Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Ok folks rarely am I ever seen to do anything nice so take this as a sign from god that I am going utterly barmy.



There are some really twisted places that are only interested in making money off the pain and suffering of kids and parents. I am asking you all to look at a link, and to consider signing a petition. It would be a great thing to get this bill passed through congress to make private boarding schools undergo a licensing proceedure. This would give kids a far greater measure of protection that is currently availiable to them now.

Go look at this link:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.1738.IH:

If you feel up to signing the petition go to this link.

http://www.petitiononline.com/hr1738/petition.html


If you think that kids should STFU, and stop whining I suggest you go look at this link.

http://www.isaccorp.org/index.html

Still think the little brats should be locked in a barrel? Go look at this link.

http://www.teenadvocatesusa.org/foreveryoung.html

[Hater Depot]

I remember when the NY Times ran a front-page story about a place in Mexico called Casa By The Sea. Horrible stuff. I think the Mexicans raided it and shut it down a few years later.

A parent sending a child to these places without fully investigating them is not the kind of person capable of raising a child.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Casa By the Sea is only the tip of a very large and sick Ice berg. WWASP or the World Wide Association of Speciality Schools runs facilities in the USA that do the same sick crap.

[Hater Depot]

http://www.nospank.net/chambard.htm

Everything I remembered and worse. It sounds exactly like the Soviet gulag. Casa's web site is still up and running--kids are still sitting in those room with their noses to the wall and everything else. Please help.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Not only at CASA

you have Cross Creek Manor USA. You have Tranquility Bay Jamaica. You have Spring Creek Lodge USA.

That is three sites that are notorious for some fairly hellish gulag style treatment of kids.

Go sign the damn petition!!!

[cosmicgirlie]

Are you talking about Wilderness Therapy Programs or systematic and institutionalized abuse all around?

Do they not have laws and regulations around abuse in the US with respect to this matter? I would find that odd if they did not.

The reason I ask is because when I'm not doing the ESL gig I'm in Canada working in the Child Protection feild. Not saying that it still doesn't happen but when the children or youth come into care the very first thing we do after we get all the information is read them their rights....and we go over it so they know. One of the rights is not to be harmed emotionally, physically or mentally by anyone. These same rights are adopted from the UN Rights of Children Charter. Would the US not adopt something along similar lines?

Yes, despite the laws abuse in agencies still occur. Just recently I found out about a case in Oshawa with a private group home. It's an isolated case in that it was a staff and one child however, the ministry is quick to move in and shut down that house. Does this not occur in the US? Satisfy my curiosity please.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Specifically the so called "Teen Help" industry. Part of it is wilderness therapy, and parts of it involved theraputic boarding schools. A great number of them are privately owned, and not subjected to licensure.

Several states in the USA have such weak licensure standards it as easy as filling out a lease agreement. Montana is famous for its lax standards. At last count I do believe they have something in the order of 29 unlicensed facilities.

There are laws and regulations forbiding child abuse. However, in the case of these privately own companies the local authorites tend to side with the staff more often than not. Currently in California a huge civil suit is pending against WWASP the head office of some 12 of the more notorious child "help" camps. In Arizona Chuck Long received 6 years on a Manslaughter charge for his part in the death of one his campers. The list goes on, but suffices to say it varies from state to state, and the petition is for a bill to start implementing federal regulations to a proverbial wild west industry.

I would think as a member of the UN Security Council the Rights of Children Charter would already be applicable. Being that the UN pretty much lives or dies based on the boodle the USA ponies up that I doubt its something that will ever get enforced.

However, thank you for bringing it to my attention it will make for good reading.

[cosmicgirlie]

Thank you for answering my question.

I guess this is one of those cases where a unified law system should be put in place. Especially around liscensing and child protection rights and laws. It would seem in the best interest of all youth involved and children for that matter for this type of united law to exist.

I just hope that you don't think that all 'teen help' programs out there are terrible and should all be shut down. There are some strong and very well run programs available for youth at risk. There are also very dedicated workers out there who want to see these youth become successful.

You are right to assume some horribly run programs. A lot of them are privately funded. Even here in Canada the 'per diem' houses as I like to call them have some poorly run programs. But even they have some jems. I work relief in a 'per diem' house and it's a well run program, but I've also worked in some not so well run per diem. I got out though and informed the Ministry about it. Investigations go on all the time. Some times kids are believed, and other times the staff are believed. Sometimes kids will make up stories just so they don't have to be in the care of these people.

I've had allegations made against me, but unfounded and untrue. The youth in question didn't like me so she told her Social Worker that I yelled at her, hit her and locked her in her room. I never did such a thing. I was investigated. It's a pretty normal occurance in the feild. Everyone who works in it at one point or another is investigated because of allegations of misconduct. Most of it is unfounded. However, every now and then....there are people who intentionally or unintentionally harm a child or youth. Of course they're the ones who make the headlines about our line of work. Very seldom do we as child care givers recieve the media attention about how we assist numerous children and youth. Not that it matters to us professionals much. The little thank you notes from children and youth years later tell us we are appreciated. I've got a few I keep at my desk just to remind me that I'm doing alright as a professional and the kids are going to be okay.

Sorry, babbled on...it's something I know.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Good to hear the allegations did not pan out against you. I had a coworker where he was not so lucky. He is now not able to work with kids untill he gets it all cleared up with the state authorities, and that process has been ongoing for almost three years.

I agree a unified system of laws regulating the industry would go along ways in solving some of the problems. I think the other part is parents start taking the time to be parents on a full time basis.

I could ramble but my brain hurts i am going back to bed for a couple of hours. Bleeh.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Come on Americans lets get on this!

[schwa]

Best luck advocating about your worthy cause, but do know that internet petitions are useless.

Check here: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/internet.htm

[Hater Depot]

True. Everyone should write or call their elected representatives. And if you write it's better to send a letter rather than an e-mail, it's just taken more seriously.