Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => CEDU / Brown Schools and derivatives / clones => Topic started by: Jack1963 on April 05, 2004, 03:17:00 PM
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[ This Message was edited by: Jack1963 on 2004-08-01 15:40 ]
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Hi...you covered it all. I, too, was an employee for about three years in the mid nineties. I worked at Ascent and at NWA and have to say that there was a lot of "wrong doings" at both schools. I have been approached several times for interviews with news programs and articles on the schools.
I had over 10 years of experience working with troubled kids, a college degree, and I still was treated like a babysitter. When "Mom and Dad" (the treatment/parent communicators) "got home", I was ridiculed for the way I conversed with the kids, and how I treated them as individuals (not clients or patients). The tongue lashings were usually infront of the students or infront of other staff who were always too afraid to back me up...do to the fear of losing their precious jobs at a corrupt school where they would "setup" not only the kids, but the staff, too.
It was like a heavy cloud being lifted when I finally quit CEDU and moved out of Idaho. I do still think about the kids that I worked with and I have kept up with a couple of them (they are grown with college degrees and families, now). I
also keep in touch by email with a few of the other staff who have moved on, much like myself, but still are humiliated and ashamed that we even worked for such a program.
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Ditto:
I can only say that all of the CEDU Schools are CULTS - There is a great book on what they do. It is called "Snapping." Everyone who posts here should read it to understand these pitfalls.
It may be out of print, but it is widely available in used book stores and in the internet.
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Oh, I am SO glad you wrote this. I am an ex-CEDU (Running Springs) staff. Your mentioning of set-ups by staff really hit a chord with me. I left years ago, but here I am reading these posts. CEDU is so famous for hiring people with bogus degrees from non-accredited schools. I remember Brandi Elliot who was emotionally unstable, abusive, and frankly, significantly lacking intelligence. She was the most mean-spirited person I ever worked with. Her favorite word was "manipulating." She kept accusing kids of being manipulative. She has a psychology degree from California Coast College - a non-accredited, mail order school. We all noticed that the school would promote the most abusive staff. She was horrible and DEFINITELY set people up. Kids who AWOL'd reported that they saw her "dirty dancing" in a bar. They found that fascinating, as she had yelled and screamed in the profeets about her past as a slut. They all felt that it was not her past.
I was so happy to leave that unhealthy place. There is no therapy there. We had some good therapists but Brandi and the administration scorned them and told us to ignore their instructions. You would think I would be over it, but that Synonon-style hell hole will probably be with me forever. Damn.
On 2004-04-21 09:17:00, Anonymous wrote:
"Hi...you covered it all. I, too, was an employee for about three years in the mid nineties. I worked at Ascent and at NWA and have to say that there was a lot of "wrong doings" at both schools. I have been approached several times for interviews with news programs and articles on the schools.
I had over 10 years of experience working with troubled kids, a college degree, and I still was treated like a babysitter. When "Mom and Dad" (the treatment/parent communicators) "got home", I was ridiculed for the way I conversed with the kids, and how I treated them as individuals (not clients or patients). The tongue lashings were usually infront of the students or infront of other staff who were always too afraid to back me up...do to the fear of losing their precious jobs at a corrupt school where they would "setup" not only the kids, but the staff, too.
It was like a heavy cloud being lifted when I finally quit CEDU and moved out of Idaho. I do still think about the kids that I worked with and I have kept up with a couple of them (they are grown with college degrees and families, now). I
also keep in touch by email with a few of the other staff who have moved on, much like myself, but still are humiliated and ashamed that we even worked for such a program.
"
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What happened to Roy? Is he no longer posting?
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I actually am wondering what happened to Laurie Saunders and Jim Johnson who were at Cedu in the late 80's. (They were staff.)
Anybody know?
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If you are so sorry, join the fight.
Its not over for the people still in there, or for the children kidnapped every day.
Its still not over for those who suffered in their childhood.
Your testimony could be useful to a lot of people.
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I got this CEDU thing going on fornits last year. I worked on it for a long time to get it self sustaining by posting and posting and posting.
First, I am not an ex Staff - perhaps and ex anti-staff therapist.
Folks, not one of the therapists that I ever knew ever approved of CEDU, the staff, or any of the things they did.
Almost no "staff" that I know of is either posting here or is "sorry." They are all on a power trip - always have been and always will be.
OK Staff, I'd be delighted to be proved wrong.
I am not sorry for anything I have ever done at BCA except working for a Gulag. I worked relentlessly, as all the other therapists did, to prevent the school and the staff from killing the spirit of the kids, from sucking the life out of them, and, yes, from driving them insane.
I worked 14 hour days so I could bring kids into my office and let them vent, give them candy, and let them listen to any music they wanted to listen to - music is a healing thing.
As for the missing post identities, perhaps they are not missing. Perhaps they walk beside you as they have always done and always will.
They are not sorry. They have nothing to be sorry for. They just really care about you. We were never like the staff.
We don't break people to gain power,influence and that self ritous, arrogant, heroic stature of "saviour" at kids expense. We walk with you and gather you for battle. And the battle will be. And the tyranny will end. And I will be right here.
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Thank you, Maximus, for posting that. I, too was a therapist. I know a couple of ex-staff who are traumatized by their experience.
I, too, was taking kids into my office, giving them cocoa (with marshmallows) and cookies and working long, long hours. I feel good about being a corner of sanity in that hell hole. And I probably will remain anonymous. These kids don't know who threatening CEDU is to us. Their own testimony, as a group, is powerful.
It saddens me to see some of these ex-students post who are giving angry retorts to anyone who expresses any kind of remorse or relays their very negative experience at work. Some of those ex-staff might be helpful in a lawsuit - it is not wise to alienate them.
I was not at BCA - I was at one of the other schools. I got into hot water now and then with staff and team leaders when I kept trying to fight the system by educating them. I learned the truth. They ABSOLUTELY DID NOT want to be educated. CEDU even made a show about having me do an inservice (the parents requested it - they loved me). It was a joke. They continued to ignore what I said. Eventually, I got the boot - but I was looking elsewhere by then, anyway.
My only regret is that I could not break the kids out and send them somewhere that really WAS helpful. I did what I could, but became more and more depressed as I saw how those kids were treated and how ignorant and mean-spirited the staff were. The good staff left, you know. They always do.
I saw such inappropriate placements, terrible treatment, and emotional power, control, and abuse going on. I think now and then about making a report, but I'm always scared off. I know that pisses some of these posters off, but they have not walked in my shoes. I have to continue my career where, incidentally, I really AM helping people.
On 2004-04-28 09:36:00, Maximus wrote:
"I got this CEDU thing going on fornits last year. I worked on it for a long time to get it self sustaining by posting and posting and posting.
First, I am not an ex Staff - perhaps and ex anti-staff therapist.
Folks, not one of the therapists that I ever knew ever approved of CEDU, the staff, or any of the things they did.
Almost no "staff" that I know of is either posting here or is "sorry." They are all on a power trip - always have been and always will be.
OK Staff, I'd be delighted to be proved wrong.
I am not sorry for anything I have ever done at BCA except working for a Gulag. I worked relentlessly, as all the other therapists did, to prevent the school and the staff from killing the spirit of the kids, from sucking the life out of them, and, yes, from driving them insane.
I worked 14 hour days so I could bring kids into my office and let them vent, give them candy, and let them listen to any music they wanted to listen to - music is a healing thing.
As for the missing post identities, perhaps they are not missing. Perhaps they walk beside you as they have always done and always will.
They are not sorry. They have nothing to be sorry for. They just really care about you. We were never like the staff.
We don't break people to gain power,influence and that self ritous, arrogant, heroic stature of "saviour" at kids expense. We walk with you and gather you for battle. And the battle will be. And the tyranny will end. And I will be right here. "
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You were a fine mentor - lets have coffee some time
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Max: email me - [email protected]
On 2004-04-28 10:58:00, Maximus wrote:
"You were a fine mentor - lets have coffee some time"
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wow,
this is wild... i never thought i'd hear all this from ex-staff/therapists. well, actually, some of my therapists tried to get me pulled. it never werked tho.. it was because i couldn't control myself (what i mean is that i couldn't put on a front for the staff that i didn't trust. i kept acting up and getting in trouble and ended up staying there for 3 years, having to graduate because they were so hopeless about me.) i just had to rebel. but that's got it's up-side... i've always been outspoken, as i always will be.
anyway, thank you guys for opening up to us. it's amazing that the staff members there hated it as much as we did (i only knew of a couple who were open enough to talk to me about it.) honestly, a couple months ago, i had wanted to werk for cedu in order to revolutionize their faulty system and be what the counselors like randolph and dennis were for me... these were the guys that saw me as an individual with a unique psychology, not just another student to hit with the standardized aggressive fault-picking treatment (and, of course, there was robby who made my days so much more pleasant with his caring, strength/perseverence-building attitude.) this obviously is not going to happen at this point, considering i've spent a good amount of time on here today trying to make rapport with the other people in the forum through sharing my brutally honest opinions that wouldn't fly by a freak like brandi (projectile bitch.)
ironically, they do a lot of spirit-breaking at cedu, when their mission statement claims to be quite the opposite... aren't the students supposed to be getting to know the real them in order to optimize their lives? it's so sad... most of the posts in this forum are from students who are miserably reflecting on the horrors of their cedu encounters. i'm fortunate that although i hated that place with every ounce of energy i had (for years), i've now come to appreciate it as a part of my past that's made me the outstanding person that i am today. i have no idea what my life would've been like without the cedu trauma.
i'm now on a mission to help. i now have the strength to do it. it seems so backward.
anybody that would like to talk to me about cedu or anything, please feel free to hit me up... [email protected] i'd really love to hear from you.
_________________
laura solomon
cedu vet. 1996-1999
RIP[ This Message was edited by: mikehunt on 2004-06-08 00:33 ]
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So many wise words, Laura. Yes, the CEDU method comes from Synanon - break the person down and rebuild him. What BULLSHIT! Your posts brighten this spot on the Internet. Welcome to Fornits!
On 2004-06-08 00:31:00, mikehunt wrote:
"wow,
this is wild... i never thought i'd hear all this from ex-staff/therapists. well, actually, some of my therapists tried to get me pulled. it never werked tho.. it was because i couldn't control myself (what i mean is that i couldn't put on a front for the staff that i didn't trust. i kept acting up and getting in trouble and ended up staying there for 3 years, having to graduate because they were so hopeless about me.) i just had to rebel. but that's got it's up-side... i've always been outspoken, as i always will be.
anyway, thank you guys for opening up to us. it's amazing that the staff members there hated it as much as we did (i only knew of a couple who were open enough to talk to me about it.) honestly, a couple months ago, i had wanted to werk for cedu in order to revolutionize their faulty system and be what the counselors like randolph and dennis were for me... these were the guys that saw me as an individual with a unique psychology, not just another student to hit with the standardized aggressive fault-picking treatment (and, of course, there was robby who made my days so much more pleasant with his caring, strength/perseverence-building attitude.) this obviously is not going to happen at this point, considering i've spent a good amount of time on here today trying to make rapport with the other people in the forum through sharing my brutally honest opinions that wouldn't fly by a freak like brandi (projectile bitch.)
ironically, they do a lot of spirit-breaking at cedu, when their mission statement claims to be quite the opposite... aren't the students supposed to be getting to know the real them in order to optimize their lives? it's so sad... most of the posts in this forum are from students who are miserably reflecting on the horrors of their cedu encounters. i'm fortunate that although i hated that place with every ounce of energy i had (for years), i've now come to appreciate it as a part of my past that's made me the outstanding person that i am today. i have no idea what my life would've been like without the cedu trauma.
i'm now on a mission to help. i now have the strength to do it. it seems so backward.
anybody that would like to talk to me about cedu or anything, please feel free to hit me up... [email protected] i'd really love to hear from you.
_________________
laura solomon
cedu vet. 1996-1999
RIP[ This Message was edited by: mikehunt on 2004-06-08 00:33 ]"
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If I knew myself as well as I do now, CEDU would have been the last place for a person like me. Things before I was even born that have layed a heavy hand on my life. Things that help explain who and what I am today. CEDU unwittingly helped the dark side of my life, by giving me the ability to make things okay. Not too many therapists out there that can give me the help I seek. I've tried. But I can't fucking work on issues from before CEDU, and CEDU issues, and current things all at the same time. I can talk til I am blue in the face, I can get deep and "real" but it doesn't do jack shit for me. Shit, all my friends try to help me, but it's of no use, they can't see inside me, nor will they understand. Maybe it is because I will not let CEDU's treatment of me and others be okay, I refuse to let it go, because I don't know how. I have tried, but I'll get a flashback, or a nightmare, or hear something and it's right there again. The only thing I know is that a 230 grain Federal Hydra-Shok will take the pain away. But I ain't going out like that, not yet. I am not gonna let them have the last laugh. I want the last fucking laugh.
And as a side note....... Therapists have their work cut out for them I guess might be part of the problem. If I can get right down to it, then they have no way of going deeper, trying to root out a problem. And I refuse to take any medicine, I have seen what that shit does to people, when they were guinea pigging kids when I was up there. And they can't give me much direction, because all I hear when they say write, or visualize, or talk to your dad, or things like that, all I hear is staff yelling, and propheets and all this shit. I truly realize that it is their job to help me, but old habits die hard.
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1. Laurie Saunders
2. Pam Abell and her husband Mark Williams
3. Jill and Rudy
Also CEDU-RS staff who were nice and not power-tripping(needed there cheery faces)wanda, bruce b., alex's wife, Julie... What happened to them? Did they ever get what a wacked out cult this was?
Did any of them ever get it?
I'm asking because it helps bring closure. Thanks.
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i HATED pam abell... she annoyed the shit out of me. needless to say, she was my resource coordinator.
did you know judy? judy seemed sweet.. but uh, i have no clue what she was tellign these kids' parents.
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I'm Roy,
I still posting from behind several firewalls as anybody but me.
Did you know that NWA is closing, and they are moving that shorter program to RMA because they are broke.
Enter the glee, the bliss. Now lets take down the rest of them. A little cheese on the exhaust manifold of a staff car can bring out the smell of the truth - keep up the good work folks. Keep telling the truth -- IT IS WORKING. If you haven't posted your story, do it now, while they are down.
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You just got bad therapy Hell. 95 percent of it is bad. It is the relationship with the therapist that heals. And, it is you that heals you - You are strong. Your darkness is what makes you weak - come to the light.
Roy
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Roy, in your opinion, do most of the family heads know it's a cultish, unhealthy, full of BS system or do they believe their own BS? Have you ever known a family head/team leader to come to realize how unhealthy CEDU is?
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On 2004-06-11 22:08:00, shanlea wrote:
"1. Laurie Saunders
2. Pam Abell and her husband Mark Williams
3. Jill and Rudy
Also CEDU-RS staff who were nice and not power-tripping(needed there cheery faces)wanda, bruce b., alex's wife, Julie... What happened to them? Did they ever get what a wacked out cult this was?
Did any of them ever get it?
I'm asking because it helps bring closure. Thanks."
Pam abell (now Pam Broker) is now the director of Milestones. I went to milestones for a year and a half and I knew her very well. If you have any questions, please contact me. I would really appreciate it if you could give me background info on pam. who the hell was she? what did she do? what the hell was her deal?
In arms,
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I hope its the right Pam. I went over 15 years ago and Pam was the family head of Quest (2nd phase).I split before Quest, after 5.5 months in Vision. Pam was cool to me for some reason; she could be tough with others. At the time she was married to Marc, who could be a real ass*&$# in raps. I think he was a family head in CHallenge. Apparently, they must be kaput now if she is Pam Broker. Do you think its the same Pam? I don't know how many relationships could survive CEDU, it models too many unhealthy communication tactics. What did she do to you?
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Pam Abell and Pam Broker are two different people. Pam Abell WAS a nice person who was turned into a CRAZY PSYCHO bitch by CEDU in California
Pam Broker is a diamond loving slut from North Idaho - She good looking, but if you fucked her your soul would be drawn out and turned into rocks - big shiny rocks - She loves money and that is all
I thought Glem had left CEDU some time ago - but they all suck face anyway. They'll do anything if they think it is creative - even humping kids.
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Well whatever happened to Pam Abell?
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i heard rudy benz is in georgia cloning all the allgood crap he is a money grubbing bastard and and a cult leader the other frauds are in whitmore california cascade school shut down by now but they will pop up again run an asset check on them they have "retired" again
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[ This Message was edited by: iknowcedulies on 2005-01-11 16:57 ]
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On 2004-06-21 16:32:00, Anonymous wrote:
"Well whatever happened to Pam Abell?"
what happened to the puke icon??? it'd be very appropriate here.
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What's your issue w/Pam? Did you ever have her as a team leader? I guess her husband wasn't working there anymore when yu got there. I don't know if his name was Marc or William.
By the way, the puking icon is one of the last in Show More
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she was just my RC, but she drove me nuts... her energy is insane; she's so fucking hype. it's like she can't chill the hell out.
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iknowcedulies, i want info for closure. is pam still working there and is marc her hubs? (Frankly I thought he was in these posts, if so speak up) What about Jim Johnson and Laurie Saunders? and Wanda and bruce and steve Houghton. Rudy and Jill are in Santa fe now I thought What happended to Laurie.
Now I hear of a Brandi who is fear-inducing. Was she a one-time student of CEDU who became staff. Whatever happened to Jennifer Poulson.
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brandy was not. supposedly, she werked at a real estate office before cedu, and that somehow qualified her for the position.
she was severely disorderly tho... she looked at herself as a slut with an eating disorder.
that sucks, people have such negative connotations attatched to the werd "slut". i mean, i think a slut is someone who wants to pleasure themself and feels that sex is a good way to do so. i'm a slut, and damn proud of it... there IS such thing a celebate slut, i'm one of them.
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I have a lot of back issues w/the word slut and being treated like one when I never even had sex. At my school, slut was a weapon. Also, I had issues w/a peeping tom, harassment, and violation and I always felt it was my fault. CEDU mashes this into your head.
To be totally honest, I've never been promiscuous, but I dressed precociously from ages 13-16. All my friends were older. I didn't understand the ramifications of dressing this way. I was just trying to look older.
So, even though I have a potty mouth I'll never call someone a slut or a whore. 2 words that won't cross my lips--ever.
But I hear what you are saying.
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On 2004-06-21 21:40:00, shanlea wrote:
"I have a lot of back issues w/the word slut and being treated like one when I never even had sex. At my school, slut was a weapon. Also, I had issues w/a peeping tom, harassment, and violation and I always felt it was my fault. CEDU mashes this into your head.
To be totally honest, I've never been promiscuous, but I dressed precociously from ages 13-16. All my friends were older. I didn't understand the ramifications of dressing this way. I was just trying to look older.
So, even though I have a potty mouth I'll never call someone a slut or a whore. 2 words that won't cross my lips--ever.
But I hear what you are saying. "
i was a virgin at cedu too... i turned into a slut tho, because they weren't satisfied with my disclosures. i was an alcoholic bi-sexual slut... or so i said. i'd been drunk like once in my life. but yeh, they loved to call the girls sluts.
anyway, at this point, i'll call myself a slut. sex is healthy and natural. i don't sleep with everyone i meet. shit, i don't sleep with anybody i meet, nor have i for the past year and 7 months. that doesn't mean i don't enjoy sex tho. our society is way too sexually repressed.
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Yeah I remember them trying to put the "slut" label on every single girl there. They tried to act like it was every girls issue. I can barely think of a girl that wasnt put on all guy bans at one point in time. I can also remember the things staff would yell at girls during raps. I mean I heard some vulgur stuff when I was there. Some of the staff even acted like they got off on it. That stuff kinda always bothered me. Didnt seem right.
On 2004-06-21 23:17:00, mikehunt wrote:
"
On 2004-06-21 21:40:00, shanlea wrote:
"I have a lot of back issues w/the word slut and being treated like one when I never even had sex. At my school, slut was a weapon. Also, I had issues w/a peeping tom, harassment, and violation and I always felt it was my fault. CEDU mashes this into your head.
To be totally honest, I've never been promiscuous, but I dressed precociously from ages 13-16. All my friends were older. I didn't understand the ramifications of dressing this way. I was just trying to look older.
So, even though I have a potty mouth I'll never call someone a slut or a whore. 2 words that won't cross my lips--ever.
But I hear what you are saying. "
i was a virgin at cedu too... i turned into a slut tho, because they weren't satisfied with my disclosures. i was an alcoholic bi-sexual slut... or so i said. i'd been drunk like once in my life. but yeh, they loved to call the girls sluts.
anyway, at this point, i'll call myself a slut. sex is healthy and natural. i don't sleep with everyone i meet. shit, i don't sleep with anybody i meet, nor have i for the past year and 7 months. that doesn't mean i don't enjoy sex tho. our society is way too sexually repressed.
"
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i've already told the story about my friend jehni who was called a slut by brandi because she had sex with one guy... she said some shit about how she had her legs open to the werld or something... psshht. PROJECTION!@#!@
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Laura, you were NEVER a slut!
On 2004-06-22 22:29:00, mikehunt wrote:
"i've already told the story about my friend jehni who was called a slut by brandi because she had sex with one guy... she said some shit about how she had her legs open to the werld or something... psshht. PROJECTION!@#!@
"
[ This Message was edited by: former CEDU therapist on 2004-08-01 22:39 ]
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hahaha... i know... i was a lying virgin who'd never even been kissed before!
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I have just recently found this site. Right up front, I am a mother who had a child at a CEDU school and our experiences there were great. He is a loving, wonderful child who is in college working toward being a physician. The experiences that we both had at CEDU were so meaningful that he became a strong, caring, achieving individual, and I changed careers, from a biological chemist with an MBA, to a grad student getting a doctorate in clinical psychology.
I won't attempt the impossible by trying to convince strangers of our current loving and stable family relationship, but I am particularly interested in what went wrong in other cases, which I often hear about on this site, and I am aware that problems and abuses can certainly happen in any big organization.
I am personally very interested in this, since I hope to eventually open my own school for kids who are self destructive, and I want to avoid the problems that can happen in this kind of situation.
Real advice would be helpful, in terms of what might help a self-destructive young teenager, general comments such as " you are a mind-numbed robot since CEDU worked for you" or " you should let your 14 year old overdose on LSD, it's his choice, and your fault", I will probably ignore.
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[ This Message was edited by: former CEDU therapist on 2004-08-01 22:40 ]
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Which school was he in?
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I went to Cedu-RS. Most of the kids I talked to afterward--even the ones who think CEDU saved them--did not flourish academically or socially once they left. THey did good for a short time but had a hard time reintegrating into teh real world. Why? Part is that the techniques used in raps and propheets were bully pulpits that aimed to break you down but didn't build you up. (Expect to be called a slut if you were raped or had sex once... or never.)Many people were only allowed to advance and find moments of calm if they had "facilitated breakthroughs." Thus, kids were verbally assaulted until they admitted "dirt" EVEN IF IT DIDN'T Happen. Coerced confession of stuff they didn't even do, because youo were verbally beaten down.
Students also had a difficult time re-entering the real world because the academics (at least in the laste 80s) I kid you not, was a COMPLETE sham.
Moreover, you were banned from speaking too much of outside world, and had severely restricted time with your family. They totally restricted your outside contact and then you were dropped into reality again and had no way to deal with it. Everything was monitored and you knew the staff would go after you and make life hell if you complained. THey also told your parents you were lying or manipulating if you complained or cried from the isolation. (THey said you were manipulating if you had medical conditions, and other real issues, too) THey also made up or exaggerated issues to keep you there, and when you protested, they came down on you. That is why virgins "admitted" they had sex, girls who had no eating disorders said they did, and people who weren't on dope said they were.
THe staff rewarded students who bullied and students were trained to spy and abuse eachother verbally.
I went to CEDU because I was an underachiever, depressed and had a physical disabilty (deafness) that I didn't know how to deal with. THe staff treated my deaf issues as manipulation and they also ripped me in raps for living with my boyfriend(this NEVER happened. I used to think they had the histories mixed up), being a slut when I was violated, and drug abuse when they couldn't figure out what they could pin on me. THe funny thing is I experimented with drugs but quit EASILY ON MY OWN VOLITION 5 months before I entered CEDU and I never went back to it (15 years later). When my family head found I had used them before he made it an issue and also BS'd my family about it. (They put me in CEDU for self esteem and not staying in school because I felt so isolated.) It was their way of scaring my family into submission. That is why they meet with the parents after every visit...to make sure you didn't say anything to pull you out. I didn't get abused in raps as much as others, I tried to conform to all rules, but it made me sick anticipating each rap if I were going to be abused or not. And I hated to watch what was happening to others.
I think the thing that pissed me off most was that I was treated like a liar though I've ALWAYS (pre-CEDU too) took accountability for my actions. When my parents asked me for the truth or what happened, I told them even if it was bad for me. So to be treated like a liar at CEDU was too much to take.
When you look at CEDU's credentials and see degree, try to figure out if its a REAL school because it may be some BS Internet operation. (Even the ones in charge have these so called "degrees" from a degree mill)
I left after 6 months and never went back; my Dad was relieved because he did feel it was a bit cultish. I NEVER talked about it...how do you describe mental abuse? Until I came upon this site.
THere is a lot more to tell, and you know the sad thing? All I can think is maybe you are a CEDU spy who may threatten us all who have one place to share our story. Doesn't it say something to you thath there are ex-staff who are scared shitless of revealing themselves because of threats by CEDU but who do it anyway to try to either make amends or validate our stories.
I'm sure CEDU would tell you these staff are "disgruntled ex-employees" or the students on these sites are just "troubled teens" and that is an affront to all of us who are real, and honest, and in pain.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for your courage and for stepping up. I know we all appreciate it. I'm glad you're out of that shit hole. Tell your parents everything. Show them this post you wrote. They will want to know. Tell them that you are not blaming them and that they were lied to by the school. Tell them that you are not trying to make them feel bad, but they need to know. Maybe they will stop some other parent from sending their kid.
On 2004-06-23 21:00:00, Anonymous wrote:
"I went to Cedu-RS. Most of the kids I talked to afterward--even the ones who think CEDU saved them--did not flourish academically or socially once they left. THey did good for a short time but had a hard time reintegrating into teh real world. Why? Part is that the techniques used in raps and propheets were bully pulpits that aimed to break you down but didn't build you up. (Expect to be called a slut if you were raped or had sex once... or never.)Many people were only allowed to advance and find moments of calm if they had "facilitated breakthroughs." Thus, kids were verbally assaulted until they admitted "dirt" EVEN IF IT DIDN'T Happen. Coerced confession of stuff they didn't even do, because youo were verbally beaten down.
Students also had a difficult time re-entering the real world because the academics (at least in the laste 80s) I kid you not, was a COMPLETE sham.
Moreover, you were banned from speaking too much of outside world, and had severely restricted time with your family. They totally restricted your outside contact and then you were dropped into reality again and had no way to deal with it. Everything was monitored and you knew the staff would go after you and make life hell if you complained. THey also told your parents you were lying or manipulating if you complained or cried from the isolation. (THey said you were manipulating if you had medical conditions, and other real issues, too) THey also made up or exaggerated issues to keep you there, and when you protested, they came down on you. That is why virgins "admitted" they had sex, girls who had no eating disorders said they did, and people who weren't on dope said they were.
THe staff rewarded students who bullied and students were trained to spy and abuse eachother verbally.
I went to CEDU because I was an underachiever, depressed and had a physical disabilty (deafness) that I didn't know how to deal with. THe staff treated my deaf issues as manipulation and they also ripped me in raps for living with my boyfriend(this NEVER happened. I used to think they had the histories mixed up), being a slut when I was violated, and drug abuse when they couldn't figure out what they could pin on me. THe funny thing is I experimented with drugs but quit EASILY ON MY OWN VOLITION 5 months before I entered CEDU and I never went back to it (15 years later). When my family head found I had used them before he made it an issue and also BS'd my family about it. (They put me in CEDU for self esteem and not staying in school because I felt so isolated.) It was their way of scaring my family into submission. That is why they meet with the parents after every visit...to make sure you didn't say anything to pull you out. I didn't get abused in raps as much as others, I tried to conform to all rules, but it made me sick anticipating each rap if I were going to be abused or not. And I hated to watch what was happening to others.
I think the thing that pissed me off most was that I was treated like a liar though I've ALWAYS (pre-CEDU too) took accountability for my actions. When my parents asked me for the truth or what happened, I told them even if it was bad for me. So to be treated like a liar at CEDU was too much to take.
When you look at CEDU's credentials and see degree, try to figure out if its a REAL school because it may be some BS Internet operation. (Even the ones in charge have these so called "degrees" from a degree mill)
I left after 6 months and never went back; my Dad was relieved because he did feel it was a bit cultish. I NEVER talked about it...how do you describe mental abuse? Until I came upon this site.
THere is a lot more to tell, and you know the sad thing? All I can think is maybe you are a CEDU spy who may threatten us all who have one place to share our story. Doesn't it say something to you thath there are ex-staff who are scared shitless of revealing themselves because of threats by CEDU but who do it anyway to try to either make amends or validate our stories.
I'm sure CEDU would tell you these staff are "disgruntled ex-employees" or the students on these sites are just "troubled teens" and that is an affront to all of us who are real, and honest, and in pain.
"
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most definitely...
i'm compiling a book of stories.. yours story backed with your insight sounds perfect. i'd love it if you would contribute!
email me:
[email protected]
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He was in RMA in the late 90's and I would not be anymore specific than that without his permission, although I'm going to tell him about this site when he's home this weekend. He may be interested in tracking down a couple of old staff members who left meant a lot to him and left before he finished. If he wants to say more about his personal experience that will be up to him.
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So, Ottawa... is your son willing to post his story here? We'd like to hear it!
On 2004-06-25 10:40:00, ottawa5 wrote:
"He was in RMA in the late 90's and I would not be anymore specific than that without his permission, although I'm going to tell him about this site when he's home this weekend. He may be interested in tracking down a couple of old staff members who left meant a lot to him and left before he finished. If he wants to say more about his personal experience that will be up to him."
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I hope he will, but I must say that he is very involved with his current life, and it will be his decision. No everyone is evangelical (in the sense of advocating or preaching to the world in a general sense). He is clearly aware of the differing opinions people have about CEDU in that he keeps in touch with a number of his peers who might be called "CEDU success stories" and also with others for whom CEDU apparently did little. I will certainly give him my opinion that it would be a useful thing to post here, in terms of parsing out what works and what does not, in the CEDU experience. But it is, in the final analysis, his business if he wishes to discuss his life with others, at this site, or anywhere else. I hope he does, though. I know that he is interested in getting in touch with some school staff who were important to him, and who left before he did, so maybe the possibility ot contacting them again will encourage him to post here.
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I'm still here - just being cautious because I am afraid of LaTeresa and those Mormons at BCA.
Hey, What was it like working for Lori Rist. How was she with the kids. I have heard good and bad things. Most recently, I heard she was fired from NWA. Is this True?
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Fired, quit, let go, who knows, I don't care. They let a lot of people go lately. It is fantastic because they have no idea how to operate in the real world anymore :grin:
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Danielle Allgood, (Michael Allgoods wife) once said that this stuff they did at CEDU was based on epitome. So anything you say they will exaggerate to the extreme. I suppose on the positive side they think this may help you avoid going down that road any further than you already have.
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danielle and michael were liars they only cared about themselves and they conned all. one got cancer and the other one is still lying.
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Thanks Jack
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next parent conference in courd A lane at the resort, everyone should come together and protest. We all could make them go out of buisiness. what does everyone say. Its perfectly legal too.
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Even one demonstrator holding a sign with this url would do some damage.
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Let me know and I'll set up a shorter URL for you.
You can lead a camel to water but you can't make it stink (any more than it already does)
-- Job
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Let me know the dates, times, place of the next parent conference for CEDU running springs. I'll go picket alone if I have to. (310)756-4534.
No balls no glory.
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If anyone wants to email me to talk about protesting then email me at [email protected]
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Please include me along the protesters and send me the dates, times, locations, and all other pertinant information. I suggest we have an after party as well and smoke lots and lots of weed. :tup:
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It would be a huge strain on the resources to commit to anything but I wouldn't miss the chance to voice my disaproval and inflict some damage to the institution that has caused me such fury, sadness, pain, and insecurity. Count me in and expect me to be in touch.
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On 2004-09-02 16:48:00, Oppositional Defiance wrote:
"Please include me along the protesters and send me the dates, times, locations, and all other pertinant information. I suggest we have an after party as well and smoke lots and lots of weed. :tup:
"
i thought you didn't smoke...
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I do. :smokin:
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count me in on the parent confrence thing! :grin: lemme know about the dates and when to be there!
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We don't need to email eachother. Just post the dates and times and place of the next conference. I'll be there to protest. No need to organize, I guess. If anyone else shows up- that would be cool, but if not, I'll be there alone. Just let me know where and when they are having a conference. Any recent escapees from CEDU running springs around? When is the next conference? Where is it going to be held? Although I post a lot on this forum, I'm itching to do some more wet work. How else could we find out? Could we call the hotels around the area pretending to be a confused CEDU parent? Could we call pretending to be a caterer looking for the conference? Surely, there are ways. But much easier and more accurate to get the information directly. Who's up for a little research?
P.S. I'll supply (medical in California of course!!) herb for whoever shows up!
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Bryan, I used to live in Palos Verdes and Redondo Beach, you from around there? (I could tell from area code.)
I'm wondering if you've been to the Running Springs area since you graduated and visited CEDU. I live on the East Coast now but there is a part of me that feels a need to go there for closure. I don't know why but I think it would help me. I'm sure I would not be allowed on campus.
Any former escapees allowed to visit folks? I'm sure no way in hell.
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That was me, Shanlea, by the way.
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I live in Lomita. I'm sure you know where that is if you lived around here. (in between Torrance and Harbor City)
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Have I been there since graduating? I can't answer that. There's your answer.
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Is it the same as it was way back then? Is Running Springs still a one-horse town? Is it easy to go and have a look?
Are there any staff there that were also there in the late eighties?
---Shanlea
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By the way, I remember when I split it was the Monday after parent conferences which was September 13th I think. This was years and years ago but maybe they are having another conference coming up right quick. Like Labor Day weekend or Labor Day.
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Just snuck on campus with my (also ex-CEDU) girlfriend when I was like 16 to smoke and cause a little havok.
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Hey, i was just a student at cascade for only like two weeks, and i ran away and al that jazz, but i heard it got shut down, and i was wonderin if anyone knew any of the real reasons, cuz i keep hearing differently.
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jennifer P was a very close friend of mine while I was at CEDU (I graduated in 89) and after. She was once a student there and was a mess from her experience. She was so broken. I have been looking for her for over 10 years. She called me one day came over gave me a hug and disappeared.
Andy Grenier was involved at my mothers school for awhile and he also did not know where she went. I worry about her all the time.
The things that happened to her at the hands of the staff were unspeakable.
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yah at cascade some students decided to revolt and they barricaded themselves in the dorms and all had sex(iam being serious) then the school got shut down....
Also I Kinda wanna roll up to Cedu and try and get some of my friends out, cuz they cant restrain us, iam not 18 so i cant get kidnapping, and if they try for the private property shit, ill be out before the cops ever get there
Whos with me, iam gonna try in June
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Jim Johnson to me was fantastic!!Great guy who really seemed to care..I talked to him in 1991 as he was living in california and working part time in some school in new mexico or somewhere.
Lori Saunders was a absolute joke!!She was the one who had the dog that lived behind the main house.I cant tell you how much I hated her..She had no Intelligence,hated me and many of the other kids and she was the last straw for me wanting out of cedu.To me she was evil and I actually appreciate that, as I woulda risked everything to get off that mountain.
Rudi..Well you can read up on him.He seemed ok with me and I think he generally liked his job and the kids.I beleave he killed alot of brain cells in the 70's though.
Steve Laird??Good Guy!!I beleave he is just another who didnt realize what he got himself into when accepting his job at cedu..
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Steve Laird a good guy??? This is the same steve laird who fucked a 13 year old kid. Not a good guy at all, he's a real piece of shit.
That goes double for Rudy Bentz (a pedophile and confessed murderer).
What the hell is wrong with you Wall?
ARE YOU SMOKING ROCKS OR SOMETHING?
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I never trusted Jim Johnson. He was not a yeller or as abusive in raps like other staff but he was as full of shit as anyone.
I believe he projected his own issues onto students like other staff and he definitely betrayed my trust on several ocacsions where he either did not keep his word about something or he twisted my story around to benefit the CEDU script. He gained my trust and then exploited it. (One example was telling my parents I'd be addicted to drugs if they pulled me out and tagging me as a druggie when I've never been more than an experimental user and stopped on my own volition several months BEFORE CEDU...and stayed off EASILY. Drugs were NOT the reason I went to that school. To be fair, his portrayal of me as a druggie may have had more to do with HIS past than mine. But this is just another example of having unqualified staff who don't have the therapeutic objectivity to distance their own stories from ours')
I think staff got just as caught up in the bullshit CEDU machine as the students.
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You guys are probably right but i agree with shanlea..
"think staff got just as caught up in the bullshit CEDU machine as the students"
I had a good relationship with jim johnson and out of all the staff he was by far the one i liked best..Dont know why he was there though..He was a millionaire and came from a very successful family..We all know cedu payed very little..So it was either part of his parole or he liked helping kids..
Steve I didnt know as well I think he started the same time I did...Steve was a yes man all the way!!!Didnt seem like the brightest of people..But he was nice to me..I think some staff built repoirs with kids and the others tore them apart..Im sure they played good guy bad guy..Thats just my opinion if you went to cedu you know that they were always looking for dirt even if you didnt have any..
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Keep posting this real information and exposing what they do and Roy - you can look me up on the internet - Call me my mentor I have a web page dude