Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones => Benchmark Young Adult School / Benchmark Transitions => Topic started by: psy on November 09, 2006, 06:00:20 PM
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Warning milk!!. The following quote comes from strugglingteens.com
BENCHMARK YOUNG ADULT SCHOOL
Redlands, California
CKC Consultant Tour Services Schedules Tour
Of Benchmark Young Adult School In December
Contact:
CKC Consultant Tour Services
www.ckctours.com (http://www.ckctours.com)
Or-Richard Brimhall
800-474-4848
www.ckctours.com (http://www.ckctours.com) or contact Richard Brimhall at [email protected] or 800-474-4848.
To which I will respond publicly:
Hey Rich,
I understand Benchmark is a full member of NATSAP. Since NATSAP has offered public tours for anybody to visit any of their programs, I would like to tour Benchmark. I understand a tour is already planned for December 4th. I would suppose this time to be convenient (since tour arrangements are already made) for me to visit. It's always nice to take vacations with company anyway.
If this time is somehow not convenient, I would still desire to see how far benchmark has come at a time you might find more convenient. I look forward to seeing how Benchmark has transformed itself. I truly hope it has changed for the better since my stay there.
A few questions first:
Will I be able to pick a student / several to interview privately on record?
The reason I ask is so as to avoid cynical people thinking the students interviewed were cherry picked and/or implicitly threatened with consequences. We all know there are a lot of people out there who will buy all kind of fanciful conspracy theories about programs if things are not kept completely transparant.
Will i be able to ask questions of the staff on record?
Before you respond, you should know I am posting this letter online (on wwf.fornits.com) as an open response to your tour invitation on Lon's site (strugglingteens.com). Any response will also be posted online.
Thank you in advance,
Michael Crawford
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Benchmark is a residential school for 18-28 year old students. Combining education, emotional growth, independent living and work skills, we provide the necessary resources for students to transition successfully into adulthood.
This is fucking hilarious! :rofl: This program is for 18-28 year old ADULTS, who are called "young adults" and are going to be helped to "transition into adulthood"?! LOL - that transition happened a while ago, sorry ... time to grow up! Ironically this is posted on Struggling Teens, is that right? Even though it's all people's parents over there posting for them.. who lets their parents run their life after 18 and be in a program.. please. If these people want to be in a program, let 'em. They can walk out at anytime. If anything it shows how pathetic people are. I will take the tour to go laugh at them. :rofl:
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Benchmark is a residential school for 18-28 year old students. Combining education, emotional growth, independent living and work skills, we provide the necessary resources for students to transition successfully into adulthood.
This is fucking hilarious! :rofl: This program is for 18-28 year old ADULTS, who are called "young adults" and are going to be helped to "transition into adulthood"?! LOL - that transition happened a while ago, sorry ... time to grow up! Ironically this is posted on Struggling Teens, is that right? Even though it's all people's parents over there posting for them.. who lets their parents run their life after 18 and be in a program.. please. If these people want to be in a program, let 'em. They can walk out at anytime. If anything it shows how pathetic people are. I will take the tour to go laugh at them. :rofl:
There are ways of keeping people in places they don't want to be. Even over 18. What if they were to deny you your identification, money, and posessions if you decided to leave program? This is what happened to me. Redlands is not exactly a crime-free paradise and you don't want to be on the streets in such a condition.
My parents and I were told it was a "boarding school with theraputic aspects". They sever communication for the first 30 days, and monitor phone calls after that. Sound familiar? The owner of the school is the former director of CEDU's Hilltop Instutite (CEDU's college in Running Springs). Benchmark is basically a CEDU clone.
Don't laugh. They just found a way to keep kids in virtual imprisonment longer. It's not funny at all. The bars aren't there but the hopelessness is just as tangible. And when they drop students on the streets (when their parents run out of cash) in a not exactly crime free area, it's not quite as pretty a situation as when minors are safely returned to their parent's custody. Parents are encouraged NOT to take thier children back into the home. Most parents listened. Luckily mine didn't.
Otherwise I wouldn't be posting here.
Any questions?
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Redlands? I'll have to look that up. Don't know where that is?
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This place is beyond lame.
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Redlands? I'll have to look that up. Don't know where that is?
Redlands California. San Bernadino (aka Burn-a-ghetto) area. Just a few miles from Running Springs.
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What if they were to deny you your identification, money, and posessions if you decided to leave program?
Call the police, it's theft. Seriously, to compare an adult program with willing participants to teen programs where they have no choice to be there is definitely stretching it.
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What if they were to deny you your identification, money, and posessions if you decided to leave program?
Call the police, it's theft. Seriously, to compare an adult program with willing participants to teen programs where they have no choice to be there is definitely stretching it.
With whose phone? Uh... Carl. Can I use the phone to call the cops on you? If you wanted to call the cops you had to walk off property, which meant risking being forced to spend the night (or more) on the streets.
They would tell the police your posessions were your parents and you were basically SOL.
One kid actually sucessfully called teh cops after I left, and was able to make it on his own as a result after getting his ID and money back.
Most of us, however, believed the staff's claims that we had signed away our rights when entering program. It was only later I found out this was not possable.
How many students had enough of a legal background to recognize such a claim as BS, and know how to go about doing somethign about it? None while I was there.
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Well what do they expect, a limo to come pick them up? If you can't decide whether a night or two, or a week on the streets is better than the program you are in then maybe it's just better to stay.
What's your solution to the problem as you perceive it? Should adults now be protected from themselves by a third party, maybe the state can appoint nannies to each of us until we turn 30? ( I keed, I keed.. kinda)
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Well what do they expect, a limo to come pick them up? If you can't decide whether a night or two, or a week on the streets is better than the program you are in then maybe it's just better to stay.
What's your solution to the problem as you perceive it? Should adults now be protected from themselves by a third party, maybe the state can appoint nannies to each of us until we turn 30? ( I keed, I keed.. kinda)
First off, Minors were there in program as well. See their Enrollment Contract (http://http://www.benchmarkyoungadultschool.com/media/EnrollmentContract.pdf) for information on this as well as a covenant not to sue, which was not there when i enrolled.
Also. Adults are protected from misrepresentation and fraud (which i am not necessarily alleging here, Rich). What your arguing here is along the lines of "Buyer beware" which would be a valid argument were the advertised claims of Benchmark actually factual and the customer was not being misrepresented.
Well in this case, I allege, the product was misrepresented to the buyer. Although Benchmark has only one staff member who teaches high school part time, Benchmark claimed on it's California Private School Affidavit (excel format) (http://http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/si/ps/documents/privat05.xls) (required to operate a school, but not an accreditaion or approval) that it has 10 full time teachers. According to their website they only have four (and none of them teach full time). They also claim to grant High School diplomas while this is not true. They bus students to Redlands Adult School so they can finish their high school education if necessary.
How many high school graduates have ever graduated Benchmark Young Adult School? 0
Read this california Law snippet on Private School Affidavits:
"Filing pursuant to this section shall not be interpreted to mean,
and it shall be unlawful for any school to expressly or impliedly
represent by any means whatsoever, that the State of California, the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education,
the State Department of Education, or any division or bureau of the
department, or any accrediting agency has made any evaluation,
recognition, approval, or endorsement of the school or course unless
this is an actual fact."
Their NATSAP page (http://http://www.natsap.org/program_details.asp?id=11) is interesting in this respect.
Accreditation, Licensure, Approval: California Private School Affidavit
Yes i see the technicality here (it's natsap doing the representing). Nevertheless, their only qualification they publicly claim is highly suspect IMO.
Here's another snippet of California's regulations on practice of psychology which I include for no particular reason:
2903. No person may engage in the practice of psychology, or
represent himself or herself to be a psychologist, without a license
granted under this chapter, except as otherwise provided in this
chapter. The practice of psychology is defined as rendering or
offering to render for a fee to individuals, groups, organizations or
the public any psychological service involving the application of
psychological principles, methods, and procedures of understanding,
predicting, and influencing behavior, such as the principles
pertaining to learning, perception, motivation, emotions, and
interpersonal relationships; and the methods and procedures of
interviewing, counseling, psychotherapy, behavior modification, and
hypnosis; and of constructing, administering, and interpreting tests
of mental abilities, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality
characteristics, emotions, and motivations.
The application of these principles and methods includes, but is
not restricted to: diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and
amelioration of psychological problems and emotional and mental
disorders of individuals and groups.
Psychotherapy within the meaning of this chapter means the use of
psychological methods in a professional relationship to assist a
person or persons to acquire greater human effectiveness or to modify
feelings, conditions, attitudes and behavior which are emotionally,
intellectually, or socially ineffectual or maladjustive.
As used in this chapter, "fee" means any charge, monetary or
otherwise, whether paid directly or paid on a prepaid or capitation
basis by a third party, or a charge assessed by a facility, for
services rendered.
EDIT: Note. Their keywords in teh page source (for search engines) include a multitude of these keywords listed above. At least it used to. But i have the page archived. I think i posted the keywords later on in this thread.
I could go into more detail but this is just one example of what is advertised, compared to what is actually offered.
If you're a program staffer or an ed-con. Please keep asking me questions. I'll be here until my face hits the keyboard (don't you wish).
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So, you allege that they claim they will help you get a high school diploma, and then don't? If that is true, then obviously this isn't offering what it claims in it's advertising. Which brings me back to my original point, you have two legs, which work, nobody is stopping you from walking out - so if it is so bad, why don't they just leave? Especially if the program isn't as it's advertised.
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::troll::
ignore the troll and post the info you have on Benchmark. most of us around here know how these programs work. and how many 18 year olds know their rights and/or can't be convinced that they've signed them away, 20-30 year olds for that matter. it's not like teens are taught their legal right in school. where are they supposed to acquire this information?
most states have laws that allow a teen to refuse psychiatric and drug abuse treatment at a certain age (14-16). hospitals and rehabs are required to inform the patient of their rights. how many do?
and we can guess the number of programs that do.
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So, you allege that they claim they will help you get a high school diploma, and then don't? If that is true, then obviously this isn't offering what it claims in it's advertising. Which brings me back to my original point, you have two legs, which work, nobody is stopping you from walking out - so if it is so bad, why don't they just leave? Especially if the program isn't as it's advertised.
Already answered that question. They refused to give me my property, money, or identification. It's easy to say "just leave" and many attempted it, later to realize you need some sort of starter in order to emancipate. Early on in the program's history they would let students save up their "allowance" and leave. They eventually stopped this practice after they didn't come crawling back for food and shelter as they do now. After all, they lose a valuble source of income if they can just walk away sucessfully.
In an area like Redlands, you did not want to be on the streets. Riddle me this alleged staffer: How exactly does one "walk away" without any identification, posessions, or money?
AAaah. But that's the point isn't it : You establish the program as the person's only hope for emancipation by removing all other options.
In tough love this would be called "helping somebody hit rock bottom" (so they can be built up as desired)
When hope is gone, you break, the programming starts to work, and they overwrite your old self with one more loyal to program. Since your only hope, from the new, "self-actualized" perspective is the program, you become dependant on every whim of the staff. How long they think is appropriate for your stay, is exactly how long it will take for you to graduate. You follow the program and it becomes your hope.
Remember though. It's an ARTIFICIAL dependancy.
Most of the kids I knew were there for ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other mild psychological issues. They would have been fine were it not for the program.
While i was there i personally witnessed at least over 100 students go through the program and only 3 "graduation" ceremonies (otherwise they would have no testimonials).
They advertise a 97 percent graduation statistic to parents. This is technically correct since they graduate the kids they drop on the streets, as well as the AWOLS who manage to make it (very rare).
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How exactly does one "walk away" without any identification, posessions, or money?
You put one foot in front of the other, find a payphone and call a friend. Or whatever, this isn't children we are talking about. Call the cops, tell them somebody stole your ID and won't give it back.
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::troll::
ignore the troll and post the info you have on Benchmark. most of us around here know how these programs work. and how many 18 year olds know their rights and/or can't be convinced that they've signed them away, 20-30 year olds for that matter. it's not like teens are taught their legal right in school. where are they supposed to acquire this information?
most states have laws that allow a teen to refuse psychiatric and drug abuse treatment at a certain age (14-16). hospitals and rehabs are required to inform the patient of their rights. how many do?
and we can guess the number of programs that do.
LOL. I know. The asshole is just giving me some good suggestions for topics. So for once a programmie is useful. I think I know who he is anyway. He's unwittingly helping me compile a FAQ as we speak. Idiot troll.
Exactly. Add this lack of education to a portion of the student population which were dumped into Benchmark directly out of programs like CEDU schools. Most of them had very little will to resist left (although some were almost invulnerable to the brainwashing, being so familiar with it).
As far as we knew, we had no rights and they took full advantage of this. If students misbehaved enough, they were sent to motels which provided Benchmark with extra student capacity. At any given time i would estimate 40-50% of students were motel-bound. Motel students (known as sink or swim students) were forbidden from talking to normal students in an effort to restrict outside contact.
Now combine these three aspects:
no refunds after 5 days in program
$55000 / year (cheaper than when i was there)
60 dollars a week expenses on a motel room.
What does that equal. That's right kids. A fucking boatload of money.
To be fair they did pay for 3 cup 'o' noodle soup cups a day, and a granola bar. That's nutricious enough right? Why kids on this diet for months lost tons of weight collectively. This was known as the "Benchmark Diet" (not shitting you, staff actually named it this).
Oh but they let you get a job in motel though. You just had to put down Benchmark Young Adult School as your place of residence though, and the staff would (allegedly) take your phone calls. After all. They had to approve of the employer.
Ok. New question: If you're a business owner, flipping through a stack of job applications, where do you think he/she is going to file the one applicant from that school for fuck-ups down the street?
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How exactly does one "walk away" without any identification, posessions, or money?
You put one foot in front of the other, find a payphone and call a friend. Or whatever, this isn't children we are talking about. Call the cops, tell them somebody stole your ID and won't give it back.
You keep asking same question. Already answered. But ther's a new one there too: Calling Friends.
My friends were overseas. 5000 Miles away. Do you have any idea how many quarters that would take. I dunno. Maybe they could swim over.
They did not like to accept students from nearby (i assume this since there were none afaik). There would really be no point. They'd split like a bananna. Program justified this by saying kids needed to be far away from thier old "unhealthy" aquaintences. Even if a kid had no drug issues this was the case.
They told me i could talk to my GF on the phone and write her (before admission of course). They lied, she thought I was ignoring her / had forgotten about her. The rest of my friends were somewhat surprised when I finally surfaced.
I'm going to ignore you from now on unless you start asking new questions and register, Rich / whoever else there who actually knows how to type. Be a man about it. I'm not posting anonymously.
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Be a man about it. I'm not posting anonymously.
:P :rofl: ::soapbox:: ::bigmouth:: ::bwahaha2:: :roll:
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GOD I have never seen such immaturirty. Dude it was years ago! You are doing great now. just let it go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well it's about beddie bye time for me but I'll be back tomorrow. Nite nite mister troll. Thanks for the FAQ questions. :D
Oh. Before I go I have a few links fellow ex-students of Benchmark Young Adult School might be interested in.
To those who went through Friendship Workshop:
http://http://www.isaccorp.org/lifespring/selfmag.pdf
Also see the CEDU section of this forum. Search for "profeets". or "workshops"
Take your time. There's a lot of information and it's a head trip to read. Yes there is a connection. But more about that tomorrow.
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GOD I have never seen such immaturirty. Dude it was years ago! You are doing great now. just let it go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
typing a username in doesn't count I'm going to assume you're Rich or another staffer and address you as such.
I know I am doing very well. How would you know this? Also how do you know how long ago it was. It is you.
If my parents had listened to your advice I would probably be searching through dumpsters right now. This is not about me. Revenge only keeps you motivated for so long.
This is about an e-mail for help i got from a friend after you dropped him on the streets. It reads as follows:
Mike! Please E-mail me. Tell me a good time to call your house! We need to get in touch! Send my mail to **************@*****.com and E-mail j**** the rapist at *******@******.com (have you saved enough yet?) I'm on the streets - b****
If you're who I think you are you know full well the significance of the above message that i am not elaborating on. You now know exactly why I cannot let it go.
There are two many parents who believe their kids to be fuck-ups when it was all a web of lies. There are too many kids bitter at their parents, thinking they must have known everything.
There are too many of my friends who were dropped on the streets and now I have no idea what has happened to them. I made it on my feet, because somebody helped me (as you would never have done), and i have a responsability to make sure i help others who were in my position.
It has to stop. And I will not give up until it does. If it were still not happening i would gladly move on. But I will not move on and leave others behind. (as i once did. I'm sorry B****.)
What can I accomplish? The unreasonable.
gNight
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GOD I have never seen such immaturirty. Dude it was years ago! You are doing great now. just let it go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What's your attachment to Psy "letting it go"?
Is your happiness or financial well-being dependent on it?
How about, you "letting go" of your need for Psy to let it go?
Note the little X in the right hand corner of your screen. If his experience is too painful for you to read, and you don't have a vested interest in silencing him, then relieve yourself by clicking it. But lay-off the tempor tantrum. You're the only one exhibiting a lack of maturity in this thread.
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This troll may be an asshole but he does raise a fair question. What does make a kid over 18 sign into such a place? And what would make someone who is pushing 30 agree? i get that once you are in it is hard to get out. I am also sympathetic to the young people there.
But why? Do some of them have substance abuse problems and think they are going into a bonafide rehab facility?Are some under intense family pressure after leaving an underage TBS? are some genuinely mentally ill? Court appointed? It seems that there are a few "young adult" places coming up which again market to parents not kids.
This, and the profit angle, seems to where they differ from 1/2 way houses that many charitable organisations set up to help homeless and seriously at risk young people get back on track.
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You guys have no place to judge me. I know some if not all these adults went/go thru. I have been there too... Psy... Were you calling me a b**** :(
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G-d people are stupid itdontmatter soundz like staff! :flame:
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Look at their website:
http://www.benchmarkyoungadultschool.co ... e&Itemid=1 (http://www.benchmarkyoungadultschool.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1)
Our young people are referred to us by educational consultants, psychologists, psychiatrists, other emotional growth schools and by parents who know our work.
Despite their best efforts and intentions, families who seek to place their ADULT CHILD in our school have come to the realization that assistance is vitally necessary.
At Benchmark, we understand the emotional toll the situation has caused. We do our best to help students achieve success in our program and to help families adjust to the changes. We strongly believe that with support and an abundant supply of ?tough love? from parents, family and friends, our students are more likely to successfully complete the program. In turn, this will bring about emancipation and the rewards associated with that process.
Once the student has enrolled in Benchmark, we invite parents to join us for our Parent Seminar, a two-day workshop that provides families with an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding and orientation of Benchmark Young Adult School.
Parent Seminar introduces the Benchmark curriculum and our counseling philosophies. We provide insights into parenting young adults and teach new skills for families to utilize when interacting with their Benchmark student.
Finally, we show that the role of the parents and family can positively change as the student gains his or her independence through new found skills attained at Benchmark Young Adult School.
And, their contract.
http://www.benchmarkyoungadultschool.co ... ntract.pdf (http://www.benchmarkyoungadultschool.com/media/EnrollmentContract.pdf)
Pay up front, preferably, and no refunds. No lawsuit either.
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What...
...the...
...FUCK?!
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Yes i did see the website deborah. But given that the kid is 18 or even not a kid at all if they are 28, how on earth does the familiy in most cases get the young adult to agree. Surley even if they are mentally ill a person cant legally be placed there without consent as an adult?
i understand that in the US often the family has to pay the UNI fees up front so that this can be a leverage point. My question was not designed to belittle the alumni of Benchmark or any other similar place, i am genuinely curious as to what would make someone agree to walk through the door of a programme designed for the parents not the "kid"
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You guys have no place to judge me. I know some if not all these adults went/go thru. I have been there too... Psy... Were you calling me a b**** :(
No. I am referring to a specific name of a specific person you and your cohorts dropped on the streets. You know exactly who I am talking about. Don't play stupid.
And no you don't know what most or all of the adults went through. Judged on the Keywords you use to advertise your site to the search
engines for example:
meta name="keywords" content="mambo, Mambo, Benchmark Young Adult School, help for troubled teen, adolescent behavior problem, young adult behavior problem, depression in adolescents, adolescent depression, shy and withdrawn teens, teens at risk, young adults at risk, aspergers syndrome, substance abuse in teens, substance abuse in young adults, drug abuse in teens, drug abuse in young adults, problem teens, teen behavior problem, at risk adolescents, at risk young adults, at risk youth, youthful offenders, teen learning disabilities, young adults learning disabilities, tough love, emotional growth, emotional growth schools, oppositional-defiant, borderline behavior, behavior disorder, behavior modification, schools for at risk teens, difficult teens, at risk youth program, intervention program risk youth, troubled teen private school" meta name="Generator" content="Mambo - Copyright 2000 - 2005 Miro International Pty Ltd. All rights reserved."
(emphasis added, html symbols removed)
What qualificiations (http://http://www.benchmarkyoungadultschool.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=45)does an ex pothead have (yes i'm talking to you Rich.) to make those claims:
You guys have no place to judge me. I know some if not all these adults went/go thru. I have been there too... Psy... Were you calling me a b**** :(
And no everything can NOT be cured through AA. Not even they claim that, although your staff do (witnesses, Rich. lots of em).
Read the above quotations Oz. It should answer your question. If not, gimme a call and i can be a lot more explicit.[/quote]
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G-d people are stupid itdontmatter soundz like staff! :flame:
you are correct (probably). I'd say it's about 70-30. Might be an ed-con
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Yes i did see the website deborah. But given that the kid is 18 or even not a kid at all if they are 28, how on earth does the familiy in most cases get the young adult to agree.
Because the ed-con who pitched benchmark to me and my parents advertised it as a Bording school with Therapeutic aspects. That's a relatively new website. The old one is here (http://http://www.benchmarkeducation.net/).
To answer your question simply:They do not adveritise as they are. It looks like a wonderful place when you visit. I was fooled. So were many others.
Students interviewed by prospective students and parents are cherry picked. They make it seem wonderful. You end up thinking: "gee this place seems really nice".
Surley even if they are mentally ill a person cant legally be placed there without consent as an adult?
i understand that in the US often the family has to pay the UNI fees up front so that this can be a leverage point.
Yup. no refunds after 5 days. No parental contact for 30. I forget what reason they state on the tour for this but they make i sound really plausable (especially for those who know nothing at all about programs).
My question was not designed to belittle the alumni of Benchmark or any other similar place, i am genuinely curious as to what would make someone agree to walk through the door of a programme designed for the parents not the "kid"
No need to apologize ozzie :lol:. It's good you ask these questions.
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Because the ed-con who pitched benchmark to me and my parents advertised it as a Bording school with Therapeutic aspects. That's a relatively new website. The old one is here.
To answer your question simply:They do not adveritise as they are. It looks like a wonderful place when you visit. I was fooled. So were many others.
Students interviewed by prospective students and parents are cherry picked. They make it seem wonderful. You end up thinking: "gee this place seems really nice".
And you were over 18 when this occured? If the facility wasn't as advertised, why didn't you walk out, and call your parents from a payphone? Why didn't you keep a spare twenty bucks hidden in a sock, surely they didn't have 100% physical control over you. What is the worst that could happen if yoru parents came and picked you up early, they wouldn't get their money back?
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G-d people are stupid itdontmatter soundz like staff! :flame:
must be a jew? :wink:
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And you were over 18 when this occured? If the facility wasn't as advertised, why didn't you walk out, and call your parents from a payphone? Why didn't you keep a spare twenty bucks hidden in a sock, surely they didn't have 100% physical control over you. What is the worst that could happen if yoru parents came and picked you up early, they wouldn't get their money back?
They search your socks on intake. They search everything on intake. My parents were 4000 miles away and you can't make an international collect call. Plus. Parents were instructed NOT to talk to their kids since they would be "manipulative". Most listened. And there were no refunds after 5 days so, no, parents would not get their money back. When 90% of the parent's input was from the staff, they had the communications / propoganda upper hand.
Plus, as i already stated several times, if you walked off property you risked having to stay (at least) a night on the streets.
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Spending a night on the streets, or however long, is a no-brainer decision when escaping an abusive program, so I don't really get this thread. You say the program was abusive and non-effective but you didn't take your option to leave because it was too scary. Which would seem to suggest the program was less frightening than running away from it. It really makes you wonder why kids are running from isolated wilderness programs hitchiking hundreds of miles to freedom, and grown adults who get to stay at motels can't seem to get away from an urban facility.
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Spending a night on the streets, or however long, is a no-brainer decision when escaping an abusive program
I said spending the nights on the streets so you could make an uncensored phone call. And you try doing it in a high crime area of Southern Cali. And do it after just turning 18, after growing up in a sheltered enviornment.
so I don't really get this thread. You say the program was abusive and non-effective but you didn't take your option to leave because it was too scary.
Many tried. Very very few suceeded. I was not about to take my chances on the streets with no money or identification. A good friend of mine was raped on the streets.
Which would seem to suggest the program was less frightening than running away from it.
It was less frightening. This was CEDU style BM, not WWASP. Go spend a night on the streets of one of those areas you see on "COPS". They wanted you to eventually feel comfortable there.
It really makes you wonder why kids are running from isolated wilderness programs hitchiking hundreds of miles to freedom, and grown adults who get to stay at motels can't seem to get away from an urban facility.
Most eventually leave motels. Some of their parents run out of money. Some contact friends if they can but is rare for reasons i already explained. Read a few posts ago as to why it was not easy (read damn near impossable) at all to get a job while in motel (phone calls). 90+ percent of students eventually ended up on the streets. Most of these kids were barely 18 and few had serious problems.
Most of these kids could have made it on their own if given the chance. And even if they couldn't, the program claims to be able to help with "emancipation".
They should not have had to take their chances on the streets. It would have been great if program actually gave them an opportunity to suceed with the program. They let a few do it for testimonials but most of the time they just want you to stay there as long as possable. If you "work the program" you will work until your parents run out of cash. Eventually you lose hope and take your chances on the streets after you realize they are not going to let you graduate even if you do everything they say to the letter.
Your paren's won't take you back 95% of the time becuase the program has convinced them over the couse of the year+ that you are a manipulative liar who constantly misbehaves. The parent says "My god. my kid has become a monster!"
I have the letters the staff wrote to my parents and it's 80% complete horse shit. How is a student to contest things when he does not even know the things he is accused of to his parents. Almost every single letter they were asking for more money becuase I "needed an extra 6 months at least" of "emotional growth".
(disclaimer: i was sent there to finsh high school. that was my "issue")
They claimed i had been skipping school days at Redlands Adult school when school records would show that i had a perfect attendance record. They tried to say I was procrastinating my HS graduation and that I did not want to work when fact they did not let me attend Redlands Adult school when Benchmark staff (Flo "full-time teacher" Reynolds) was not there (~2 hours/day). The idea was to postpone my HS graduation so my parents / their employers, would have to pay for another 6 months. When the staff letters are contrasted against reality this is crystal clear.
I'm not necessarily saying that the program was as bad as a WWASP program, although it was certainly as bad as a CEDU program. You still find people who actually "liked" their stay at CEDU. This was the goal. Break them until they loved being there, until they actually asked their parents for more. With enough lifespring and other less-than-legit BM techniques etc... you could do this easily.
The mind is it's own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. -- John Milton
The point was to make you feel like it was impossable to leave without the program. The loss of hope became your prison bars. It was in their vested interest for you not to leave. They made thier money by making sure you didn't, and they had enough tricks to do it.
Breaking your will is abuse. It's psychic murder.
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I get why someone would not just walk out into a tough part of a strange city with no ID, money or job to go to particularly if they were not welcome at home.
Did many of the kids enrolled at benchmark come from other TBS schools? Was it part of an exit plan for some?
Were there any students/patients who were over 25. What did they go for?
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I get why someone would not just walk out into a tough part of a strange city with no ID, money or job to go to particularly if they were not welcome at home.
Did many of the kids enrolled at benchmark come from other TBS schools?
A few while I was there came directly out of CEDU schools. They were 17 at the time of the transfer. I wouldn't say many came from other schools but there were some.
Was it part of an exit plan for some?
See strugglingteens.com for more information. :lol: I don't know if the CEDU students who came to bMark had their transfer as part of an exit plan but i would have imagined this to be so. It's speculation though.
Were there any students/patients who were over 25. What did they go for?
Not many of them. Most were under 20. There were a few who were over 20, and one who was 24. Most of them were there for more serious issues (drugs, etc.)
During the time i was there, the maximum age was 24. It seems, since then they have increased it.
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Although the contract has changed significantly since I enrolled in Benchmark Young Adult School, i figured I might post a few excerpts here from their current enrollment contract (http://http://www.benchmarkyoungadultschool.com/media/EnrollmentContract.pdf):
1. Financial Sponsor, (parent/guardian) agrees to purchase the Benchmark Young Adult School personal
growth and independent living program for the Student named herein, and is committed to maintaining
enrollment in said program for no less than 12 months.
2. Financial Sponsor agrees to commit to the completion of the entire program, with graduation from the
Benchmark program being the ultimate goal for both the Student and the Financial Sponsor.[/quote]
That's right folks. The parents aggree to pay until the students graduate, at a speed Benchmark dictates. Oh. But what if the kid leaves and wants to come home:
c. Financial Sponsor and the Student understand and agree that they will make every effort to support
Benchmark and the Student in the completion of said Student?s program and should the Student
leave prior to the completion of the minimum 12-month contract, Financial Sponsor will make
every effort possible to promote the Student?s return to Benchmark.
That's right. Return to sender. You can't go home to the parents. This is a contract. it is legally binding. students read and sign this
b. Financial Sponsor understands and agrees that Benchmark reserves the right to secure additional
behavioral health services for the Student. Examples include, but are not limited to: outside thera-
pists, psychologists, in-patient or out-patient recovery, hospitalization or by utilizing alternative
Benchmark programs such as ?Time Out.? Unless these fees are covered by insurance, the costs
will be charged to the SRF.
"Time Out" is the term for shoving a kid in a motel with the "Benchmark Diet". So, as i interpret the above, IANAL, the parents not only have to pay for the program, but also for the motels, until the Student "graduates".
c. Financial Sponsor understands and agrees to use the outside professionals that Benchmark selects,
regardless of insurance restrictions.
I've always wonder why Benchmark always uses doctor Nelson. Ha. So if you're going to complain to a shrink, your going to complain to thier shrink who hypothetically could write an absoltely horrible evaluation of you. And hypothetically could possably rely on a Benchmark for much of his business. For the record, they employ no Psychologists, they bus kids to "Nelson" once a week usually. "You have a Nelson appointment" is a commonly used staff phraise.
a. We will make every effort with the Student to facilitate the completion of the program within the
minimum 12-month time frame.
I allege that is horse-shit.
The Student/Parent/Financial Sponsor hereby consents to the Student?s participation in all activities and programs
conducted by Benchmark Young Adult School, and releases Benchmark Young Adult School, Inc., its agents, employ-
ees and officers, from all claims, demands, action, judgments and executions which the undersigned may have against
Benchmark (et al) , for all personal injuries, known or unknown, and injuries to property, personal or real, caused by or
arising out of the Student?s participation in the related activities and programs. This release and discharge further
extends to any injury caused as a result of the Student?s decisions or actions, made while enrolled as a Student or not.[/quote]
Odd that is in the health and fitness section. It Hypothetically might have something to do with that alleged (didn't see with my own eyes) suicide. And multiple attempts I witnessed.
The Student and Financial Sponsor hereby agree to release, waive, discharges and covenants not to sue, indemnify and
save and hold harmless Benchmark Young Adult School, its officers, agents, employees family members and any
students from any loss, liability, damage or cost, claim or demands therefore on account of injury to the person or
property of resulting in the death of the Student, whether caused by the negligence of Benchmark or otherwise, while
the Student is in, upon, about or using the facilities or equipment of Benchmark.[/quote]
See above hypothetical situation. Basically they're saying, if they screw up and kill your kid, you can't sue, even if it was their fault. I wonder what made them put that there. hmm. 8) I don't recollect it being in my enrollment contract. :D
We further agree that this Release shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. If any term
or provision of this Release shall be held illegal, unenforceable, or in conflict with any law governing this Release the
validity of the remaining portions shall not be affected thereby.
Ahh. the severability clause. So You can basically blow away any other part of the contract... but don't worry, our lawyers spent 90% of their time on this page.
4. Financial Sponsor understands and agrees that Benchmark will use all precautions so that no harm comes to
any under age student.
It is further declared that both Financial Sponsor and the Student will agree to hold Benchmark Young Adult
School, Inc., including its staff and any subsidiaries, NOT responsible if the Student is harmed as a result of
usual and customary standards of practice, by ways and means beyond our control, or if the Student, by his
or her own actions and free will, causes harm to self or others.
[/quote]
"customary practices" includes "Time Out" (shoving your 17 year old kid in a motel.) But they never quite explain exactly what "Time Out" is until your kid gets put on it like most students. Yes they have done this. I wonder why it isn't thoroughly explained elsewhere. hmm.
But it really doesn't matter since the parents aggree in three seperate friggin places not to sue. However. this does not prevent them from being able to do so ask your lawyer. misrepresentation is one hypothetical option or the judge may hypothetically use said contract as toilet paper. Class action is another option. It isn't the parents suing. its done technically on their behalf AFAIK IANAL.
Tuition is non-refundable after 5 days, and parental contact is restricted for 30. So essentially let's compare this to a computer sales person:
You, Mister Joe Luddite, buy a computer, and you aggree not to refund it after five days of the date of sale. When the computer box arrives 30 days later, it's filled up with a "spell & speak" with a cracked screen. Since you can't afford another computer you have to find a way to post on fornits with said "spell & speak". the computer salesperson assures you, though, that it is not only possable, but their customers are 97% satisfied.
It's not a perfect analogy but you get the point. Parents BEWARE of Benchmark Young Adult school.
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The Student and Financial Sponsor hereby agree to release, waive, discharges and covenants not to sue, indemnify and
save and hold harmless Benchmark Young Adult School, its officers, agents, employees family members and any
students from any loss, liability, damage or cost, claim or demands therefore on account of injury to the person or
property of resulting in the death of the Student, whether caused by the negligence of Benchmark or otherwise, while
the Student is in, upon, about or using the facilities or equipment of Benchmark.
This kind of language is common in contracts. As Psy stated it is legally meaningless. I am not a lawyer, but have taken business law classes and worked in business for many years. Our law professor specifically stated that you cannot sign away responsibility for negligence. He clearly told us that even in cases where restaurants and parking garages have signs that say "not responsible for loss or damage to personal property" or something similar, these signs are not enforceable because you can't post a sign and change the law. If you can demonstrate negligence, you have a case.
But these contract clauses and signs still exist and one can only imagine that there are people who are stopped from making claims against business simply because they read them and believe them.
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Yes i did see the website deborah. But given that the kid is 18 or even not a kid at all if they are 28, how on earth does the familiy in most cases get the young adult to agree. Surley even if they are mentally ill a person cant legally be placed there without consent as an adult?
i understand that in the US often the family has to pay the UNI fees up front so that this can be a leverage point. My question was not designed to belittle the alumni of Benchmark or any other similar place, i am genuinely curious as to what would make someone agree to walk through the door of a programme designed for the parents not the "kid"
There are ways. Geographical Isolation, stripping one of resources, brainwashing, using relationships to loveones as leverage, extended custody (yes it is possible for a parent to retain legal custody of an adult). You should note that most cults don't employ physical restraint against thier members, and still many members who are genuinely unhappy with their situaiton are retained.
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What does make a kid over 18 sign into such a place?
I misunderstood you question with my first response. I was never at this particular place, and I never signed into a place like this as an adult. That having been said, allow me to reveal my own expereince, was one of trusting compliance, not coersion. My family wanted me to go to some place called Ascent which I had never heard of. I knew I was having some problems, figured it couldn't hurt. I did not know ANYTHING about the place i was going to, and I wouldn't have believed that places like that existed even if I was told. When I walked into ascent I complied with everything asked of me willingly, even though checking in there would mark the moment that I would loose all freedom and autonomy for 2 years. I was 15 so my parents could have used escorts if they wanted too, but they didn't need to because I trusted thier intentions.
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There are ways. Geographical Isolation, stripping one of resources, brainwashing, using relationships to loveones as leverage, extended custody (yes it is possible for a parent to retain legal custody of an adult). You should note that most cults don't employ physical restraint against thier members, and still many members who are genuinely unhappy with their situaiton are retained.
How the hell do you retain legal custody of an adult that is not criminally insane, severely mentally ill and not able to function or severely enough mentally handicapped that they cant look after themself at all?
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I came across this thread while doing some research on a program for a friend, I was at Benchmark for 6 months, and I would not send the worst of my enemies to that sad excuse of a program ran by anti-semites and bank account draining scam artists. I was one of the lucky people who fortunately was able to walk off the property and leave with all my belonging after being punched in the face by a fellow student and then being threatened by Benchmark with consequesences if I pressed charges! I walked off property 2 days after the incident and with a simple phone call to my father I slept in a motel and had the safest sleep I had had in months. The next day I phoned Benchmark and asked them for my ID, Passport, and Wallet, which they refused to return to me. After arguing with Joelle, who is the daughter of the owner, I phoned the sheriff who was able to retrieve my Passport , ID, and my wallet, but when I opened my wallet to my dismay there was no money in it, $800 cash missing!! How Odd! When i got to the program they took my wallet, passport and ID, and placed them in an envelope, that I sealed and then signed followed by some staff member and I was told it would remain sealed to prove that nothing will be taken out of it. Obviously when I showed up with the sheriff to get the envelope there was no envelope, just my three items in a plastic bag, so when I asked for my money Benchmark played dumb, "what envelope?" "what $800 cash?" This is what we are talking about in regards to them wanting you to fail if you leave the program early or walk off the property. There is nothing i can really say about Benchmark that is positive, I would say they do more harm than good to 100% of the students that come in to the program, and with not a single educated staff member on the payroll I am honestly surprised they are still operating with "street smarts" as their highest educational degree for staff, I mean some staff had High School diplomas but a HS diploma is nothing and does not give them qualifications to be councelors. that they are doing illegally. I could write out all the facts and truths behind Benchmark but its also available for your reading pleasure at this website: http://http://www.benchmarkeducationsucks.com/ please enjoy
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There are ways. Geographical Isolation, stripping one of resources, brainwashing, using relationships to loveones as leverage, extended custody (yes it is possible for a parent to retain legal custody of an adult). You should note that most cults don't employ physical restraint against thier members, and still many members who are genuinely unhappy with their situaiton are retained.
How the hell do you retain legal custody of an adult that is not criminally insane, severely mentally ill and not able to function or severely enough mentally handicapped that they cant look after themself at all?
US law. Here's the ST howto. (http://http://www.strugglingteens.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000070)
Fornits thread on the subject here (http://http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?Sort=U&topic=9655&forum=9)
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All current / Former students of Benchmark Young Adult School who might be monitoring this page are going to want to read the information in this link:
http://http://www.rickross.com/reference/brainwashing/brainwashing10.html
Benchmark would seem to fall into the "second generation" category. More elaboration on this later as I do more research.
a few snippets:
Programs used the organization and application of intense guilt/shame/anxiety manipulation, combined with the production of strong emotional arousal in settings where people did not leave because of social and psychological pressures or because of enforced confinement. The pressures could be reduced only by participants accepting the belief system or adopting behaviors promulgated by the purveyors of the thought reform programs.
In the newer thought reform programs, attacks appear to be designed to destabilize the subject's most central aspects of the experience of the self. The newer programs undermine a person's basic consciousness, reality awareness, beliefs and worldview, emotional control, and defense mechanisms. We suggest that attacking the stability and quality of evaluations of self-concepts is the principal effective technique used in the conduct of a coercive thought reform and behavior control program.
The tactics of a thought reform program are organized to destabilize individuals' sense of self by getting them to drastically reinterpret their life's history, radically alter their world view, accept a new version of reality and causality, and develop dependency on the organization, thereby being turned into a deployable agent of the organization operating the thought reform program.
IE: If it works you get to be a testimonial. How does it feel?
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Hey Rich. I know you were here a while ago so i'll ask you a question. I'm looking for Benchmark's licence. Funny. I can't find "Benchmark Young Adult School" anywhere. Since Benchmark is a FULL MEMBER of natsap it is required to be licenced according to NATSAP's guidelines.
I can't find it in the government's list of registered programs (or anywhere on the DOSS website for that matter).
http://http://www.adp.ca.gov/LCB/pdf/lcb_rprt.pdf
Maybe you can help me out. I'd really like to know what type of licence Benchmark has so I don't contact the wrong people. I mean i've already got a big friggin list but if you can help me whittle it down i'd be much abliged.
Ps. A California Private School Affadavit is not a licence. And it's apparantly illegal to imply that:
"Filing pursuant to this section shall not be interpreted to mean,
and it shall be unlawful for any school to expressly or impliedly
represent by any means whatsoever, that the State of California, the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education,
the State Department of Education, or any division or bureau of the
department, or any accrediting agency has made any evaluation,
recognition, approval, or endorsement of the school or course unless
this is an actual fact."
You might want to tell your folks at NATSAP that so they can correct your page (and possably your licence membership status):
See the post here about that. (http://http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=227858#227858)
Of course. If i'm mistaken and Benchmark has a licence of some sort, please feel free to post it here.
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Wait. You don't actually think NATSAP is a legitimate organization, do you?
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psy will be around to comment, but I can tell you that no, he doesn't.
His concern is that NATSAP has B's "private school affidavit" listed under licenses and accreditations. Very decieving. Parents might assume that the affidavit is one or the other. It should be removed or moved to the body of the information with an explanation.
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BUMP
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Because the ed-con who pitched benchmark to me and my parents advertised it as a Bording school with Therapeutic aspects. That's a relatively new website. The old one is here.
To answer your question simply:They do not adveritise as they are. It looks like a wonderful place when you visit. I was fooled. So were many others.
Students interviewed by prospective students and parents are cherry picked. They make it seem wonderful. You end up thinking: "gee this place seems really nice".
And you were over 18 when this occured? If the facility wasn't as advertised, why didn't you walk out, and call your parents from a payphone? Why didn't you keep a spare twenty bucks hidden in a sock, surely they didn't have 100% physical control over you. What is the worst that could happen if yoru parents came and picked you up early, they wouldn't get their money back?
Actually i did that. I walked the first day i was there. Got like 15-25 miles and called my parents. they where advised to ignore me, and whatever i said, and that it was desperate messures. I walked backed and reentered the program. I still have fond memories of where i stashed my playstation. It was in a bush near a holiday inn. It was there when i got back.
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Actually i did that. I walked the first day i was there. Got like 15-25 miles and called my parents. they where advised to ignore me, and whatever i said, and that it was desperate messures.
Yup. Parents are advised to ignore. My parents were international at the time, I had no money, and international collect calls aren't possible... Otherwise I probably would have tried and ended up with the same result. It's what happened on my first semi-monitored call anyway. All of a sudden all phone calls were with Carl (parent rep) after that. What time were you there?
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Actually i did that. I walked the first day i was there. Got like 15-25 miles and called my parents. they where advised to ignore me, and whatever i said, and that it was desperate messures.
Yup. Parents are advised to ignore. My parents were international at the time, I had no money, and international collect calls aren't possible... Otherwise I probably would have tried and ended up with the same result. It's what happened on my first semi-monitored call anyway. All of a sudden all phone calls were with Carl (parent rep) after that. What time were you there?
99-01 or 02. I was on student councel with amy W, Courtney, amber, blake U, Jason. We where in at the same time. I know almost everyone you menchned in your shout out thingy. I still talk to chad J. some times. I actually graduated hehe. Most of my friends didnt.
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99-01 or 02. I was on student councel with amy W, Courtney, amber, blake U, Jason. We where in at the same time. I know almost everyone you menchned in your shout out thingy. I still talk to chad J. some times. I actually graduated hehe. Most of my friends didnt.
Chad was a cool guy. If you get a chance, could you mention that I'd like to get in contact with him. I've been wondering how he's been doing and didn't find him in Facebook/myspace the last time I searched.
Good job with the graduation. Not sure how you managed that. I came out thinking it was more about luck and how good a "sucess story" you would make in the marketing than anything else.
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99-01 or 02. I was on student councel with amy W, Courtney, amber, blake U, Jason. We where in at the same time. I know almost everyone you menchned in your shout out thingy. I still talk to chad J. some times. I actually graduated hehe. Most of my friends didnt.
Chad was a cool guy. If you get a chance, could you mention that I'd like to get in contact with him. I've been wondering how he's been doing and didn't find him in Facebook/myspace the last time I searched.
Good job with the graduation. Not sure how you managed that. I came out thinking it was more about luck and how good a "sucess story" you would make in the marketing than anything else.
Well, that was cause you where always a whinny bitch. You use to complain about EVERYTHING. I graduated because i did what they wanted me to. I kept my mouth shut, and helped who i could. I did my own thing. I will say one thing. The people who graduated and the people who didnt... we are all doing about the same. I don't think the act of graduating really ment anything special. I'll pass it on to chad though. He has some gf, and he's doing good though.
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Good job with the graduation. Not sure how you managed that. I came out thinking it was more about luck and how good a "sucess story" you would make in the marketing than anything else.
Well, that was cause you where always a whinny bitch. You use to complain about EVERYTHING.
Well there was a lot to complain about. You said yourself graduation was rare (even though they told my parents at the time they had a 97% graudation rate...). I saw marketing saying one thing and reality being something different. I felt I was lied to (and they were simultaniously lecturing on "honesty"). I felt it hypocrisy of the highest order. I felt the number of people who ended up on the streets was absolutely un-acceptable, espeically when most of these kids were just normal kids with ADHD under a great deal of stress. I felt that if there was something wrong it should be addressed and dealt with. You don't deal with a problem by ignoring it. Sure I got in a lot of trouble for speaking out, but I learned to shut up eventually (maybe you weren't there for that part). They broke me. I became part of the system. I started believing I needed the place. I ratted on people because I thought it was in their own interest to be helped to "follow the program". I gave 100% to following the program and... I still wasn't allowed to progress. Then I realized it was a total con and snapped out, but it's a long story.
I was a "whiny bitch", I'll admit. But not without cause.
I graduated because i did what they wanted me to. I kept my mouth shut, and helped who i could.
Well that was your choice. My parents taught me not so shut up when you see something wrong... to protest. If you backed down to save your own skin... that's your deal. Not condemning you. Most people did it. Not everybody, however was as lucky. And that's i've concluded it came down to. Lots tried (really tried) to succeed and were started over at level 1 for arbitrary reasons. You could have been one of em.
I did my own thing. I will say one thing. The people who graduated and the people who didnt... we are all doing about the same. I don't think the act of graduating really ment anything special. I'll pass it on to chad though. He has some gf, and he's doing good though.
Cool. It'll be good to get in contact with him again.
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I would like to add
AT ONE TIME I HAD A JOB WILL AT BENCHMARK
THEY TOOK MY PAYCHECKS FROM ME AND HELD BACK MOST OF IT
i was only alowed 20 bucks of my 200+ check this wile on "sink or swim"
edit
to people wondering how one ends up there
they pitch to you and the parent
I have ADHD and i have a some issues with learning disabilitys
it was pitched to me that i could get help with getting school work done like i did in my highschool wile going to collage
and then i was and in
and they didnt
i was told i was an addict forced to go to NA and AA meetings i dont drink i dont smoke
they cut off all access to the out side world not internet no calls when you want to
i got lucky i made some friends out there and moved from place to place and i had a trust that i fell back on for awile and now thats dried up
most of it went to paying these people THOUSENDS for me to sit in a MOTEL and eat raman i was given no help with school work when i did FINALY get them to let me go in the first place