The Path to Wisdom

What Alexia has written in her An American Gulag is purportedly abouta relative and the Christian boarding schools for `troubled teens’where the relative enrolled her daughter “Katie”, their identities in Alexia’s `book’ being thinly disguised.

Were it not for the intervention of “Katie’s” mother in August 1996, when she enrolled “Katie” in a school for `troubled teens’ , “Katie” might be dead today. Contrary to the book, “Katie” was never abused, never drugged, never missing, never in danger at her schools. “Katie” was never sent to a `lock-up’ program either inside or outside the country. Furthermore, “Katie” was never out of contact with her family.

The truth is, throughout the 16 months that “Katie” was away from home, she received wonderful loving care from the staff and friends at her boarding schools. During this time, she turned her life around, and was transformed into a delightful young woman with poise, discipline, moral values and a respect for life. “Katie” is currently living at home, is a full time college student and is doing extremely well, both academically and socially. “Katie’s” mother is grateful to have her back and her family healed. She will continue to recommend her daughter’s boarding schools with full confidence for the outstanding job they do with `troubled teens’.
Rating: 1 / 5

This book is poorly written, poorly organized, peppered with grammatical and typographical errors, and lacking in evidence to back up its claims. All evidence is anecdotal, with names and dates changed. Furthermore, the “horror stories” in the book are already available–in all their anonymous glory–on the author’s web site. If you think you will learn anything new by buying this book, forget it. And for no apparent reason, interwoven amongst the jumble of unsubstantiated horror stories and the author’s heroic but failed attempts to “save” “Katie”, is the irrelevant recount of the disintegration of the author’s relationship with her shack-up boyfriend. I’ll admit to having impatiently skipped over this part.

The author seems to be under the misguided notion that parents take unusual actions such as sending their children to structured boarding schools to “scare them into loving them.” She cautions parents that “what they want most, the love of their children cannot be gained by fear.” (p. 127). This pretty much sums up the author’s breathtaking lack of understanding of what “what parents want most.”

Worse, the author fails to offer parents–parents whose children have spun out of control, who are a danger to themselves and possibly others–any alternatives other than to be a “friend” to their kids. She quotes a lawyer who advises that “…if we treat our children as friends they will treat us in kind…” (p. 161) and a supposed “child development expert” who informs us that “children are innocent” (p. 128) (tell this to the Columbine victims’ families). This is representative of the kind of help desperate parents will get from this book.

Probably the worst thing about “An American GULAG” is that it is so badly written, histrionic and unsubstantiated that it’s lack of credibility will cause it to fail in its primary mission–which I believe is valid–to warn parents away from sending their kids to dangerous, abusive, unregulated “programs.” And the horror stories alone, without mention of the fact that these are the exceptions, not the rule, might scare some parents away from doing the hard work necessary to find the good programs, of which there are many, which could save their out-of-control children.
Rating: 1 / 5

I was there at the New Bethany Boys home from 88-90. If people want proof that this place existed and the conditions are founded then come to me and the hundreds before me and that came after me. I was definitely no angel, but I dont believe anyone, especially children should be forced to endure the treatment we lived through for a minimum of one year. We all were sent to that place without charges, arrest, convictions, or court ordered. We forcibly indoctrinated in fundamental christianity, received physical beatings from hands, boards, belts. you name we got it. It wasnt just one or two hits, I remember one personal instance where I was responsible for feeding the pigs. One day I slipped and the feed missed the trough. I got back and before I knew it I was thrown to the ground and was beat across the back numerous times. I remember thrashing around begging for the dorm parent to stop. I couldnt sit back in a chair for a month. I recall another instance that a youger boy, about 8, was receiving punishment for wetting the bed. At times I could hear him screaming, about 75 yards away from the house. The psychological impacts were just as bad. We were nothing but sinners and if didnt follow their doctrine we were scum and it was no wonder our parents no longer wanted us, their words. The worst thing was wondering when and where we were going to get beat, and not knowing what exactly would make cause for a beating. It saddens and angers me to read when people dismiss this as an exception and not the rule. Parents need to step up and stop relying on others to raise their children. Since I have left New Bethany, I now have anger management problems that never had before. I also want to vomit every time someone talks of “god” and “goodness” in the same sentence. So damn right, if the causes parents to look deeper into an institution, then good on the author. But, dont you dare say that these things didnt happen, dont you dare. Especially if you dont have any experience or proof that these things didnt happen. Good luck disproving these claims, because you cant change fact.
Rating: 4 / 5