It is graduation week here at Crook County High School, but all I can think about is my father, who will make his last flight as a helicopter pilot on the 4th of June; the day of his retirement. He has been a pilot since I was a baby. Over the next couple of entries, I will post some of my archived work about my dad as a pilot.
2 comments:
Hi, I see that you use to teach @ mba. I am considering sending my son there but have been kind of scared off by some of the negative blogs about it, one from a former teacher. Claims of verbal abuse and humiliation,child labor, keeping the kids from contact with the parents,poor education, etc.It is a hugh leap of faith to drop him off and just assume he is treated well. Any insight you could give would be great. I feel I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't at this point. Thanks, TJC
Dear tjc,
I in no way am able to be a qualified consultant for your situation. I can only empathize with the struggle involved in sending your child out of your home for help, treatment etc. I wish you the best in your journey.
I worked at Mount Bachelor Academy for over six years, mostly as a teacher. The connections I made with students in the classroom were a profound experience for me. In that time, I saw students who had squandered their freedom at home by making poor choices that were beyond an age-appropriate level-- and in the time they were with us, they learned to take accountability for their past and present actions, restored communication and relationships with their family and friends, and found a new vision for the future as critical thinkers, learners and human beings.
In the course of my time at MBA, I also worked with a couple of disgruntled employees who were asked to leave; not because of a disagreement in philosophy, but because they were under-serving our students with a lack of rigor and relationship. I have heard one of these employees, formerly from the academic part of the program, air many grievances that served as a smokescreen for their departure. That by no means is to disclaim their message. I have not read the letter you have spoken about.
I admire your desire for information before you take this leap of faith, and I encourage you to keep searching. Being 'scared off 'by some of the negative blogs, as you say, also demonstrates to me that you are committed to finding a safe and therapeutic place for your son. I applaud that. It is possible that some of these blogs have some truth, as Mount Bachelor Academy is not for everyone. I encourage you however to examine the kinds of emotionally loaded terms they use, such as 'child labor'. It is true that students do work projects as a consequence, but never have I seen it done as a punishment. Work projects were more a form of giving students a positive work ethic, as well as providing a form of restorative justice. They work to give back to their community. This helps them reflect on how they have taken away from their community, family, relationships in the past, and gives them a habit to restore these relationships.
I don't know if this is helpful. Again, I am not a qualified educational consultant. However, there are consultants which are easy to find, no doubt in your local area, and can be a strong advocate for both you and your son. I encourage you to call one of these professionals for unbiased advice.
I wish you the best in this very pivotal point in your journey.
Be Well,
Jim Churchill-Dicks
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