Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Mission Mountain School
For Colleen Harrington
katfish:
I hear Colleen likes to check up on these posts and even received a phone call from her several years back when my posting where much more frequent and descriptive of my experiences at MMS on the strugglingteens.com forum In anycase, this is directed at her, in part.
Hi Colleen, I received your phone call and returned it, but never heard back. I expect after reviewing my many posts you have a pretty substantive understanding what my position is on MMS. In a nutshell, I found it an abusive institution, and to address you directly, I too found you to be abusive and at best, passive enough to allow your husband, John Mercer and Mike Finn, especially to become meglomaniacs and run young women ragged to the point of emotional melt down. Only to secure redevelopment according to Mercer and Finns ideals. Strange association to some perhaps, but the heirarchical structure, domination, intimidation, isolation, all is, IMHO, contrary to growth and positive change. The change sought seems to grow only out of an individuals own volition, not forceful change that occurs at MMS. Words become meaningless and regurgitation ensues. Minds filled with Mercer-isms. Viola, her's your automotran formerly known as your daughter. Until of course the real world is presented and does not fit into the picture Mercer and Finn taught you, taught me, to mimic. And then everything falls apart, Colleen. And you think you're doing good to those girls who feel this way? The ends justify the means, perhaps you think, but if only you all of the ends, not just the one who say 'it worked!".
I would hope that one day soon the sate of MT recognizes the need for regulation of this 60 billion dollar a year industry- this is big business now- as a society we fail our children and send 'em away for others even less qualified to deal with them. At 150,000/year/child at MMS- that's what, 1.5 million for 10 kids, you have 30-40 there approx. 4.5-6 million million a year coming in, I guess that's the right industry to be in, for a man to head a school with a Masters in Ecology, no PhD, nuthin'- I'm wondering what kind of crazed world we're living in? It must be double the luxury having the kids do all the work to fix up the school, chop would for your own persoanl use, etc. sure the list goes on and on. 30 girls at your service...
That kind of money coming in really makes me ill. I personally would not be able to live with myself, Colleen, how do you just stand by and justify the harm done, in your own mind...You have 2 children now, how can you bear to bring them into such an environment.
I understand Mike Finn's own son killed himself. Of course I have no way of knowing what his relatinoship was with Mike and Deb after I left, but this too is still something to consider when both were hired to care for girls, some who were suicidal and yet they were unable to provide their own son with the care and services required.---NOTE: I was asked to remove this post, but have decided to edit it instead- as several girls pointed out and I would agree, this is a point that should be considered and made known to others.
Collen, you're heart may very well be in the right place, however you and the founders of MMS began this program and seems to me built off Cross? Creek? and other other programs, making it your own but without the qualifications. Gary maybe had the qualifications he has a PhD I believe, but everyone else did not. Mike has I belive some certificate to be a rehab counselor- we were not a rehab however. We were a school that bullied girls into change. It also seemed to me Gary was bullied around too, he would occasionally speak up and often frown at John and Mike when they were being aggressive in group therapy, but M and J often didn't seem to give second thought to his concerns- I KNOW part of him felt this was wrong, just like Ron (the teacher) did. None had expertise on mental illness, on issues teenagers have, does anyone there know how to talk about gay issues- as I had? transgender issues shoud they arise? Things seemed oversimlified, abuse/addiction, that's it- no societal complexities addressed- even the struggles of being a woman, simply ignored and left untapped, in an all grils school! Was anyone really qualified (besides Gary, who was often not present during group) to be addressing abuse issues and allowing girls enter into dissociative states while free writing and have that bring up 'new'memories? The idea is controversial in itself, even with doctors who have studied this for years and years, imagine an ecology graduate facilitating it. While I was there about 5 girls suddenly had this disassociative issue, formerly known as MPD ( multiple personality disorder), like it was contagious. New memories popping up constantly of ritualistic abuse, even I thought I had new memories! It was absolute madness.
Once physical labor broke us down emotionally, laying out the framework by which we all should live, without hesitation and unquestioningly? for the sake of creating independent women and thinkers? Would you say that, as independent logical individuals, that imposing your own will onto others is a good thing? See, I'm thinking that is not exactly helpful therapy. Beyond that, I felt it was abusive. (I'm talking about the therpay now, some other things were useful- I learned how to ski, that was a pretty cool thing)
That said, I hope that all of us formerly 'damaged goods' can get it together and see this 'thing' through-that is, tell our stories so that this issue we all feel so passionaltely about is addressed. MMS should be regulated- it could only help- and reforms need to be made, as should other schools like MMS. A couple of stories told and I can't imagine the public believing this is entirely acceptable. We have to care for every member in our society, as the idea goes, I think that if half the girls that attended/attend MMS feel subjected to abuse, even if it worked for the other half, reforms should be made so that girls don't have to be damaged or at least so parent are aware and can then make a better informed decision on whther MMS would be good for their child. As it is the picture painted of MMS is that it is a wornderful program that works...what about those it's damaging... See reveiws of MMS at strugglingteens.com, according to Lon Woodbury, MMS it wonderful!!
You know, the funny thing, as sure as I am of myself, there's this naggin feeling that I am wrong. Isn't that crazy Colleen? You create a place for abused kids and the kids turn into adults and still fear you? Do you realize the safe haven was felt possibly as equally as abusive and holds just as many painful memories and carries with it an equally great sadness as the past prior to MMS for some girls? what was lost there...very sad... I can't think of a single reason why MMS isn't willing to work to ensure that even if it doesn't help all, girls don't leave in worse condition...If the purpose is to help and I ran the program, I'd certainly be re-evaluating. that's the problem, though, things don't change and more girls are being admitted and many continue to come out with the same complaints. My feeling is that MMS needs an intervention of it's own.
I am sad, I lost much prior to MMS. What little remained I lost while there and was a raw nerve upon my return to reality. I hope at minimum if you read this you can consider your methods, John can get educated, things need to change. I am angered that our gov't does not regulate these schools, but it is what it is, for now.
Katfish[ This Message was edited by: katfish on 2005-05-04 10:09 ]
Anonymous:
Katfish,
I feel the same as you, and you expressed so many things that I have wanted to express, but could not find the words or the courage. I feel crazy often because I can also justify the good with the bad, and say well "it did teach me a lesson"....just as we were taught to think. I have always thought about all that money they make...and all those chores, "punishments" we had to do was it really a chore or a way to save up all that money? All that lawn maintnance, wood chopping, horse shit shoveling, fence building, forest clearing, arena fixing, hay stacking,ice chipping, etc etc etc etc (not to mention the fact that we did it also on john's property) .....that would have been pricey to hire someone for all that! seiously! You are right n target with what you said.
anyway, I would love to hear what Collen has to say about all of this!
Anonymous:
Katfish,
I would also like to try to contact with you..but not sure how.
Angel
Anonymous:
Angel,
E-mail her at katw@nyc.rr.com
There you go!
Anonymous:
this makes me absolutely fucking sick to my stomach. you want to talk about manipulation, this is it in full force.
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