real-life reeducation centers

[Provost Harrison]

Lack of opportunity and prospects for the youth of today is the major problem, knowing that no one listens and that things will never get any better for them, that there is nowhere to go. They don't sleep around out of some kind of disrespect for their parents, but because they have nothing else to do, the way society makes them, and the same goes for the drugs - escapism from the reality of the situation.

As Kassiopeia said, at least prisons are regulated by a justice system. At least the institutions which exist to help reform youngsters (and I admit they are inadequate for what is needed) are under public scrutiny, but these secretive concentration camps are no solution, and the idea of sending my own child there would be enough to make me sick...

[Atahualpa]

our creativity is one of the few things we humans have and should protect. Not only it allowed us to become what we are, but it allows us to get even farther.
Such institutions clearly break any form of creativity and recreate a totalitarian system in the mind of the young. Therefor they when grown up could agree more to such sort of a system than to a democracy.
In that light I think it is dangerous educating children like that.

As others already said I think it is the lack of education enforced by parents. Maybe this may also have to do with the number of babies per Mother shrinking children have little time to develop social skills inside the family. In older days when a typical family consisted of grandparents, parents and 3 or more children there were enough people for the children to turn to and develop social skills.

Whatever the reasons may be I suggest looking for the real leaks and not praising short-term solutions.

Of course it is very difficult to speak because I do not have any children. Maybe some older Apolytoners peek in and share their experience in raising children.

Ata

[Sava]

I think they are useless. TV's do the job good enough.

[monolith94]

From our good friends at casa by the sea.

Date: June 26th 2003
Time: 6:00 P.M Eastern
ISAC Corporation engaged in a rescue mission of a child in Mexico today. ISAC staff flew into San Diego yesterday where they met the mother of the child and Telamundo News. This morning the mother of the child, an ISAC staff and press proceeded to Casa By The Sea to withdraw the child. According to our reports, the child was escorted the day before back to the states by an escort service at the request of the father. According to the mother, the father initially refused to withdraw the child even when he was made aware of allegations of abuse. These allegations came in the form of notarized statements of individuals and parents and sworn affidavits. ISAC then made the following information available to the father last week: "In fact, a parent's failure to remove a child, or a relative's failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect may leave the adult open for criminal prosecution or future civil liability." An attorney provided this information to ISAC. The father has been made aware of the facilities currently under investigation by ISAC. He was also made aware of those programs being "looked into" by the U.S State Department for allegations of abuse. ISAC has forwarded on the abuse reports that we have received (as required by law) to the appropriate state officials. If the child is again placed into ANY facility that is being "looked into" by the U.S. State Department this will result in an immediate and subsequent investigation by ISAC and the results of this investigation will be made public.

The child is in the United States now and no longer in Casa By The Sea.

[VetLegion]

I am one step away from taking up arms and liberating these children

[Provost Harrison]

I know what you mean Vet, that whole lying on the floor business is torture by very definition - it is being used to break the will of these children to resist. You are prevented from doing that to an enemy by the Geneva Convention...let alone your own kids

[VetLegion]

I would never think to tell people what to do with their lives, but this **** is evil and it is breaking so many laws and conventions, no wonder it is in Jamaica, it would not survive even in USA

[mrmitchell]

Isn't there some international law we can bust these jackasses under?

[VetLegion]

I know where I can get a couple of AK-47 rifles. Used. But without ammo. Also, I need a ticket to Jamaica and some way of making sure I won't just get stoned when I get there and forget my rescue mission..


On a serious note, yes, I think this violates the UN charter about children which Jamaica signed (I think)

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
The article was a little over-the-top, don't you think? Tranquility Bay may or may not be a ****ed up place; I don't really know. What I do know, however, is that I don't trust what this writer had to say. The author was trying a little too hard to write a lost scene from "1984."

Assuming you have someone actually forced to lie face down on the floor without moving or speak, blah blah blah, that would violate international law on treatment of EPW's. We don't go that far at Camp X-ray, but it's "over the top" to criticize it harshly when applied to kids as young as 11?

[Drake Tungsten]

with that said, if the allegations about the conditions there are true, i find it a horrid place, and wonder why or how a parent could conceivably think it is a good idea to send their children there--especially, as in one case, when the "sin" is nothing more than having an "unacceptable boyfriend"...

I agree wholeheartedly with this.

We don't go that far at Camp X-ray, but it's "over the top" to criticize it harshly when applied to kids as young as 11?

I have no problem with criticizing Tranquility Bay; it certainly deserves condemnation if the allegations in this piece are true. What I didn't appreciate, however, was the style the author used, manipulating the image of various subjects through his prose. Are the parents and children associated with Tranquility Bay really brainwashed automatons, as the author goes to great lengths to describe them as? Was the dancing girl really miserable or did the author just think that "the saddest girl in the world" was a description that would make the piece more powerful? This piece seems a little too good to be true, like Stephen Glass's article on the cult that worshipped George H.W. Bush. That article turned out to be a bunch of bull**** and this one might be as well.

As I said before, I may be overly cynical, but caution is called for in these days of rampant media fabrication. If this article is accurate I hope they shut Tranquility Bay down, but I'm going to make sure I'm hearing the truth before I join the call to arms.

[Q Classic]

i wonder. i haven't been able to do much more research on this matter, unfortunately, because i've been busy, but i'll look into it more.

i don't often go to the sa forums, but i'll swing by this time.

[Spiffor]

From the Tranquility Bay Website

Behavior Modification
High standards exist. Inappropriate behavior is confronted, consequented and redirected. Appropriate behavior is reinforced and rewarded. A merit system is used requiring each teen to earn their status and privileges through a standard program using a level system.

Personal develoment courses
Daily Personal Development and Emotional Growth Courses are an important part of the overall program.
These courses intermittently utilize effective resources such as: educational and inspiring audio & video tapes, selective reading material, special workshops, and group feedback sessions.

Teen Drug Use: Warning Signs
Neglected appearance/hygiene
Poor self image
Grades dropping
Violent outbursts at home
Slurred speech
Curfew violations
Hostility towards family members
Red eyes
Valuables Missing
Possessing unexplained valuables
Change in friends
Depression
Withdrawal
Apathy
Reckless Behavior
No Concern about future
Defiles Family Values
Disrespectful to parents
Lying/Deception
Sneaky behavior
Disregards Consequences
Loss of Interest in healthy activities
Verbally abusive
Manipulative/Self-Centered
Lack of Motivation

(granted, I removed the few warning signs which have indeed to do with drug use, rather than with teenagehood in general).

Working with parents is a key component to the success of the Program. Families have frequent phone contact with their child's case manager and when appropriate, the teen is included.

a more neutral article (but less informative)

[Drake Tungsten]

Much better article, Spiff.

She said Colin had two teeth knocked loose by a staff member's fist and spent at least eight months in the isolation room. "They are very physically severe in Jamaica," she said. "For sure, they did things they couldn't do in America."

Someone needs to look into these accusations. Physical abuse is unacceptable.

[muxec]

Originally posted by mrmitchell
Isn't there some international law we can bust these jackasses under?

I hopr that ther is no law. CHildren must be allowed to be punished. If they are not, the new generation will be full of ****ing stupids.