Comments for Special Report: Child Abuse in State-Run Reform School

Apr 23, 2009

Sickening and criminal...
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

But as sickening as the story/report is to read, it's a story that MUST be told and re-told so that it never happens again. I cried for the precious little boys who were so callously thrown away by society, into an inescapable prison of torture and utter disregard. I now cry and pray for the tortured men they have become.

Darlene Barriere
Webmaster: www.child-abuse-effects.com
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir

Apr 24, 2009

was beating/torturing the only way people knew how to help a child to grow and mature into adulthood???
by: maurice

Horrific, were past generation of human beings so ignorant that they did not know the harm they were doing to innocent children/teenagers/young adults they were given guardianship over. The abuse that went on behind closed family doors is well documented and we all know the lasting effects of that on the innocent. Now slowly, but very deffineately thanks to you Darlene we are learning what went on behind state-run reform/remand schools. Also public boarding run schools and institutions for special needs children and young people be they male or female guardianship of caring for them. In the name of God sadly many children of such places were beaten and bruised in mind and body for life. My first visit to your site Darlene was to ask about abuse and it's lasting effects on the innocent. listening to the men/women and reading your visitors true stories and now on this report I am convinced that it lasts a lifetime for everyone. The effects deminish through the years but lies dorment at the back of the mind only to survice from time to time to haunt those of us who were abused. Letting it go as quickly as it survices becomes easier with the years. The thrashings/beatings/spankings by strong Adults on innocent bodies of their charges was totally inhuman. The scars etched in our minds and on our bodies for a very long, long part of our life. At sixty two years of age while I have dealt reasonably adequately with my mild beatings I am still effected by them. If I am still effected by mine compared to those meted out to these men (gentle human beings children/young adults) at this State-Run Reform School.I believe the effects will never go away. All over the world not alone all over the United States Places like this Reform School and religious run Institutions left lasting scars and bruises on thousands of their innocent victims. Great it is highlighted by you Darlene and the Media nowadays. THere is a spark of hope and healing out there but Society can never have sufficient trained Counsellors, professional people to walk with each individual child who has these scars still. Human Kind 75% of them at least are the healers of these people nowadays. There is a huge amount of LOVE out there in the ordinary everyday human Being to soothe and heal those of us who were abused. Have I another human being called friend whom I can relate my total self to without feeling shame in telling them what happened to me. If I have, I am the luckiest person living. I have such friends in my life who Listen, cuddle/hug and welcome me as that friend then I am healed naturally of those terrible awful days in my life. We are survivors together, we are good for each other because we can emphatise with each other. Thank you Darlene

Apr 24, 2009

My heart goes out!! Part 1
by: Sandra (Lonely at Heart)

I have read what was written in the St. Petes Times newspaper and my heart sank with every word that I read! My heart goes out to all those boys (now men, on the outside YET boys, on the inside)...such cruelty should of never been lived!!

I came across Roger Dean Kiser's life stories (under the Rs) as I was going through the Sitemap A-Z stories, and my heart went out to him IMMEDIATELY. He writes so discriptive and with such pain in his words, that although WE suffered unsimilar situations...THEY ARE SIMILAR nonetheless!

I hope that by speaking out and publically pointing a finger at those responsible it will leave such a DENT in the world that NO OTHER human being in charge of taking care of children who are already suffering from neglect, lack of love, discipline, low self esteem, sadness, rage and confusion, etc...that those ADULTS in their care do NOT take advantage of their ALREADY VULNERABLE state and dig deeper into an already opened wound...but INSTEAD teach the CHILD that their is a light and that they are here on earth for a reason!! That they are WORTH something if not to whom ever brought them into this world then TO THEMSELVES!! NO CHILD IS BORN EVIL OR CORRUPTED...NO CHILD!! THEY ARE MADE THAT WAY...BY NOT BEING PROVIDED THE PROPER CARE!!

Apr 24, 2009

My heart goes out!! Part 2
by: Sandra (Lonely at Heart)

I have heard so many people say; "I was raised that way and look at me now, a simple spanking doesnt do any harm..." Well most of these people were not just simply SPANKED, they were beaten! Do not get me wrong, I believe in a spanking if need be but after that spanking I have also spoken to my children and explained WHY I spanked them. There is a difference between a SPANKING and a BEATING...A HUGE DIFFERENCE! I have heard stories from my own family members as to how it used to be back in the day and how they were disciplined...BUT they NEVER disciplined US, the next generation the way THEY were! And WE have learned from that and not disciplined OUR next generation that way either...THE CYCLE HAS TO BE STOPPED at some point!!

There is a saying; "You get MORE bees with HONEY" and that is SO true!! I have learned through out my years that talking to my children and hugging them and kissing them and spending QUALITY time with them, gets them to do what is asked of them much easier and faster than just yelling...with that I am not saying that I dont yell...(I would be lying)...children will be children and reactions are reactions BUT as long as the COMMUNICATION and ACCEPTANCE of an error is THERE, I believe that everything will be alright and that my children will be fine...we have an open door policy that will NEVER be closed!!

There is SO much abuse going on in the world and so many children being hurt and murdered at the hands of not only STRANGERS but also their BEARERS! And the first question that comes to mind is "How? How can someone hurt a child?"
Well, I have another question..."How? How can people put on BLINDFOLDS to an ISSUE that we read about almost DAILY?" And then when these CHILDREN become MEN & WOMEN of crime...YOU have the AUDACITY to point a finger with out truely knowing or once you know they were brutally beaten and abused and lacked the life YOU lived...you turn your head and say "That cannot be true or Those are all lies to get out where they are!" yes, some people try to get out of any bad situation by bringing in all sort of claims BUT ABUSE is not something that can be FORGOTTEN and the EFFECTS of it TURNED OFF!!

Please please lets take care of our children...love them, cherish the gift that so many wish they could have and if you feel you are not right for the job...(as a parent or guardian or worker at a childrens home) DO NOT MAKE YOURSELF RESPONSIBLE BY HAVING THEM OR BY APPLYING FOR A JOB TO CARE FOR THEM SIMPLY FOR THE CHECK...!!

BREAK THE CYCLE...STOP CHILD ABUSE!!!

Apr 25, 2009

break the cycle, stop child abuse all kinds of violence within families
by: Maurice

I could not agree more with you Sandra your commemnt is sound, practical, and a healing one. Poverty and abuse seem to go together in most peoples minds. I believe we leave the rich off the hook here as alot of hidden abuse permeates from such homes and families. All forms of abuse are wrong, Added to that is domestic violence which sadly is the platform used in most cases for child abuse. Great progress has been achieved through the years and all forms of smacking/beating/spanking are off most parents agenda in rearing rearing children. Thankfully teachers cannot use corporal punishment now to correct unruly children/teens which sadly are still there. Other forms of correction seem to be working well in homes and schools. So to a great degree we have stopped the cycle of abuse. I've no doubt other forms are taking place as in the sex trade and the likes. We need to stop and speak out about all forms of abuse in todays world. Those of us who are still effected by the scars of abuse must continue our healing and our self esteem to deal with it. Good and true familr and friends are still there to offer their genuine LOVE to us.

Apr 25, 2009

Maurice:
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

Sadly, Maurice, child abuse rates are on the rise, and still, the overwhelming majority of parents still believe in and use corporal punishment. It's us vocal ones who try to point out the evidence that repeatedly shows the negative effects of such disciplinary practices. But they fall on deaf ears, and on eyes that refuse to open.

Darlene Barriere
Webmaster: www.child-abuse-effects.com
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir

Apr 25, 2009

To the multitude of Anonymouses:
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

I deleted your wholly inappropriate comments. This site is not the place to debate the issue of spanking for discipline. And even if it were, what 2 of you advocated is definitely crossing the line. If you want to leave a comment that is in keeping with the purpose of the original post, then by all means do so. If not, please move on. Your opinions on this issue are not welcome here. They will continue to be deleted.

Darlene Barriere
Webmaster: www.child-abuse-effects.com
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir

Apr 25, 2009

To Sandra:
by: Darlene Barriere - Webmaster

Sandra, I have agonized over what I am about to say for almost a whole day, ever since I had to delete the 4 inappropriate (2 highly so) comments that were prompted by and came on the heals of your post. An additional 2 came in this morning.

The day before yesterday, I very reluctantly allowed your comments about spanking your own children for discipline in Part 2 to remain intact. I now regret not editing them out. Please allow me to explain...

Firstly, I did not edit your post, in part because of your valuable contributions on this site, and in part because I knew you were trying to make a point about degree of force, etc. I do get that. But I am now faced with two problems:

One, visitors who are intent on using my site to promote certain disciplinary practices and fight to use every thread possible as a place to debate the issue; an issue that I cannot allow to be debated.

Two, I've now shown my visitors who have suffered negative affects from spanking that it is not really safe for them to disclose their feelings here, because based on what went down on this thread, someone might tell them that what they are suffering doesn't matter. I received a couple of emails from visitors this morning who expressed their concerns over this, as well as their disappointment in me for not doing a better job of monitoring such comments. I can appreciate where they're coming from.

Spanking, even in its mild forms, IS a violent act; an act that can have long-lasting repercussions on a child. I don't expect you to change your views on the subject, Sandra, nor is this post intended to ask you to reconsider them. As distasteful as I find it, you are within your legal rights to spank your children for correction.

But I must control what does and does not go on this site. As a violence and abuse prevention educator, as webmaster of a site that is intended to inform and validate those who do and have suffered child abuse and from the effects of violence against them, even violence that society as a whole finds acceptable, I must remain vigilant in screening what is appropriate for this site. I must stay true to the purpose I've set out here. I sincerely hope you understand the position I'm in.

Darlene Barriere
Webmaster: www.child-abuse-effects.com
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir

Apr 25, 2009

Sadly growth rates display a rise in Abuse
by: Maurice

***Duplicate comment deleted***

Apr 25, 2009

Sadly growth rates display a rise in Abuse
by: Maurice

When will parents ever learn how to really Love their children without resorting to spanking/beating/hitting them. That goes for Guardians and people responsiblible for caring for teeenagers in reform centre's. It saddens me we have not learned from the history of abuse that such behaviour is totally inhuman. Sadly nature begets nature in the rearing of children. It is music to my ears when I hear parents saying I am not going to rear my children the way I was reared. Many who were spanked would never spank their children and have been successful in using other forms of correction which have worked. That is why I believe 70% of Family life is wholesome, good and loving. That 70% express that the family is still the basis of a good Society throughout the World. Yes it is true that no matter how mild a spanking or beating on one's bottom has long lasting effects.I would regard myself as a proof of that fact. This site is so well guarded by Darlene that it is safe to speak one's mind and truth in total trust and confidentiality. It is consoling for me to know and be aware of that. I value all your caring comments Darlene, but equally those of your many visitors too. To me that is what makes your site genuine and real. People really feeling safe to speak their truth of abuse to them. I sure get good feelings of support from each Story and Comment offered.

Apr 27, 2009

My sincere apologies
by: Sandra (Lonely at Heart)

Darlene;

I want to send you and your readers my sincere apology for offending anyone with my comment!
It was not my intention at all...I wrote what I felt and did not hold back and pretend that I have never laid a hand on my children...I have...years ago...my kids are now teens and I can count with one hand the times that I have hit them BOTH! Like I said before, WE TALK (my children & I) and we will ALWAYS talk!! It works for us!!

Again, my intentions were not to hurt anyone in any way shape or form...it was not to diminish anyone for what they may have gone through and it does not mean that I condone ABUSE I DO NOT...I was merely voicing my opinion and I tried to be honest about it.

Again, my apologies to all. God Bless!!

From Darlene: Thank you, Sandra, for your understanding and for your honesty. I know you do not condone abuse, and I knew what you were trying to getting across in your comments. The buck stops with me, since I monitor and approve any and all comments that go live on the site. I'm the one who owes my disappointed visitors an apology.

Your supportive comments and your from-the-heart submissions help many more people than I can possibly measure, Sandra. I do hope you will continue to be a valuable contributor on this site.

Darlene Barriere
Webmaster: www.child-abuse-effects.com
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir

Apr 29, 2009

Stories of Severe Abuses are Genuine.
by: Anonymous

As a witness for 70 days to beatings at FSB Okeechobee in 1965-66, I can say without reservation that all stories on the site "The White House Boys" fall into line with what I knew to be fact in Okeechobee. Kids were beaten black and bloody, and some were systematically tortured.

From Darlene: Anonymous, I believe you. When society puts trust in any institution to be so-called "carers" for children, there is great risk that these children will suffer atrocities such as what you witnessed. Abuse stems from a misuse of power. Abuse flourishes when there are a lack of stringent policies and a lack of strict policing and enforcement of such policies; policies that must be implemented to ensure the TRUE well-being of those children. Sadly, such atrocities continue, not only in institutions, but also in peoples homes. I read of such atrocities each and every day.

Darlene Barriere
Webmaster: www.child-abuse-effects.com
Violence & Abuse Prevention Educator
Author: On My Own Terms, A Memoir

Apr 30, 2009

What comes around goes around.
by: Anonymous

I remember being stuck in a cell with a hallucinating psycho who cut me open until my bones protruded through my skin. I was sixteen. They refused me medical treatment. I remember being taken to a place called the adjustment unit at FSB Okeechobee, and beaten to bloody pulp by sadists with a weighted leather flogging strap.
I remember a lot of corruption and abuse in the communtiy. I remember police protecting adult criminals who committed numerous crimes against me.

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Disclaimer: To the best of my knowledge the child abuse
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this, I do try to balance the need for the submitter to be
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Comments for Special Report: Child Abuse in State-Run Reform School

Most Recent

Converging Stolen Lives

A letter to one of the 13 Turpin children

Dissociated From Abuse