Testimony of parent whose son committed suicide [1 of 4] after attending the Ark. Gov.'s School

American Family Association of Arkansas ^ | 1992 | Shelvie Cole

[outinyellowdogcountry]

Back in the early seventies, "I'm Okay, You're Okay" was being pushed and promoted to "enlighten" us youth. It sounded very good back then. Now that I am older, I wouldn't want my children to influenced by the no absolutes thnking. What is so sad and unbelievable about these educational elitists is that so many of them are so dysfunctional and they want everyone else to be the same! That way they are self affirmed and have no need to question right and wrong. No need to submit to The Authority that defines right and wrong.

[quebecois]

If you remember nothing else, remember this: the central reality of the modern leftist movement is that they hate western civilization. They view western man and western culture as a stumbling block on the path to globalist socialism.

Viewed through this lens, these governor's schools' purpose becomes obvious: they are ideological camps for the elite liberals to propagandize children. The purpose of the schools is to remove the children from outside support systems and then essentially brainwash them with the whole hideous circus of political correctness. They learn to doubt everything that they've been taught about their culture, religion, and nation. And into that doubt is placed a combination of radical relativism and socialist dogma.

Notice also the recurring theme from the kids that they now feel "elite" after what they've learned....and that their old friends and family are "simple" and "superficial". One of the ways which the liberals have propagated their philosophy (esp at the Ivy League universities) is to pose their ideology as much more "sophisticated" than the surrounding country. This has a natural appeal to young people....who like to feel that they are "hip" and "on the cutting edge". Now that they've adpoted this worldview, they rise above all others around and are members of the blessed annointed (Hillary has been caught in this stage of lefty development for several decades).

Frankly, the whole description of these schools reminds me of my freshman orientation at Brown. The liberals have this gig down to a science.

[Aquinasfan]

NC did not have a 6 week affair, BTW. Nor were participants discouraged from communicating with "outsiders". Plus, it is run by the American Legion.

It does now. Here's the site for the North Carolina Governor's School Summer Program. Here's how they describe Area II and Area III:

Area II

Each student attends another class comprised of students from each of the Area I disciplines. Here students and teachers explore connections between and among these disciplines. As integrative concepts emerge, the class attempts to construct an understanding of contemporary ways of thinking and of the culture that arises from them.

Area III

This third class is also comprised of students from each of the Area I disciplines. Here students attempt to ground what they are learning in their Area I and II classes in their own personal experience. Finally, they apply that understanding to their social worlds.

Sounds like the same program that ran in Arkansas in 1992. Sounds like a job for a good investigative reporter. No one is on to these things.

[Aquinasfan]

More later...

Thanks for your comments so far. More Q's:

What have you heard about the kid who committed suicide?

Had you heard any complaints from parents about their children's behavior after leaving?

[Aquinasfan]

However, let me blow your mind by mentioning that in Area II, our class was at one point instructed to repeatedly chant the word 'F**k'.

Whoa. One mind blown.

[Aquinasfan]

Now that they've adpoted this worldview, they rise above all others around and are members of the blessed annointed (Hillary has been caught in this stage of lefty development for several decades).

I wasn't aware of this angle. I can see how this would be very seductive for high schoolers. I remember how insecure I was at that age and how important positive reinforcement from faculty was to me. It's frightening to remember how utterly naiive I was. There but for the grace of God go I.

[mykdsmom]

CD..........disturbing info here. Follow the link to the NC Governors School.

It looks to me like they are choosing the best and brightest for indoctrination, the future leaders of our country.

Everyone reading this should be VERY frightened for the future of our country. I wasn't even aware of the exsistance of this school and I venture to say most people aren't.

MKM

[Aquinasfan]

I wasn't even aware of the exsistance of this school and I venture to say most people aren't.

I saw the video in '92 but thought that the only Governor's School was in Bill Clinton's Arkansas. Apparently, that school was the tip of the iceberg.

To everyone, please e-mail your friends linking them to this thread calling special attention to post #59. It wouldn't hurt to forward this to any reporters that you might know either. This is ripe for an investigative report.

[Aquinasfan]

I hit the motherload, The National Conference of Governor's Schools including a discussion board and board meeting minutes.

Time for some research.

[LeftIsSinister]

I went to the Georgia equivalent, GHP, in 1991. It was a competitive program where you picked a "major," took written tests, and went through an interview. Any student with even a slight interest in advanced classes knew about it.

Selected students spent six weeks at Valdosta State. We weren't allowed to bring cars or to ever leave campus except with parents, or on supervised Sunday afternoon trips to a nearby shopping center. I blame these regulations on the liabilities of being in charge of a bunch of high schoolers, not necessarily on some twisted agenda.

Anyway, I spent six weeks learning about math and goofing off in the dorms. My "minor" was music, and the worst mental torture I experienced was our embarrasingly bad music minor concert at the end of the program. All in all, it seemed pretty harmless. We had nothing like what's described in this article as "Area II" or "Area III."

While I can't defend what these instructors have done, this is the sort of situation that well-adjusted teenagers should be able to handle. I know I had a lot of irrational and just plain stupid thoughts as a teenager, and fought with my parents over trivial things, but I guess I placed a lot of emphasis on self-preservation and never really considered suicide. I think these kids were just messed up to begin with and this program opened the floodgates.

[Aquinasfan]

Here's one workshop listed under Break-Out Sessions for the October 14, 2002 NCOGS annual conference. Mark your calendar!

Personal & Social Dynamics Curriculum

Frank Corley, PSD Coordinator, Missouri Scholars

Academy & other members of MSA faculty and staff "Personal and Social Dynamics" ("PSD") is a curriculum put together by the Missouri Scholars Academy ("MSA") and intended to address a number of key developmental issues that teenagers -- especially ones who are "gifted" -- confront in secondary schools, in families, in communities, and in relationships. The fact that Governor's Schools are "residential" schools, where students are part of virtual families and real communities, and, thanks, in part, to the accepting and tolerant environment established by Governors Schools, become involved in a range of both short-term and long-term relationships -- provides an obvious opportunity to see the immediate contexts of the topics raised in PSD. Key to the success of PSD is the teamwork of a "residential assistant" and a "faculty member" who co-facilitate each portion of the curriculum. This NCoGS session will focus on one typical day from the 2002 MSA PSD curriculum but will also allow audience members to understand the overall curriculum.

It's tough to read between the lines of this educratese, but this sounds rather ominous to me.

"Thanks, in part, to the accepting and tolerant environment established by Governors Schools, [students] become involved in a range of both short-term and long-term relationships -- provid[ing] an obvious opportunity to see the immediate contexts of the topics raised in PSD."

Or, "let's experiment on some kids for fun." Ever wonder why they call these things educational laboratories?

Here's the map of the Department of Education Lab National Network. God help us. Here's the Dept. of Education Lab site.

[Constitution Day]

CD..........disturbing info here. Follow the link to the NC Governors School.

MKM,

This is news to me; I haven't thought of Governor's School in years.

In 1987, I was nominated by my art teacher to attend NC Governor's School West at Salem College.
I did not make the cut... this makes me glad.

CD

[Aquinasfan]

Your nickname tells me you're on to something. This was posted on the National Conference of Governor's Schools discussion board:

Begin to Share

Name: Daniel Hocutt
Email: dhocutt@richmond.edu

Comments

What kind of resources are programs developing or considering as a response to the tragedies of September 11 and the ongoing fear that anthrax scares are generating? At the Governor's School for Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts at the University of Richmond, some of the Humanities faculty develop a course last year (2001) called "Head to Head and Worlds Apart." The course examined the question, "What happens when cultures collide?" and studied several cultures and movements, including the Taliban, to foster appreciation for the difficult plight many people experience. They were even able to bring in a teen Afghan regugee to meet with the students and share his horrific experiences. How serendipitous and tragic at the same time! I am working to get a copy of their syllabus available online for others to share.

Here is a copy of the course's description.

"What happens when cultures collide? In this course we will consider the ramifications of cultural contact, conflict, and change through the lens of historical perspective and future projection. We will have the opportunity to come face to face with survivors of cultural clashes from such venues as Afghanistan and West Africa. Through field trips and reading we will look far afield at the tragedy of the Holocaust and reflect upon the legacy of cultural divide within our own country.[!] From contemporary headlines we will select, research, and compile case studies to be presented to a Model World Court."

Nothing to see here. Move along.

[Aquinasfan]

And a reply to the post: Re: Begin to Share

Name: Chris Campolo
Email: campolo@hendrix.edu

Comments

I think a model world court is an excellent idea for GS. I wonder how to set it up so that we do not receive "rulings" which merely reflect prevailing sentiments (anger and patriotism, here, anyway). Any ideas?

Chris

[Aquinasfan]

Some good news from the NCOGS discussion board:

TN Governor's Schools cancelled

Name: Steve Jones
Email: webmaster@gsfta.org

Comments

All seven of the Governor's Schools in TN have been cancelled by our Governor due to the politics of fighting over the creation of a state income tax. Some of these schools have been in existence for 18 years. We are looking at a well over $500 million shortfall in state revenues this year. The arts and education were the first to go. The Governor's Schools were cut by the Governor in a $15 million cut to education. You can find out more by checking out the link on our homepage at http://www.gsfta.org. Please stay on top of your state politicians to keep this from happening to you.

[twigs]

associates of Pol Pot..

I read this article about a month ago at the encouragement of another Freeper. My first reaction was that it sounded like Pol Pot's regime. Very scary indeed!

[twigs]

Eva, I personally believe that some of this may be going on in the public schools under our very eyes. During an education class I had to take, from very liberal teachers, they mentioned that the curriculum of "gifted" students who are taken from the classroom and bussed out each week are often very secret. When the regular classroom teacher inquired what her "gifted" students were studying, so that she could integrate that material with her lesson plans, she was told that it was secret. Even the teachers are puzzled by this. She says that sometimes the kids will tell her what they learn, but many times they will not (we're talking about 6th graders here who normally would love to talk to their teachers). I had to conclude that they had been instructed not to tell anyone what they were doing. My daughter's once-best friend was in the gifted program and from talking with her, I could tell that she was taught to believe that these students were not only smarter, but altogether better, than other "ordinary" students. She even classified them into "good" and "bad" camps. And she's from a Christian family!

I know no more than what I have just written, but it seems to me that someone in the schools are identifying who they consider the best and brightest and are indoctrinating them quietly behind closed doors. ALL the parents I know whose children are in these classes are delighted. It is a badge of honor for them, as well it should if we could be sure that no nefarious goal was at work. I happen to think otherwise.

[twigs]

The problem I have with taking kids to visit a funeral home is that it should be one of the major life-cycle type events that takes place in the context of a family. Death is part of life. Once we remove life-cycle events from the family, we invite the state to own us entirely.

[twigs]

We went to lectures where we were told, there was no God

I went to a geography class Tuesday night in a local community college and the professor showed us satellite images proving the probable existence of the Biblical Garden of Eden. I nearly fell out of my chair. Not only did he make his argument with scientific evidence, he started it with the presumption that the Bible is real and literal. I've been in and out of schools for a number of years and this is one of the few times I've ever seen this happen. I had to think what a wonderful lesson this was for the young people in there who had probably consistently been told that there is no absolute truth!

[Damocles]

But now you see, I have won, I've beaten you at your own game.

I know the gun I hold at my head is real, and I have the strength to put it down.

Not an amazing poem, but I LOVE these last few lines.

Unfortunatley, many did not have the strength to put down the weapon of mental destruction and took it to its logical conclusion; death.