Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[Antigen]

On 2005-04-09 11:31:00, Couture wrote:

"what is OMR?"

Open Meeting Review.

Cayo and I were both in Straight. It was structured a bit differently from Whitmore. There were always some out of town kids (I was one, in Sarasota from the Ft. Lauderdale area about 4 hours away) We were in the building from early in the morning till at least 8 or so at night every day, then "home" either to your parents' house w/ necomers and/or out of town kids or to the home of someone in town or on a higher phase if you were a newcomer.

This would go on for many months till you reached a high enough phase to go to school or work, then to have a couple of days off a week, when you still had to go to the building to pick up newcomers and fosters and devote the rest of your evening to the Program at home.

Twice a week, we had Open Meeting then OMR from around 6 - well into the wee hours. Parents and prospective marks would assemble on one side of the room facing group on the other. Then we'd go through the ritual introductions, structured sort of like an AA meeting. Afterward, we'd split up; parents to one part of the building and group to the other. Parents rap was all about parents and staff criticizing and confronting parents for their perceived failings and weaknesses (not following the Program) and OMR for the kids was just the same. It was a time to fear being stood up and confronted for any little thing and a time to lay into whoever did get stood up or risk getting put on the spot yourself.

These were called rip raps or come down raps or bust ass raps. OMR wasn't the only time a rap could turn ugly like this. But it was damned near a certainty at OMR.

What experiences and history teach is this-that people and government never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it.

--G.W.F Hegel (1770-1831)

[Anonymous]

On 2005-04-09 12:01:00, Gmom wrote:

"I think the girl you are talking about is Leah.  Do you remember her?"

The girl I am talking about??  I don't think i ever knew a Leah?? unless, was she a neighbor girl?  Yeah, I don't really remember any of the neighbor kids names. And there was no Leah, student, there while I was there.

[Gmom]

When were you there?

[Cayo Hueso]

On 2005-04-09 11:14:00, Antigen wrote:

"Cayo, how much does this remind you of OMR

OMG...that's all I was thinking when I read this!!!  The degradation, the humiliation.  Some things never change!

Busy, curious, thirsty fly, Drink with me, and drink as I.
-- William Oldys (1696-1761): On a Fly drinking out of a Cup of Ale.

[Couture]

On 2005-04-09 13:10:00, Gmom wrote:

"When were you there?"

I am sorry, I thought I was signed in....  I was there in 02.

[Gmom]

I guess Cheryl's tactics never change.  Those very same things happened in group about one year later in '3.

[Anonymous]

Throwing books at someone, throwing water on someone--this while Cheryl was "leading a group session?" Let's forget she is not qualified to lead a psychological group therapy session in the first place, OK?  What was going on in the session at led up to this?

[Couture]

Honestly, I can't remember.  I think one was abotu this boy, who she thought was acting too much like a leaser, and pointing out other's faults, but refused to  look at his own.  The confusing part is that she used to praise him for his behavior, and encourae him to be a leader.  I don't remember the exact events that lead up to the book thrown.  There were so many groups that we had,it is hard to keep them all straight.

[Anonymous]

The fact that you cannot remember what happened in this particular group leads to a disturbing logical conclusion. Is the reason details are not recalled because these things happened on a regular enough basis that they were commen place and not isolated events?

Scary stuff

[Joyce Harris]

It does sound scary. It appears that these so-called "group sessions" led by the unqualified Cherly Sudweeks, were usually filled with behaviors meant to demean, humiliate and times to physically harm the students. These behaviors seemed to have been so routine that these bizarre behaviors and actions do not stand out in many of the student's minds--escpecially if the actions were not directed at that student.

[Couture]

I don't know if I can't remember because it was so long ago or if it is because they were so common.  Groups were held pretty often.  Some were not as extreme as others.  I did keep a daily journal while I was there, I should look back at it.  My laptop is in the shop right now, but as soon as it is back, I will definately take a look.

[Antigen]

On 2005-04-11 08:23:00, Anonymous wrote:

"The fact that you cannot remember what happened in this particular group leads to a disturbing logical conclusion. Is the reason details are not recalled because you these things happened on a regular enough basis that they were commen place and not isolated events?



Scary stuff

 



"

Very astute.

I do not consider it an insult, but rather a compliment, to be called an agnostic. I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure.
--Clarence Darrow, American lawyer

[Anonymous]

Couture,
Did you ever see a student singled out for any type physical abuse during these group sessions? Like being hit, spit on, pushed around, that sort of thing--by Cheryl or by the other kids?

[Couture]

One time we had a group about this kid that had cut himself on purpose.  We had a group about it, with a lot of wellng and screaming at him, then another student slapped him.  Sheryl didn't seem to mind much.  A lot of demeaning things happened during groups.  It was a pretty long time ago, though, for me, it is hard to remember a lot.

[Anonymous]

This one example is why a professional should lead "group sessions." A child who cuts himself, or self-mutilates, has deep-seated issues that must be addressed; and unless all the kids in the group sessions have the same problem--a group session is not the correct therapy to begin with.
 And again--Cherly Sudweeks is not a therapist.