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gr8
 

 

i went to wediko when i was 14 though 18 years of age i don't not if it was because iam i female but i never heard of this in the girl groups it was fun i made lasting friend ships to this day i seen most of these things you said but not on a regular i remember school, wit activites. arcade and wit social every saturday to me wediko made me a better women and i would be proud to sent my daughters there
 

 

Hi,

Thank you for your input. Kyle and myself did witness abuses, and what I would like is for Harry Parad or a member of Wediko to respond to our allegations of abuse.

Harry Parad did not respond to my e-mail request to have him come on the show.
 

 

Hello, I work maintenance there at Wediko and I would like to clarify, these restraints, i would like to say that you are leaving out the part about the kids leading up to the restraint and there actions before it happened. I have seen these children bite, kick, punch, and everything they could possibly do to agrevate the staff. It is only after that, that the staff do there jobs and restrain the kid from any further physical harm to them or others. They are trained in restraining kids and if the kids don't give up and keep fighting it, then they will put them in a five point restraint, only until the child has calmed and showed that they are safe. Now as for the being hurt, well who made the decision to act up, you don't just get restrained for no reason!!!!!
 

 

Dear Anonymous,

I'm not sure how you define "acting up." I wonder if that includes saying something a counselor doesn't like. Furthermore, you are a maintenance worker, not a counselor. And we really don't know who you are because your opinion is stated anonymously I don't see how your anonymous statement as a so-called maintenance worker has any relevance whatsoever. I refuse to address these allegations of abuse with people who are unwillingly to go on record. Again, let me reiterate: I sent Harry Parad an e-mail well over a year ago, asking him to address my allegations. I no longer do the radio show, yet I am still waiting for a response. If you have an issue with the allegations that I've made, don't take it up with me, take it up with Harry Parad, or someone else in authority who is willing to go on the record.
 

 

This thread is ludicrous. Wediko is a tight ship run by extraordinary professionals who give marginalized children the opportunity to experience success in their lives.

Shame on you for portraying this program as though it had poor methods and intentions. It seems like both of the individuals on this sound clip are bitter; both are ostensibly smug about their disobedience of staff and yet they act as though their being restrained was unwarranted.

Wediko is a sophisticated, altruistic environment where highly qualified college students and professionals collaborate to help children who are unsuccessful and/or unsafe in the real world. If restraints did not exist, it would be a hazard to everybody's safety and good intentions.
 

 

Blah, blah, another anonymous chickenshit asshole, who won't go on the record. If Wediko's such a fucking utopia of altruism, then why can't these assholes say who they are? Why didn't Harry Parad respond to my allegations? What are they afraid of? And again, we don't know who this person is. We don't even know if this person has even stepped foot in Wediko, because he or she or it, prefers to remain ANONYMOUS. I am getting sick of you inane fucking anonymous dolts junking up my blog. Go get your own pro-wediko blog, child-sadism blog, or whatever it is that you people are into, and stop contaminating my blog. Blog terrorism is what it is. You' re terrorizing my blog with such insipid bullshit and propaganda, that I'm about to ralph my fuckin' guts out.
 

 

This website, as implied by its name, is not a place where moderation is taken when expressing my opinions. However, in the case of Wediko, I told myself when I first did the Wediko episode of my radio show that I would take the high road when dealing with Wediko, and not resort to calling people assholes. I easily could have deleted my comment, but censorship is not something that I believe in.

I want you to understand why I had a wig-out. ANONYMOUS is implying that my experiences of being physically abused by a Wediko staff member and my witnessing other people being physically mistreated by Wediko staff members not only never happened, but was somehow fabricated. Read the essay I wrote about Wediko:

http://fruitcakeoutlet.com/pathos/wediko.htm


And listen to the radio show I did about Wediko:

http://talkwarrior.com/show/sinai/wediko/wediko.mp3

In both instances, I'm using my real name. You could look me up in the phone book. I am this guy! I don't know Kyle Bishop personally, the former Wediko inmate who I interviewed on the show, yet I think it's pretty safe to say that he, also, is using his real name. Take note of the fact that I attended Wediko 15 or 20 years before Kyle. Kyle and myself never met each other in person. We hadn't even talked to each other over the phone prior to the interview. I think it would have been a pretty remarkable feat for us to have choreographed this ostensible smugness, as ANONYMOUS puts it. The real question is, how does ANONYMOUS know we were disobedient to staff? And, if we were disobedient to staff, why does that warrant physical violence? If your child was disobedient to you, would you criss-cross their arms around their chest or drag them out of the room by their arm? I wouldn't. I deem that child abuse.

I really regret not going to the press and to the Wediko donors at the time in which I produced the interview on my now defunct radio show, "Live from Mt. Sinai." My excuse was, I did not have the time. But I also had another excuse: What has anyone in this world ever done to for me? The answer is of course shit, so I didn't feel I was obligated to really do anything to stop Wediko from abusing children. I don't know for sure that they still are abusing children, but from what I can gather from Kyle and the fact that Harry Parad is still there and did not return my e-mail, requesting that he be on my show, physical abuse and excessive use of physical force, might still be endemic there.

While I'm not going to call any future ANONYMOUSE Wediko posters names, I don't retract the names I called ANONYMOUS. Had ANONYMOUS been willing to go on the record like I did and state his views about Wediko, I would have treated him with respect and courtesy. But ANONYMOUS, like the ANONYMOUS before him chose to wear a mask and engage in a sort of blog-o-terrorism, where the weapon is not plastic explosives, but bullshit. I expect ANONYMOUS makes a living off of Wediko in some capacity, and my exposure of Wediko's abuses was a threat to his/her source of income.
 

 

It seems that Dickie is getting caught up on anonymity. Why do you get so caught up in this if what you are claiming about Wediko is true? I've listened to your radio talk session, and although it seems plausible at first, what you guys are saying proves nothing more than the fact that you (the accuser) is bitter and have nothing else to show foryourself except vengeance for something that probably happened in your family. No treatment facility is responsible for your anger that you still foster toward your unresolved issues, whatever they may be. So you sound very discontent with yourself and your life in general. It is also apparent from others' postings that your position is inaccurate if not exaggerated. Don't let your anger take the best of you. You obviously failed to learned this in life.
 

 

"It is also apparent from others' postings that your position is inaccurate if not exaggerated"

What does ANONYMOUS mean by "others". There are no others that we know of. We know of only 1 person, who identifies him/herself as ANONYMOUS. That is all we know. I'm not using rhetoric. This is a fact. It is all we know.

I think of ANONYMOUS as the same damn person, because there is no evidence that he/she is more than one. You must admit that what ANONYMOUS says doesn't change too much from one ANONYMOUS post to the next.

I've decided that I am no longer going to allow comments from ANONYMOUS in this blog entry or in any Wediko related blog entries. It's very offensive to me when ANONYMOUS accuses me of fabricating information about being abused by a Wediko staff member. How would this person really know what happened unless he was there? And if he was there, why is he assuming an anonymous identity when accusing me of lying?

I don't consider this suppression of free speech, because I consider the ANONYMOUS poster's personal comments about my impaired mental health to be nothing more than defamation. Defamation is not free speech. It is in fact the opposite of free speech.

From this point on, I am only accepting comments from official representatives of Wediko. Anyone from Wediko wanting to post a comment should contact me by e-mail beforehand, with full name and number that I can reach them at, from Wediko. I think this is more than fair. I gave Wediko amply opportunity to respond to my allegations from the very beginning and received no response.

I should never have let this ANONYMOUS message posting nonsense go on for as long as it did.
 

 

Look, my name is Phaedra Michaud. I went to Wediko from ages 6 to 17. I have nothing really more to say other then the fact that you guys bad mouthing a program that possibly saved my life as well as a lot of other girls and boys who have tremendous problems is blatantly ridiculous. Yes, the staff have to use restraints otherwise they get their asses kicked by kids who know nothing but violence and negative attention... Duh! Once in a blue moon a restraint might have been constituted as unnecessary, but what your failing to mention here is that every restraint done by a staff member at Wediko is carefully recorded and reported by staff to therapists and other authoritative figures at the camp. Its not like on a whim a staff member purposely threw a kid down and decided to put them in a five point hold. I remember watching kids test the staff and taunt staff to put them in restraints, watching kids literally cause an uproar until they were restrained. Some kids didn't feel safe till they were restrained. and a lot of the time you didn't stay in a restraint longer then 5 to 10 minutes until they brought you up to "The Lawn" to cool off. Every action has a reaction, these staff are trained for months to react to hostile situations as such. and no offense but Dr Parad shouldn't have to dignify their methods to you when they are a world wide known and successful program that deals with these issues. If you feel like you were abused call the police and have an investigation done... stop bitching.
 

 

Phaedra,

At this point, I am only retaining posts pertaining to Wediko, from verifiable individuals. You will need to be listed publicly in the phone book. If so, e-mail me your address and telephone number. I will need to call you for verification purposes. If I cannot verify that you are who you say you are, I will delete your entry within a week.
 

 

Dickie, I'd be happy to e-mail you my number and my address, although I don't know what gain it will give you. I was there from a chipmunk to a chrysalis. I knew Dr Hugh Leichman as well as Dr Parad. And on top of all that, the letter on their website in the section " What parents have to say about us" Is from my mother. I don't know exactly what more proof you need, but throw me your email address and I'll be very happy to oblige.
 

 

In the side menu of this website, in the "Contact" category, select "By E-mail" --> "Send Hate". This will give you my e-mail address. As I stated earlier, your name/address must be listed in a public phone directory such as switchboard.com, and must match the name you used on this blog. I want to ensure that there are "real" people commenting on this particular blog thread. This is why I am making you go through all this. Thank you.
 

 

Well Unfortunately I only have a cell phone due to the fact that I'm never actually at my house. I can give you the number and an address on me but if its not on switchboard.com I guess I'm not considered a "real" person. I'm certainly not out to slander you if thats what your thinking. You've the right to you opinion.Not to mention the fact that you went to Wediko many years before I attended it and things may have been different there at that time, who knows? But since my post will undoubtedly be removed from this blog due to me having a cell phone and not a land line, i guess my opinion on the matter is forfeit.
 

 

I have decided not to delete your comment because I did not notice before that you had listed your website. I am making an exception in your case. People in the future who want to post on this Wediko thread or the parallel Wediko thread must be willing to have their identity confirmed via telephone. Their number must be listed in a public telephone directory such as switchboard.com. This rules applies to all commenters, whether they have good things to say about Wediko or have bad things to say about Wediko and cower behind anonymous e-mails or blog posts. This is not a forum, it's a blog. And these blog entries about Wediko had been written some time ago. If people really don't like what I've said about Wediko and don't want to identify themselves, then I suggest they do so anonymously, on their own blogs.
 

 

Well thank you. The way I see it is Wediko works for some kids not all. They are a program which is there to help children grow and cope with their issues. They can't be expected to save everyone.. there is no miracle program like that. The program is what you make of it. I'm sure all your memories of camp aren't bad, and I had some experiences of abuse with the campers rather then the councilors, but like I said, it is what you make of it. I was there every summer for 11 years I mean thats a long time to attend something that wasn't working ya know? And the program itself isn't abusive its in the staffs hands how they handle some issues and from what it sounds like, you got a staff member with a superiority complex. Attack the morals of the staff member that put you through that not the program as a whole. The program is designed to keep kids safe not harm them. And I am sorry to hear that a staff member changed your whole view on the camp by his actions.
 

 

Hey Dicky I got a Email From a Listener maybe you wanta see this shit... you gota email me my shit went on the fritz
 

 

I'd really like to see this e-mail. Could you forward it to me?

Harry never responded to my invitation to come on the show to respond to the allegations we made against Wediko. But that's not much of a surprise.
 

 

my name is joe allen i am 16 years old and a student at wediko i am in the year round program and was placed there bye the courts and things that are talked about in your interviwe still happen today the kids are phsicly restraned for things as simple as being what they call vebly agresiv wich in outher words is swaring theres has be to acounts i can think of at the moment when kids where held the wrong way and had gottin ingered to the point they needad medical attion this is a horable place for any kid to be i have drug problems and have naver been lable with any emotial issue and when i found this site i was relved that there where atchwell outher ppl felt the same about this place
 

 

Hang in there, bro. And if you could, why don't you send me an e-mail. The contact info is in the menu.
 

 

I was a female 20-year old Wediko counselor about 25 years ago and found your radio show clip. I think it's great you are speaking out. I was so disappointed to hear about your and Kyle's experiences, but I believe everything you say. Here are my memories and thoughts, good and bad ...

Most of us, the young college student counselors, did what we were taught by the Ph.D's because we assumed they knew what they were doing, as did the parents. I only had one year of college and wasn't even a psych major. I loved kids and really wanted to help them. I only used the basket hold a few times. I think it may have been better for the girl campers as far as the physical restraints go because I didn't see a lot of restraining going on regularly with the girls. But I must say, how can college students help a child who has been sexually abused for example? The only thing I can say is it was a chance for a girl to get out her home environment which might have been good if she was low income with nothing to do all summer but get in trouble or was being abused, etc.

For your mothers, you may wonder why they didn't do more to get you out or to complain, but don't forget, back then parents often weren't considered an important member of the team. You were supposed to hand over your child to professionals and not ask questions. They didn't have the Internet - the great equalizer for accessing information and other people with knowledge that can help.

I still feel good about what I did for the girls - one I taught to read part of Pippi Longstocking and I have such good memories of her. I do think a shower only once a week was ridiculous for the kids. I don't remember the bugs or leaches but I did sleep in the bunks along with the kids. For our cabin, we had a counselor who was a Wediko kid grown up, I forget his name. I remember thinking that yeah that's good therapy for him to be a counselor but I do think they should have put him with boys who would relate to him as a role model. So that's not true they never hire former Wediko students, at least back then.

I found the job so hard I was burnt out by the end and while I'd enjoyed it, the last day when they invited me to return the next summer I said "I'll think about it" but decided later not to do a repeat. I only got paid $500 for the whole summer and that barely made a dent in my college tuition. I only remember getting off one day a week. They had only one shower for the counselors and it was coed and not at all nice. I had to get up really early or there'd be a line that would make you miss breakfast. With my oily hair I had to shower every day!

The way the basket hold was explained to me is that it was a predictable, non-hurtful way to stop a child from certain behaviors. It made sense at the time but I can see people used it abusively which is terrible. I wasn't one to get off on using my power over children and I didn't use the hold that much and when I did, it didn't last long. I do think talking out why a child is acting out would have been more productive than just trying to eliminate the behavior -- since behaviors have explanations and it would be more helpful to get at the root of what is causing the behavior for any really help to occur, but at that time I didn't know what I know now as a middle aged parent with an ADHD kid.

We had a long day and some people stayed up to party but what do you expect with 20 year olds? I did it at the other camp I worked at too. It was all we had to release our own tension with such an intense job, long hours and one day off with no car. What else can you do in NH but party? Anyway, I don't remember bottles and trash in NH but I believe what was said that in Boston the trash may have been left out but that's disappointing to hear.

Anyway I felt compelled to write because the bottom line is, I think there was not enough supervision by experienced people. Even the PH.D people were young and at least some had not yet had their own children (it really does make a difference to be a parent). College students need a lot of supervision and really, experienced therapists should be doing the day to day stuff not 20 year olds.

I saw this myself when I used a behavioral therapy for my son with college students and that's when I learned, college students just don't have what it takes to work with special needs or emotionally disturbed kids, even if they are "trained". They just don't have the expertise.

So those are my thoughts ... keep talking about Wediko, these things should not happen and it breaks my heart.
 

 

Who knows? We might have been there at the same time. I don't know if you're aware of this, but there has been a war brewing on another parallel Wediko thread between myself and one or more ANONYMOUS message posters asserting that I am fabricating information about Wediko. I honestly cannot understand why anyone would want to post an anonymous message on an important issue like Wediko, as anonymous entries really aren't credible. As far as the world is concerned, I could have fabricated your last post in order to aide my cause. It would have been one hell of a detailed and persuasive fabrication, but, you see, there is no way to prove that it wasn't. If people are unwilling to go on the record, what they say really doesn't mean anything. I stated in my last post on the other thread that I am no longer allowing anonymous posts. I am however going to allow your post, because unlike the other anonymous message posters you did not accuse me of fabricating information about Wediko or attempt to label me as having psychological problems. It's the smear campaign which enrages me.

About five years ago another former Wediko staff member contacted me by e-mail, saying what you are saying. When I asked him to go on record, he didn't write back. I'm happy that you have made the post, I just wish someone who worked at Wediko would go on the record. I could understand why a woman might want to remain anonymous, however, former male Wediko staff members should step up to the plate. What really do you have to lose? The entire mental health industry is grossly under funded and has completely gone to shit. Most people in the mental health field have no future. You really have nothing to fear about blowing the whistle on your former employers, because if you work in the mental health field, you're already screwed. Come on, people, I know you want to get the Wediko experience off your chest. Maybe this existential doom I'm trying to imbue in you will help you to come forward. All I ask is name and rank. You don't even have to give a serial number.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I learned a few things from what you said.
 

 

Hi, thanks for your reply. This is the 45 year old former counselor. I know you don't like anonymous (from your other posts I've seen), but you're right, I'm a woman plus all I can do is give my recollections and thoughts for whatever it's worth and to say I support you making noise. But honestly, I don't know how my name can help because I didn't see any abuse -- I am not a witness. If I did, believe me I would have done something. Unfortunately, I didn't see what the boys experienced because I was with the girl campers. Even if you and I were there the same summer, I wouldn't remember you because I was with my cabin all the time. I can only remember my own cabin's counselors because I used to have a picture somewhere.

It almost seems like two different places between the boys and the girls. Some of the girls were quiet, the sexually abused one had trouble with masturbation in public not aggression, I think there was only one that was really aggressive and I don't remember holding her that much -- she tried to hurt me with her words. I don't think we worsened the girls' fates, but I doubt we helped the abused ones much due to our lack of training and if they were going right back into the abusive home to boot. I remember one of the leaders saying the summer kids "regress" when they go home. This made me feel a sense of hopelessness that I was making a difference.

I think it would be great to find more campers that shared your experience. And I hope you find them.

I say, forget about the anonymous counselor who disagrees with you. It's crazy not to believe you. Why would you or your audience make this up? Look at all the priests and sexual abuse. Of course you were wronged, because you are angry and you're talking about it. If you'd been helped, you'd be at peace. You'd feel good about your experience.

But my name doesn't help you -- you need witnesses. I send my love to you and all the boys (now men) who went through this.