Dear Rita,
Thanks for addressing the many lies and distortions being propagated by the alleged Truth campaign.
It is common knowledge that the campaign was started by a family member of mine who disagreed with my parental decision to enroll my daughters at the Family School. This family member has no children of her own, and maintained at best a superficial relationship with my children. She is estranged from her siblings and parents, who are all supportive of my decision to provide my daughters with the best help I could find. I can only describe my sibling’s behavior in pursuing and funding this campaign as disturbed and out of touch with reality. It is indeed unfortunate, both for the sibling and the apparently troubled individuals who choose to follow her lead.
The Family School helped my daughters turn their lives around and rebuild relationships between them and with me. They successfully transitioned from the school in June 2009 – one to a top-notch college and other to a top-notch prep school.
With my parents, friends, and partner, I spent perhaps hundreds of hours at the Family School during the 18 month period my daughters were enrolled there. I attended countless table topics, many sports events, choral performances, picnics -in short, with two daughters at the school and the many opportunities for parental involvement, I felt Family School was my second home for those 18 months. Every visit left me feeling that my daughters we receiving the best possible support, care, love and guidance available anywhere. On top of that, they received an excellent high school education.
My gratitude for the Family School is immense. I am an attorney and dedicated mom who left no stone unturned in trying to find the best therapeutic program anywhere to help my daughters. I searched from Vermont to Hawaii, making personal visits to several schools. No where did I find the unique opportunities offered at the Family School.
The Family School was undoubtedly the best thing I could have done for my daughters, and indeed my family. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and know that the truth will prevail – it always does. I pray that the troubled individuals relentlessly pursuing the anti-Family School campaign will find peace and move on with their lives, rather than remain stuck in their torrent of anger, denial, and confusion.
Peace to all.
Meg Sheehan
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Dear Rita,
My daughter was in the same family with one of Meg’s daughters. I remember well the trials and tribulations that we all experienced as a result of Meg’s sibling, and I feel badly that Meg and her girls have to weather this storm as much as I feel badly about the effects of the campaign on FFS.
I can’t speak to the statements of the alumni whose tenure preceded my daughter’s residence, but I must restate everything Meg said in her statement regarding the positive aspects of FFS. I can fairly and honestly say that without FFS, my daughter would have died, and she agrees without reservation. Neither my daughter nor I ever saw abuse during the 30 months she was in FFS, but we both witnessed and experienced the love, the caring, the compassion, and the accountability that are so essential to a successful program.
Last night, a large group (roughly 80 people) met in NYC to hear from those interested in becoming involved in the anti-smear response. There were two most-moving moments in the evening for me.
The first was hearing from an alumnus that graduated in 1999. He didn’t sugarcoat his experience, but with the maturity that only age can bestow, thanked FFS for what it did to save him and his relationship with his family. He acknowledged that not everything was perfect, and but he also stated that when his own parents decided to let him go, he found a true family in the staff and peers at FFS. He felt the smear campaign was stealing from him validity of his experience, and pledged his support to helping FFS.
The other moment of note was when Mike Argiros spoke. He shared that a few members of the smear campaign were standing outside the restaurant in which we were meeting, wearing shirts saying “The Family School Abuses Kids.” He said, in a way only Mike can, in essence, to not fight them, but to share our experiences, both in person and on the web, to show the FFS that we all know and truly love.
When I am attacked, my first response is to get angry and fight back. That is human nature. But Mike said don’t fight. Love and understand, and try to show through our experiences. That is the philosophy of FFS, and I’m proud to say my daughter was a student at FFS. My daughter left her high school in Florida living the darkest of the dark side of life. She had a .54 GPA, and was failing in life, not just school. In December, she graduated FFS 3rd in her class, and I am proud to say that she has a NYS Regents High School Diploma. She is no longer abusing drugs; our relationship is good; she is happy; she is alive. Her relationships with present former students and staff continues to be strong, and neither of us regrets one day spent at FFS.
I pray for your sister, Meg, for her to hear and understand the good that FFS does for so many children and their families, and that she can find her own serenity without destroying a single child. I pray the same for all those former students who feel they need to join in her journey.
Finally, thank you, Meg, for having the courage and fortitude to stand tall and face this in public. I know how difficult it must have been to hear, and read, after all you’ve been through, but know that we, parents of other students, stand strong with you in stopping the untruths, in helping ensure the continuation of FFS as a viable entity, and to help bring more at-risk kids in need to their doors to offer opportunity for a better life. Perhaps, one day, your sister might find the error of her thoughts, and instead of funding a smear campaign, help fund FFS to save a child’s life.
Peace and love,
Dennis S.
Dear FFS and FFS Parents,
Like Dennis, my husband and I also attended the event Wed night to show our support for FFS. We also were moved by the alumm’s statements of how life -altering FFS was to them, and how they would not be who they are today without it. For us, sending our son away was not an easy decision and we researched long and hard as to where. We did not listen to the decision of our “ed consultant” but listened to our own instincts and hearts and selected FFS for its incredible “total’ program of academics, full extracurriculars and 12 step philosopy. There our son, who had ADD, learning issues etc learned to be a student, learned to love literature and writing and became a more confident person. Most importantly, he was cared for and treated like a member of the FFS family! We as his parents knew he was safe, playing basketball, performing in plays and studying and learning to the best of his potential. He received consequences for the behaviors that were negative and he received leadership opportunities when he was ready for them. We will be forever be grateful for the loving and wonderful program of the Family School and the dedication of the staff. We need the Family School for us parents who have children who are wired differently and have lost their way. We must all support the family school and encourage parents to look beyond these disgruntled few who do not have the understanding of the damage they are doing to this very very special school.
Thank you,
Barbara L.
the family school saved my life.the values and experiance i gained from the family are with me to this day.thank you all.god bless .also the animal husbintry i learned at the family is why i am a certified veterinary assistant today.let me know whenever you have an alumni day.SEMPER FIDELIS!