cody

[Anonymous]

"If you allowed yourself to be "mind fucked" then your bad. "

Way to deflect blame onto the victim, asshole. That's the same manipulative garbage that staff would pull all the time. That's like telling someone who got beaten up by 3 thugs that it's his fault because he wasn't strong enough to ward them off.  

Why don't you go home and bow down to your Wasserman statue, prick.

[former CEDU therapist]

[ This Message was edited by: former CEDU therapist on 2004-08-01 22:45 ]

[cmpsfty]

Well, I feel like I just walked out of a rated 'R' Movie.  I think a lot of what is being said on this thread can be said in plain and simple English.  Come on people.  

I believe what the prior therapist revealed about CEDU.  This isn't the first time I have heard negativity about CEDU.

I am concerned about the boy who ran away from a CEDU School.  If this boy was escorted (kidnapped) and take to this school, the last person he will contact is his parents.  All trust was lost if he was taken by "force."  I understand other children have run away from this school.  My question is, "What are they running from?"

I would like to hear from the children who suffered abuse and were never vindicated for what happened to them in the name of help and therapy.  I know these children still suffer.  Pain upon pain is never gain.

Well, I have a lot I could say, but must go to an appointment.

Mother of Michelle Sutton who died while self enrolled in the now defunct Summit Quest Program, Utah.  Cause of her preventable death was dehydration due to exposure to the elements.  Stupid People was all I could say!  How could they treat my child this way?



 

In any civilized society, it is every citizen's responsibility to obey just laws.  But at the same time, it is every citizen's responsibility to disobey unjust laws.
--Martin Luther King

[Anonymous]

What you are saying is so sinister and worng. If you think its right to allow children to talk to there parent's once a week,have non liscened therapist's and these so caled "propheets" then. Kahil Gabran's teahcing's were never to be cruel to other human beings. I was astudent so i know first hand what it was like and you are speaking out of pure ignorance! You are the one who gets to go home after work into your nice bed when all the student's have to get up early the next moring just to do chores! People like you make me sick! :skull: