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Messages - Ursus

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1
From the above blog entry in the OP:

    ...Now here is where the story turns into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, but I promise it is true. The fugitive called his dad and his dad (who had flown across the country and hired his own private investigator to find his son) came to the cabin to get him. His dad knocked at the door and when he saw his boy he held out his arms. The fugitive nervously asked his dad what was going to happen, and his dad took out a picture of his son from his shirt pocket. (I swear I'm not making this up.) Then he said, "I put this picture of you here by my heart while we were searching for you. I just want to love you right now." And the fugitive went over to his father for a hug. Now I'm sure there will be heck to pay later, but I thought it was a perfect ending to the reunion. The message: Your family is there with arms outstretched to love you, even when you aren't at your best. Now isn't that nice? Hallmark you can come get the story rights from me, because this one is a real winner.
[/size]
So... what happened next?

Was this a real hug, or a kool-aid perfused hug? [The latter being merely one of those obligatory saccharin moments ... preceding an obligatory and forced return to the program.]

And... just in case there's more info not obvious nor accessible to ordinary plebes like me, does anyone know which wilderness program was the one featured in above tale?

2
Hyde Schools / Re: Don't send your child to Hyde!!!
« on: May 11, 2012, 11:27:16 PM »
Quote from: "joenazigauld"
Quote from: "Wayne Kernochan"
The question I have, and will ask when I'm interviewed for my book, is if Hyde is using behavior modification. It sounds like it. The yelling and humiliation, and forced labor. Do they call it therapy? Do the people who work there have degrees? Before I go off about it, I need to know.

Elan dumped some of their victims on Hyde, and Peter Rowe is now working there. The new owner of Elan's Poland Springs campus has ties to Hyde.

What I can't find, is anything by Hyde calling what they're doing therapy. If someone can point me to it, I'd appreciate it. Then I can ask how they're allowed to practice psychology without training

The editor of the newspaper considering me has asked for specifics. All I can find is terms like "Character building" and stuff like that. A link would be nice
Hyde is 100% using behavior modification. They love to yell in your face, and humiliate you, publicly and privately. Forced labor is part of the school, and used in a more extreme way to punish students. They call nothing therapy, that is because no one who works there has a degree. You should go off about it, because they cannot do any of this. All these are therapeutic techniques, yet no one on campus, either campus, has a degree, about 75% don't even have teaching degrees.
Hyde is smart about hiding there behavior modification and humiliation, in your face yelling techniques, and so on. They purposely do not call it therapy, because there is no one properly trained on campus.
Character building is just accountability. A perfect example of this is 2-4. 2-4 is explained pretty well on here, but to sum it all up, its a mix of solitary confinement, a physically impossible workout, brutal humiliation, and repenting time.
If you were writing about Hyde, be sure to include all of these things, and also be sure to include how often they lie, abuse kids, and skew statistics to raise the school's popularity.
Quote from: "spacecadet"
I seriously doubt that Hyde's calling what they do "therapy" for the simple reason that if they did they could be sued for malpractice.
No, they didn't call it "therapy" in my time either. Nor was anyone qualified, from the standpoint of professional training not to mention accountability, to conduct such psychologically invasive practices.

In fact, from what I recall, Joe seemed to project a pretty hefty antipathy towards those who made their living as "psych professionals" (save for the few individuals that served as Hyde School referral sources; these individuals often being, in addition, and not surprisingly, Hyde parents).

However, I think the reason for the absence of avowed "therapeutic" aim in Hyde School philosophy is more involved than mere concern for legal accountability. [In fact, I kinda doubt that Hyde's concept of "legal accountability" bears any resemblance to what the average person (living in the real world) thinks of it as being! As many who have experienced or witnessed particularly unsavory events at Hyde fully know, or should know, Hyde School has absolutely NO respect for the letter nor even the spirit of the law when it runs counter to their purposes, or when to do so might jeopardize their financial wellbeing.]

Rather, I think the decided avoidance of — or the aversion to — reference to the term "therapy" (and its etymological offspring) stems more from Joe's ego, personal perspective and proclivities, as well as from what was going on in the cultural mix at the time Hyde School was founded in the mid 1960s.

If y'all might recall, or not, back then, encounter groups — part and parcel of the human potential movement — were just becoming the rage. Back then, encounter groups were often described as "therapy for normals," hence, professionals need not necessarily be involved to run them.* From a 1970 article in TIME Magazine, emphasis added:

    To many Americans, these activities typify a leaderless, formless and wildly eclectic movement that is variously called
sensitivity training, encounter, "therapy for normals," the bod biz, or the acidless trip. Such terms merely describe the more sensational parts of a whole that is coming to be known as the human potentials movement—a quest conducted in hundreds of ways and places, to redefine and enrich the spirit of social man.

· · < snip snip > · ·

Even though the movement's advocates deny that it is therapy, many people visit the new growth centers or attend informal group sessions in quest of precisely that. The American Psychiatric Association estimates that in California, more troubled individuals already seek help from the human potentials movement than from "traditional sources of psychotherapy."[/list][/size]
What Hyde School currently calls "discovery groups," and in my time were called "seminars," are, imo, essentially encounter groups for teenagers and/or their families, run and orchestrated by fully "Hyde-ified" adults, ensconced in and committed to "The Hyde Way."

Like other HPM advocates, Hyde School sees no reason to call what they do "therapy" (they call it "preparation for life"), even though the nature of what they promise and profess to do would ordinarily come under ... just such a characterization.

Go figure. :D


-----------------------
* See also: Wechsler, I.R.; Messarik, F. and Tannenbaum: "The Self in Process: A Sensitivity Training Emphasis" in Wechsler, I.R. and Schein, E.H. (eds): Issues in Training, National Education Association: National Training Laboratories, 1962, pp 33-46.

3
Facility Question and Answers / Re: Discovery Academy (Provo, UT)
« on: May 06, 2012, 12:19:33 AM »
Quote from: "kiki5454"
Discovery Academy is still a hideous facility that abuses children physically & emotionally, brainwashes parents to get 10's of thousands of dollars out of them. they will tell parents anything to have them believe that theit kid needs to be there to get "better" meanwhile, this place will give them lifelong PTSD and much more. Utah has the worst laws for protecting kids and their parents. Any place that cuts off communication with your kid is a RED FLAG in itself. kids have no way of reporting whats really going on and if you do get your supervised phone call, your kid is going to be too scared to tell you the truth because they get threatend, put in solitarly confinement and worse. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS NO MATTER WHAT THEY HAVE DONE!!!! All you need to do is spend an hour or 2 researching the abuse claims, lawsuits and message boards like this one.
Thanks for your input. Did you or someone you know attend Discovery Academy? Can you tell us any more info about your experience, current conditions, and/or recent lawsuits?

4
Facility Question and Answers / Re: Vantage Point, Utah (Aspiro)
« on: May 06, 2012, 12:08:48 AM »
Quote from: "eaglet"
I think that the "therapeutic" encouragement of "honesty" is a way to get material for blackmail. While they control the medium of communication they are collecting ammo.
I'm sure that's not how program apologists would choose to describe it! :D

But... the way you put it is, in fact, what frequently ends up happening.

A perhaps sobering qualifier worth mentioning: Due to the duress of coercion or the spell of idealistic fervor, whichever the case may be, that so-called "ammo" is often not real, or is distorted and taken out of context, or is sometimes even consciously fabricated by the target in question.

5
Quote from: "T.O."
Just looking around, and I noticed that not only is this site the first non-official google result for 'Benchmark Transitions,' but it engages in a DIRECT defense of the institution (particularly adressing recent court cases). They DO NOT link to any student testimonies (for obvious reasons), and their attempts to defend Benchmark indicate that they have certainly NEVER seen the fornits boards or talked to any students. Instead they say that Benchmark "deserves its reputation as one of the most if not the most trusted facility in its class for excellence of service, innovation, and self-assessment."

http://www.familylight.com/link3/3.03/3 ... chmark.htm

They don't seem to have any comment boards (of course) but there might be a way to deal with their prominence on google...
LOL. Of course FamilyLight engages in a direct defense of Benchmark. Tom Croke is an EdCon and this is how he makes his living!

And, being an edcon, not only does Croke know fully and all too well of fornits, he has even posted here in the past.

I love the reference to a lawsuit against a "particularly vitriolic" former student:

    Recently, Benchmark has been attacked by a former student who is making common cause with the folks who are trying to shut down all such schools and programs, but this gentleman is being particularly vitriolic with regard to Benchmark.  Benchmark is  
taking that matter to court. We leave it to the  court papers to describe the specifics.   Among the more outrageous claims is the suggestion that there has been some kind of collusion between Benchmark's management and local police to cover up for an allegedly large number of completed and attempted suicides.  With a large number of referrals to Benchmark we have had some experience with our clients threatening suicide while at Benchmark, and we have been positively impressed by the way Benchmark handled these situations.[/list][/size]
I guess Tom hasn't been too diligent 'bout updating his website, 'cuz that lawsuit went to court a few years ago, and... Benchmark kinda didn't fare too well.

Yep, that would have been the lawsuit against Psy. Which ended up costing Benchmark in the six figures, iirc... :D

Maybe that's why the above quoted links in Croke's writeup on Benchmark bring ya to...

    "Sorry, can't find that page."[/list]

    6
    Quote from: "Horatio."
    Okay, new question. Why should we harass a complete stranger on your command , when you're asked a question about them, and ignore it?
    Sorry, perhaps I'm misreading something, but... I failed to pick up exactly where wdtony requested, advocated, or "commanded" harassment of a complete stranger. Perhaps that would be your forté?

    7
    Hyde Schools / Re: Don't send your child to Hyde!!!
    « on: April 25, 2012, 10:33:15 PM »
    Quote from: "Liebchen"
    I don't know where to begin.  So happy our son is out of that place!!  The arrogance, verbal abuse, poor supervision, and the most dysfunctional cast of characters that athey call a staff.  If your child has a mental health issue, substance abuse issue, learning disability, or just low self esteem, they will not improve here.  The campus is rife with drugs - prescription and otherwise and some students are prone to violent outbursts.   They idea of discipline is forced labor and humiliation through meetings with faculty where they verbally abuse, embarass, and degrade students.  The FLC meetings are a joke, not to mention they expect you to go to parent group meetings in your area.  They aren't concerned with the fact that you have other children, a job, or other important commitments.  My parent group leader devulged very personal graphic issues of her strained marriage in our first meeting!!  Its a cult atmospher and the staff does not take criticism well at all.  This idea of accountability does not apply to them.  These children are suffering at the hands of grossly underqualified "teachers".  Most are Hyde grads themselves who have no real world experience.  They go to college and come right back home.  Students' issues go untreated because they are told they are just lazy and need to work hard to overcome them.  There is no qualified pschiatric care anywhere on campus.  At FLC' meetings, arrogant unfeeling facilitators humilate you and tell you that you are not sharing enough.  Not having much to share I made the mistake of asking if I should make something up to satisfy them.  FLC's are not younger sibling friendly.  The things that some poor families have gone through are not for your 12 year old's ears.  They sell you a wonderful happy "we can fix your child" story when you're at your lowest point.  So desperate you'll sign that contract and next thing you know you are out $45k for nothing!!  No refunds my friends.  Once you've signed on the dotted line, that's it whether your child is there 9 days or 9 months.  Once you've signed the caring supportive staff that just finished selling you a load, will then proceed to verbally abuse you as well and tell you that you've done a poor job of raising your child.  Then there are the scandals on campus that they are quite adept at sweeping under the carpet.  A male teacher using pot and allegedly having inappropriate contact with female students, a teacher's loaning out a summer home where an under age drinking party occurred, and a student selling his dad's oxycodone!!  Yes, the very few painful months we were involved in that place felt like a lifetime, what a hellish period in our lives!!  I could go on forever with more stories but I'm sure you get my point that its not a safe, nuturing place for your troubled teen to sort out their issues!!
    I am sorry (but somehow not at all surprised) to hear that Hyde School is still practicing these exploitative methods on desperate families. Thankfully, it sounds like your family is pretty much on the same page about it all. Not all families are so lucky. Some can get pretty torn apart by Hyde's manipulations of ideals and loyalties...

    I had no idea there was such a problem with drugs. Which campus did your son attend?

    Also, speaking of Hyde's possible (or probable) criminal activities and their ilk, which teacher was "allegedly having inappropriate contact with female students?" This sort of thing has been going on for years, long before Sandusky, and seems to be wholly endemic to the place.

    8
    Entries left for Ben Lolley's Guest Book (attached to the above obit):


    August 31, 2011
      I am so sorry for your loss, and pray that God will grant you peace and comfort
        ~ Lori Martin,
    Goodfield, Illinois[/list][/list]
    August 31, 2011
      We are truly sorry for your loss may god lift you up during this difficult time.
        ~ wilson family,
    eureka, Illinois[/list][/list]
    August 31, 2011
      Dear Lolley Family,

      I just heard about your tragic loss and am praying for you. I know your faith has been tested to the limit the past several years and hope the Lord brings you safely through.

      We were members together with you in the Kankakee Homeschool group years ago. Kaasi (Richmond) and Nikki still stay in occasional contact with one another.

      The Mike and Roxanne Keen Family
        ~ Roxanne Keen,
    Momence, Illinois[/list][/list]
    August 31, 2011
      We are praying for you and are so sorry for your loss.May God be ever near your side now and in the coming days.
        ~ Lori Leman,
    Eureka, Illinois[/list][/list]
    August 31, 2011
      Our prayers go out to you and yours. Praying for God's strength and peace for you.
        ~ Terry Ryan (kche),
    Bourbonnais, Illinois[/list][/list]
    September 01, 2011
      My heart was heavy when I heard the news at church on Sunday. Grace Church of Morton prayed for your family, and the work at Salem Ranch to continue. My half brother, Kelly Guard, was there at Salem with Ben. I am so sorry for your loss. Be comforted in knowing that he heard the Good News of Salvation many times while at the ranch.
        ~ Ellen Lorentz,
    Morton, Illinois[/list][/list]


    ©2011 Legacy.com.

    9
    CAN ~ Collective Action Network / Benjamin James Lolley, 16, R.I.P.
    « on: April 13, 2012, 06:01:07 PM »
    There's also an obituary on Legacy.com, attached to the Peoria Journal Star. This one has a pic and a Guest Book attached...

    -------------- • -------------- • --------------

    Obituary
    Benjamin Lolley



    EUREKA - Benjamin James Lolley, 16, of Eureka, Ill., passed away at 5:23 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, in Eureka, Ill.

    He was born Dec. 9, 1994, in Stillwater, Okla., a son of Jim and Dianne Michelle Bates Lolley. Surviving are his mother, Michelle Lolley of Eureka, Ill.; two sisters, Nikki (Ben) Chew and Chelsea Lolley, both of Eureka, Ill.; paternal grandparents, Bob and Leonia Lolley of Valdosta, Ga.; and maternal grandmother, Virginia Lowry of Perkins, Okla.

    He was preceded in death by his father and his maternal grandfather, Roy Arthur Bates.

    Ben was a student at Salem Ranch in Flanagan, Ill., where he was just a few weeks short of graduating from high school.

    He enjoyed horseback riding, training horses, fishing, weight lifting and various sports.

    A celebration of life service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, at the Eureka Nazarene Church. The Rev. Nathan Thomas will officiate. There will be no visitation.

    Cremation rites will be accorded, and burial of ashes will be with his father in Perkins Cemetery in Perkins, Okla., at a later date.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Salem 4 Youth Ranch in Flanagan, Ill..

    Online condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.

    Published in Peoria Journal Star on August 31, 2011


    © Copyright 1999-2011 Legacy.com

    10
    News Items / Re: Salem Children's Home is renaming itself: Salem4youth
    « on: April 13, 2012, 05:02:13 PM »
    From the above article:

      Salem Children's Home, which is renaming itself Salem4youth, is rebuilding. Like the boys it serves, Salem has accepted correction and is working on growth.[/list][/size]
      This is not exactly recent news. It's a lil curious, however, that the article does seem to convey that impression.

      Here's their website: http://www.salem4youth.com/

      They were certainly already calling themselves Salem for Youth Ranch back in 2011, when 16-year-old student Benjamin James Lolley killed himself. You can read more about that in this thread:


      11
      Hyde Schools / Re: Where's that "movement of concerned Americans?"
      « on: April 11, 2012, 08:37:46 PM »
      Quote from: "Wayne Kernochan"
      The more I learn about brainwashing, the clearer it becomes what they did to us. I had never done drugs, and had never been in trouble with the law, and for two years Elan beat it into my head that I was going to be a drug addict, and go to prison, and in less than two years, that's exactly what happened.

      It's scary that there are so many programs using the same techniques. The future is a scary thing to consider, knowing what happened to so many of us
      Well... some of these programs serve as prototypes for a culture that uses a controlled media, manufactured national crises, psych ops, and social group and mob manipulation as a means for ensuring cooperation and quashing dissent... Oh, and let's be sure not to leave out big pharma! :D

      12
      News Items / Re: What would Jesus do?
      « on: April 11, 2012, 12:58:16 PM »
      See also:


      13
      Guest Book entries for William Spencer Brooks, maintained by the Becker Funeral Home and connected to the above Memorial Page:


      Chuck and Cheri Abshere · 03/04/2012
        We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Praying for all of you.
      Karen Vindelov · 03/04/2012
        Will you were like a son to me, living with us in Wichita. We had our ups and downs and got on each others nerves. Trevor and Travis both love you like a brother and are devastated by this loss.
      Paige Powell Perry · 03/04/2012
        I offer my deepest sympathy to your family for your loss. I pray for strength and peace for you all.
      Lyle R Kelsey · 03/05/2012
        Gary,
        I am in shock. I read the accident account in the paper and did not even make any connection until Sunday evening. I am so sorry for such a tragic loss of a son and so young. Nothing can be said to ease the hurt but I just want you to know that I am praying for strength for you and your family.
      Gayla Janke · 03/05/2012
        Gary, I am very sorry for your loss. May God comfort you during this time.
      Eric & Kay Frische · 03/05/2012
        Gary,

        Both of us were saddened to hear of the loss of your son. Please know that you are in our prayers.

        Eric & Kay Frische
      Reji Varghese · 03/05/2012
        Mr. Brooks my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time
      jenny boyer M.D. · 03/05/2012
        gary, my heart goes out to you. I am available anytime you might want to have me around. Jenny
      Sharon Greenlee Jones · 03/05/2012
        My deepest condolences to the the family.
      Laure Dickey · 03/06/2012
        My thoughts are with you
      Mikel Shanklin · 03/06/2012
        Colleen, I'm very so for your loss. My prayers will be with you and your family.
      Emily Aldrich · 03/06/2012
        A few years ago my cousins, Trevor and Travis Vindelov, were at St. John's Military School with Will. A couple times a year, my family and I would go visit my cousins and we would see Will there. He would always give me piggy back rides and make me laugh :) Even though I didn't know Will that well, I still knew he was a nice person. You will be missed Will.


      Memorial Networks™ Partner Provider: Batesvile Interactive

      14
      News Items / William Spencer Brooks: December 17, 1990 - March 1, 2012
      « on: April 11, 2012, 12:03:27 PM »
      A Memorial Page with obituary by Becker Funeral Home:

      -------------- • -------------- • --------------

      William Spencer Brooks
      December 17, 1990 - March 1, 2012

      BIOGRAPHY

      Graveside service for William Spencer Brooks, 21, Oklahoma City, will be Wednesday morning, March 7, 2012 at Highland Cemetery, Lawton Oklahoma, with time to be determined.

      William died March 1, 2012 in an automobile accident.

      Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Lawton, under the direction of the Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

      William was born December 17, 1990 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He attended Casady School from Pre-K until 5th grade. William graduated from St. John's Military School in 2009. While excelling at St. John's, William earned a reputation for his demonstrated leadership skills. He quickly gained rank over many of the older students while balancing numerous extra-curricular activities. While at St. John's, William found his true passion in music, particularly percussion. He attended college in Wichita, Kansas and transferred to Oklahoma City Community College in 2010. William was working as a waiter and bartender at Upper Crust, with intention to accept a military scholarship at Wentworth Military Academy in the fall. William was excited about his future, and we all could see someone who had grown into a confident, sensitive and caring young man.

      William is survived by his mother, Colleen Doolin, his father Gary L. Brooks, grandfather, Glenn Brooks, brothers, Michael and Reid Brooks, and many other family members and friends.

      William is preceded in death by his grandparents, Justice John B. Doolin, Katherine Doolin and Lois Brooks.

      William's future was exceptionally bright, and the dawn of his manhood inspired hope in all around him for the great things to come. He will be missed.

      In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to St. John's Military School, Salina, KS.
         


      FACTS

      Born: December 17, 1990
      Place of Birth: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
      Death: March 1, 2012
      Place of Death: Edmond, Oklahoma


      Memorial Networks™ Partner Provider: Batesvile Interactive

      15
      Feed Your Head / Re: "What the Bleep?" and "The Secret"
      « on: April 11, 2012, 11:22:55 AM »
      So... going back to the original post in this thread... Hyde School, fwiw, has relatively significant connections of one sort or another to both "What the Bleep?" as well as "The Secret," which makes me kinda wonder 'bout the original intent of the poster who started this discussion quite some time ago.

      "The Secret" appears to have especially fired up the imaginations of those involved in the marketing of Hyde. And the first aforementioned Hyde alumnus (who was involved with the Ramtha cult for at least ten years) used some of these same methods and principles to market the Ramtha propaganda piece, "What The Bleep."

      I'm not sure which came first.

      Here's evidence of one such Hyde marketing campaign (among many) from Hyde's Fall 2004 Alumni Newsletter, mentioning Laurie (Gauld) Hurd and Duncan McCrann:


        SHARE THE SECRET

        Recently, Laurie Hurd and Duncan McCrann announced the launch of a major campaign to increase awareness about Hyde. The help of alumni in the form of time, energy, enthusiasm, and creative thinking is needed. Simply put, it's a new world for Hyde and other New England boarding schools. The recent proliferation of new educational options for students and families has created a challenge for boarding school admissions, a challenge that we at Hyde are eager to face with your help.

        As alumni, you don't have to be sold on the impact of Hyde on families. There is little doubt that if more families knew about Hyde, they would pursue enrollment. In some ways, Hyde is the best-kept secret in American education! It is where hope is restored and potential is realized.

        This fact led to a new campaign that will "ignite" conversation and interest about Hyde, a venture where everyone connected to Hyde is passing along the Hyde "secret" to people they meet everyday—school counselor, minister, friend, therapist, colleague—to ultimately transform the mystery into knowledge.

        In the coming months, you will hear more about Share the Secret. By working together to spread the word about Hyde we will reach families that could benefit from what our schools offer, and have some fun in the process. Please contact Laurie Hurd at 207-443-7105, dmccrann@hyde.edu, to pass along any campaign development ideas.[/list]

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