Recent Interview between WWASPS Officials and a Newspaper Agency.

( This is not verbatim but representative of the Interview )

 

News Agency:  Some former Parents and Students have made some very outlandish allegations. Is it possible that these accusations are true?

 

 

WWASPS Officials: If the allegations implied that the Schools and Programs in our Association run a tight ship and strict program where inappropriate attitudes and choices are confronted and redirected and the living conditions are not as nice as the homes the parents had so kindly provided the Teen before the Teen sabotaged it. Then we have no problem with the allegations.  If the allegations are more than that, then there is no basis for the allegations.

 

News Agency: Why?

 

WWASPS Officials:  The accusations are from Students, Some Parents may believe them but the Parents weren't there and can only go on the allegations made by the students.  Here in lies the problem, the teens making the allegations generally have a long history of lying, exaggerating, and dishonesty. Furthermore, when I was in Junior High my peers and I thought our School was a prison and the principal a warden. The Teachers were mean and not very understanding. The school was oppressive because it had alot of rules and regulations and was quick to enforce them. Worst of all was the School Lunches, it was terrible that they would force us to eat that "mystery meat" and other such foods. After I matured I realized that it was a good school where teachers were trying to maintain order while educating students who didn't always want to learn. The point is that Teens even healthy ones lack  perspective and tend to magnify things. Teens with problems have even a greater lack of perspective and tendency to magnify things.

 

News Agency:  But isn't it possible that Teens even with a history of lying and distortion could be telling true accusations???

 

WWASPS Officials: Anything is possible but it is inconsistent with the findings of Parent Visits, Independent Reviews, and the testimony of other students and parents who do not have an axe to grind. Let's take a look at each of these:

 

Parent Visits - We have an estimated 4000 parent visits to the Schools and Programs each year. Some Parents even spend their visits helping as a volunteer Staff for Seminars. These parents spend several days on campus where they get to talk to numerous students and are very much aware of how the School functions on a day to day basis and the realities of working with defiant and even troubled teens. The Feedback we receive from these parents is very much different than the allegations made from disgruntled or disturbed Teens. They are usually very complimentary of the School and it's Staff and the tough job they have.

 

Independent Reviews - Each School has had Independent Reviews from different Agencies including Accreditation Committees, WWASPS and others. The Reviews typically are very positive and complimentary about the Schools. In fact, recently a team from the US consulate and local government officials visited one of Schools unannounced. They thoroughly inspected the facilities, observed the whole process, and interviewed students and staff. One of the Officials stated that because of some negative press that had been written, they came to the facility fully expecting to see abuse or mistreatment but came away praising the program and it's staff. This is typical of what independent reviewers find when they come and objectively inspect the facility. Another Independent Reviewer inspected one of the WWASP Schools and said, "I went as a Skeptic and left as a Supporter"

 

Other Students - Many Students, who were there at the same time as the Student making the allegations, state that the Student's allegations are inaccuracies, manipulations, or over exaggerations. The Students allegations are out of step with the testimony of other students who are moving forward with their lives, have a healthy state of mind, and don't have an axe to grind.  Students that make these allegations are usually still struggling in their lives and are not in a good mental state. Most left the School or Program before they were recommended to and left without proper closure.

 

Furthermore, the number of Parents and Students who are disgruntled is very small compared to the number of Students and Parents that appreciate the Schools and Programs. Surveys show that 97% of Parents who responded were happy or very happy with the Schools or Programs. We feel this kind of Parent Satisfaction rate is very impressive especially for Schools or Programs working with Troubled Teens.  

 

 

 

It should also be noted that many parents and students have strong motives for their allegations. For some Students it justifies them leaving the process early. For other students if they can convince their parents that the School was a "bad" place, perhaps their parents won't send them back if needed.  For parents it is often a way to make immediate points with their teen by siding with them or rescuing them from the program.  Many times this is done at the expense of an ex-spouse who is just trying to provide a better future for the child,  Even after the Students' specific allegations have been reviewed by outside entities and the school exonerated, The parents often grasp on to the allegations with greater zeal, perhaps fearful that they will be seen as gullible or manipulated. They also may have an interest in justifying their actions and not being "wrong". So they then contact news organizations hoping that if they get their allegations published it will give them credibility when there is frankly no credibility to their story. Unfortunately, there are way too many news organizations that are willing to print allegations without substantiation.  Sensationalism is apparently more important than credibility to at least some news agencies.