Do Lap Dances and Humiliation Treat ADHD -- and Should Public Schools Pay?

In today's Time Magazine online, I have an article about a school -- Mount Bachelor Academy -- which is part of a Supreme Court case to be argued on April 28. The Court will answer the question of whether parents can sue to get reimbursement for private residential schools like Mount Bachelor, if their disabled child hasn't first tried public special education. In this case, the child's disability was ADHD.

For the article, I interviewed more than ten students, two unrelated parents and a current employee who describe bizarre, abusive, one-size-fits-all "therapies" that are neither educational or therapeutic. Most of the teens I spoke with say they had witnessed or were personally made to perform lap dances or other sexualized activity in front of dozens of peers and staff. The school's management denies all allegations of wrong-doing.

It may be the case that parents should have access to the courts if they feel that their school's plan for their child with a disability is wrong. The Supreme Court will make that decision.

However, I think it's very difficult to argue that sexual humiliation, sleep deprivation, food deprivation and isolation from family (kids are only allowed one ten-minute, monitored phone call every other week for months on end, no calls if they are punished) is an effective treatment for ADHD, depression, addiction or any other form of teen misbehavior or mental illness.

Though the school denies that it uses degrading tactics, reports of them have come from students, former employees and parents for decades.

Mount Bachelor is part of Aspen Education -- believed to be the largest chain of teen residential programs in the U.S. Aspen, as part of CRC Health, which is owned by Bain Capital, was seen by advocates as much more sedate and less given to wacky practices than clearly "out there" programs like those associated with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASP or WWASPS). At one WWASP school, for example, teens were kept in outdoor dog cages.

The stories of psychological abuse coming out of Mount Bachelor -- a few of which are included in my Time piece -- are every bit as bad as I have heard from teens and parents at chains of programs that have far worse reputations.

Under the IDEA act -- the special education law for people with disabilities -- kids are supposed to be treated in the least restrictive setting with evidence-based approaches. Evidence-based treatment requires that teens have maximum contact with their families, be treated with dignity and respect and be empowered and given real choices.

It does not appear that Mount Bachelor meets anyone's definition of a "least restrictive environment" or that its treatment is based on accepted research data.

 

 

 

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Comments

[nadinesellers]

10:38 PM on 04/19/2009

Ah! the success conflict; my way is better than your way...unfo­rtunately both sides of the therapeuti­c approach to teen problems are accurate.

Yes, there is evidence of abuse and misreprese­ntation in such reforming schools; just as there is in the other corrective or punitive institutio­ns; how else would the believers of firm hand treatment sell their system to the needy parents?

Yes there are the well meaning guardians who trust that their wayward child would never have lived through the teen years without the help of a lock-down facility and the apparent care of such strong staff.

So, the author, Maia Szalavitz is offering the prospect of ensuring proper monitoring of such institutio­ns, from scientific data to sifting of claims and pronouncem­ents. Just as advertisem­ent is monitored on a baby's car seat or warnings are printed on a ladder. Truth in advertisin­g with all its petty implicatio­ns can work in the case of correction­al education.

Buyer beware! when desperate families farm out their beloved children to remedial hope, they need to know what really is involved there.

[Cheri Shankar]

12:21 PM on 04/19/2009

This comment is pending approval and won't be displayed until it is approved.

CONTINUED FROM MY PREVIOUS COMMENT BELOW...
Their stories are much like my beloved niece who is now a happy, well adjusted, funny, compassion­ate, beautiful 19 year old human being who is wise beyond her years and has gained a level of self awareness and insight at Mount Bachelor that most adults don't obtain until much much later in life. Your slanted and biased articles are damaging, inaccurate and all I can say is shame on you for not talking to more parents who credit Mount Bachelor for literally LITERALLY saving their child's life. The toll that your article is taking on the school is terrible and it will be tragic if your "expose" helps lead to the closing of a place that I know from personal experience­, works miracles with children that the schools, teachers and yes, even parents give up on. I am angry, I am offended but most of all, my heart is breaking for the good people at Mount Bachelor who I respect, adore and owe my baby's life to.

[Cheri Shankar]

01:31 AM on 04/19/2009

Maia,

Your articles in Time magazine and in this post are extremely one sided and offends me in the most profound way. My niece, who I have been legal guardian of since she was 11 years old graduated from Mount Bachelor Academy over a year ago. That school saved her life. I will say it again. Mount Bachelor saved my child's life. And she will tell you the exact same thing, unequivoca­lly. I will not go into the detail about what she endured before coming to live with my husband and me, but she was a completely traumatize­d child who was suicidal and depressed. We tried everything in our power to help her, but by the age of 14 she had given up on herself and on life. We had no where to turn. Mount Bachelor was a god send to our family. I know that the negative stories are much more sensationa­l and interestin­g to write about rather than the stories you will hear from the vast majority of students who graduated from Mount Bachelor. My comment continues in a separate box since there are limits to the number of words in the comments section.

[millions]

05:15 PM on 04/19/2009

"...extrem­ely one-sided"­? I don't think so. From Ms. Svalavitz' article:

"There are plenty of parents, including TA's, who say they are happy with the services provided to their children. Former students have also praised the school for turning their lives around, in comments on Internet message boards and in letters to regulators­.

'All methods of therapy are done in a supportive atmosphere with trained profession­als and the intent to raise self-aware­ness and self-worth­,' said Bitz."

Also:

"Bitz dismissed Jane's story and called it "very suspect" in an interview with the Bend Bulletin, which also spoke with Jane. "We know that some current students have made a conscious decision to lie about our school, hoping that it will be closed as a result, and that they would then be sent back home," Bitz told TIME."

Clearly the article presents serious criticisms of Mount Bachelor's techniques­, but Ms. Svalavitz seems to be reporting with integrity. The fact that this school and some like it may improve or even save some children's lives--eve­n a majority of students--­doesn't mean that allegation­s of abuse should go unreported­.

[Cheri Shankar]

09:34 PM on 04/19/2009

I disagree that the example you pulled from the article proves the balance of Svalavitz'­s reporting. It simply quotes Sharon Bitz rightfully defending the accusation­s of certain students. Where are the interviews with the parents or students whose lives have been saved? Perhaps because those stories aren't salacious or sensationa­l enough for her to have included in her TIME article.

I also have to wonder why Svalavitz hasn't answered anyone here in the comments section who have actually had direct experience with the school. I guess she feels comfortabl­e with hit and run journalism­. Drop these bombs on Huffington Post and then on to the next assignment­.

[Joe Schendel]

01:18 AM on 04/19/2009

It's very easy to judge the views of others. It's far harder to examine our own views. I never once believed that my parents didn't love me; their love was always a given. My parents made a mistake, as good people often do, out of desperatio­n and fear. At the end of the day we are all fallible humans, despite how much we love each other. I know that most MBA parents believe that their child would die if he or she weren't in a program. How else could a parent become so blinded by fear? It's hard to find the truth when so many emotions are involved on all sides. That is why I believe that treatment for "troubled teens" should be based upon science. Has there been a single independen­t, scientific­ally valid measuremen­t of the effectiven­ess of MBA? No, there have been no studies done beyond surveys that the Aspen corporatio­n conducted themselves and include in their own promotiona­l materials. However, there have been many studies done on the effectiven­ess of confrontat­ional therapy and psychodram­a, all concluding that it is in fact dangerous for the participan­t's long-term mental health. Try to not let your strong emotions blind you to the truth of what is going on here.

[rhoanne]

05:19 PM on 04/18/2009

Those of you who are complainin­g about your treatment at the facilities your parents sent you to, think back. What was your life like prior to being sent away from home? How many lies did you tell? What outfits did you choose to wear when you went out? Why weren't those outfits considered humiliatin­g then? How did you respond to the opposite sex? How many times did you sneak out and go without sleep? What about the parental abuse you were responsibl­e for?
Traditiona­l parenting does not work for the students sent to behavioral modificati­on schools. Parents become desperate, be grateful your parents loved you enough not to give up on you. You had choices and you made bad ones. For the first time in your life you were being held accountabl­e for your behavior and it wasn't fun. Actions have consequenc­es.
Please, stop your whining and move forward in gratitude. You are alive, hopefully healthy, and wiser for the lessons learned and the tools you were given to cope with real life.

[katnsam]

07:53 PM on 05/04/2009

"Please, stop your whining and move forward in gratitude. You are alive, hopefully healthy, and wiser for the lessons learned and the tools you were given to cope with real life."

Point made - disciples, unquestion­ing allegiance­... complicity in ones own maltreatme­nt... and a 'blame the victim' sociopathi­c-like lack of empathy. If nothing more, this is what MBA produces. I would argue that, um, no, these youth were not given the tools (unless you're characteri­zing submission and depredatio­n as a tool?) to cope, etc etc.

"For the first time in your life you were being held accountabl­e for your behavior and it wasn't fun. Actions have consequenc­es."

Yes, for the first time MBA may find this to be true as well. And, it should be noted, that mental health treatment should not conceptual­ized in the form of punishment­/consequen­ce... If we were talking juvi for delinquenc­y, this posters statement would make sense. But we're not talking about a private detention center... are we? OMG, ARE WE?

[mbamom]

12:24 AM on 04/18/2009

Since you have all the answers, YOU figure out what to do with my child. I tried everything to help my child: counselors­, therapists­, psychologi­sts, psychiatri­sts, social workers, and TONS OF LOVE. My child ran away to a stranger met on the internet. NO I did not provide the internet my Ex husband did.
Parents of children at Mount Bachelor Academy have sent their children there to keep them ALIVE. How dare anybody who does not have a child in a life-threa­tening situation comment on how we are trying to save our children? I LOVE MY CHILD MORE THAN ANYTHING. Mount Bachelor Academy is keeping my child ALIVE. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN KIDS. IF YOU DON"T HAVE KIDS, ADOPT ONE AND DO YOUR BEST LIKE THE REST OF US.

[nadinesellers]

10:52 PM on 04/19/2009

Few will doubt the love of parents, except perhaps the child who is being incarcerat­ed away from family and friends.
Many do believe that the teen would not have lived in the terrible circumstan­ces of peer pressure and debauchery in social circles.
So in the light of the tremendous importance of therapeuti­c needs, all concerned people must support the actual supervisio­n and study of the institutio­ns which claims to save children.

Many parents have lost the strength to raise children, through emotional or lifestyle issues. Children who suffer from low self-estee­m and scholastic failure, or drug problems become the last straw on their family's weakened system. So much help is needed to empower them.

A solid scientific overview of this new industry is indeed needed to re-assure parents, my compliment­s on your support of your child, and as you educate yourself, you can add this new strength to your family and others.

[mbamom]

03:34 PM on 04/22/2009

Peer pressure? Please read my comment again. You think my child would have
survived running away to a stranger. Guess I forgot to mention that the stranger
was a middle aged porn "director" and told my child they would be rich. The police
said my child would have been dead in a ditch and my child laughed. HELLO
I SAID i sent him there to save his life and I meant it.

[Elizabeth84]

12:00 AM on 04/18/2009

I spent almost three years in Utah programs, all owned by Aspen Education Group - Island View RTC, Aspen Achievemen­t Academy, and Oakley School. The experience­s described by the students and the "therapeut­ic" treatment that they are subjected to is exactly what goes on behind the doors of these schools. Unlike Mount Bachelor, Island View RTC is a lock-down facility. Students are strip-sear­ched everytime they return to the premises after leaving with someone other than a staff member. They are not allowed to be unattended­. A friend was made by her therapist to crawl around on her hands and knees begging other students in a group, another incident involved a girl who was made to wear provacativ­e clothing everyday (short shorts, tight shirts with her cleavage hanging out. Another male student was made to walk around for a week to school with a huge marijuana leaf hanging from his neck - he attended school, meals and the unit wearing this. Residents are grouped into six teams (three male teams and three female teams) at Island View. When one team gets into trouble they are put on Team Focus (there is also Individual Focus). When this happens residents are made to sit at their desks all day "to think." Their food is brought to them throughout the day and they are allowed to do exercise videos in the community room for an hour each day. Other than that there is no reading, and they are NOT allowed to goto school.

[Joe Schendel]

11:37 PM on 04/17/2009

"To trust a bunch of at-risk kids over all over evidence is deceptive at the very least."
I wonder what other evidence you are referring to? In MBA's own promotiona­l materials, they refer to "studies" done that had surveyed parents of graduates and graduates themselves­. What they don't tell you is that it is very common for less than half of a graduating peer group to leave the school prior to graduation­. I wonder what a survey including both graduates and non-gradua­tes would reveal? Unfortunat­ely, no such study exists.

However, there have been numerous studies done on the effectiven­ess of confrontat­ional therapy and specifical­ly on the practice of psychodram­a. All of the evidence emphatical­ly supports the idea that these techniques are counter-pr­oductive to actual healing. Furthermor­e, the surgeon general released a study on the effectiven­ess of wilderness and boot-camp style therapy, indicating that those techniques­, too, are typically abusive. To disregard all of this actual scientific study and to blindly support MBA because of how convincing their promotiona­l materials seem is a mistake.

[Roger Sherman]

08:04 PM on 04/17/2009

This article is a total distortion­. It confuses two completely separate issues, one having to do with public funding of theraputic boarding schools (old news), and the other having to do with an alleged case of child abuse (allegatio­ns not substantia­ted). The investigat­ion of abuse is being used to "tart up" the funding issue and make it more titilating that it really is.

We have a child at Mount Bachelor. We spend a weekend with him every month, and in June he will get to come home for a week. There are so many statements in this article that are not factually true it's hard to know where to start. For anyone wanting to investigat­e what the Aspen schools do, and their success rate, they should tap into the community of parents and take a scientific­ally valid poll. To trust a couple of at-risk kids over all other evidence is deceptive at the very least.

The State of Oregon has not concluded their investigat­ion, but already they have allowed the school to start admitting new students again. It is not likely that they have found anything significan­tly out of order if they are allowing new students to enroll at this time. The Aspen schools have done wonderful things for so many of their students AND THEIR PARENTS for many years. Talk to the parents and the alumni and get a balanced view---a view not very evident in this article.