Rudy Bentz and the Swift River Academy
May 2nd, 2008 — -What are teen “tough-love” and “behavior modification” programs like, from the inside?
You can discover at least a little by reading “What it takes to Pull Me Through,”, by a writer named Dave Marcus.
Reading the book, I recognize all of the details - the forced labor, the bizarre, unregulated, unprofessional group ‘therapies’; the tactics of humiliation, isolation and coercion. I have to say, however, that while the author shows a good facility with chronology, he seems to have done little to no research on the effectiveness, ethical nature - or legality - of what he was witnessing.
He describes the program at the Academy at Swift River, and the ‘behavior modification techniques’ invented by the (now former) Swift River (and former Cedu) headmaster, Rudy Bentz, and his wife, Jill Shwaiko Bentz, who managed the lives of adolescents, with a brutal ’scared straight/tough love’ philosophy.
The Bentz’s, as well as other staff at the Cedu School, were also inappropriately physically close with students there; it was a Cedu philosophy to allow “smushing“, (or what sexually-active adults would call “cuddling”) between staff and students.
The book fails to offer any insight into the boundariless-ness of the Bentz’s philosophy-in-action, or a sense of ethics regarding the utility, helpfullness, effectiveness, discomfort and lack of compassion on view in the therapies. But it gets many of the details right.
Compare what you read Here, in a former students testimony, with what you find in the book.
The same philosophy is on view - essentially, “We won’t trust you, educate you, or give you individual counseling for your particular needs; instead, we’ll beat the bad out of you, shame it out of you, humiliate it out of you, bleed it, sweat it, yell, cry it, and scream it out of you.”
These programs still exist, and are truly abusive…and yet very poorly regulated, probably as a result of the blind spot through which we as a society choose to view their existence (or, more specifically, the blind spot put in place by the parents who send their children to them).
A little regulation is in order.
- For more information, Please visit A-START, The Alliance for the Safe, Therapeutic and Appropriate use of Residential Treatment.
- Read more on abusive/coercive therapeutic boarding schools at Fornits.com and ISAC
- Mother Jones: The Cult That Spawned the Tough Love Industry
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
heh… I know a girl who went to SRA. She never cut herself until she went there. Messed her up for a long time.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I don’t know how to respond to this Liam and not totally contradict you. The culture we were a part of back then is drastically oversimplified here. For example, while I cannot speak for others, I didn’t find any discomfort in smooshing. I didn’t really find much use for it and participated mostly to be compliant, but it’s purpose was clear. Labeling it as “innappropriate” seems arbitrary and dramatic.
Furthermore, tough love is a part of life. It certainly can be abused, but so can Rittalin. When my baby son (20 months old) wants continuously to get picked up and held, there is a point where I simply say “no - that’s too much.” I am to be labeled criminal for this? Hell no. There are limits to behavior and expectations. Many, many kids are allowed to grow out of control and need so very badly to receive the virtual slap that comes from tough love in order to correct their ability to interact with the average person. To rally against tough love as a concept is very provincial.
And this statement…
[quote]The same philosophy is on view - essentially, “We won’t trust you, educate you, or give you individual counseling for your particular needs; instead, we’ll beat the bad out of you, shame it out of you, humiliate it out of you, bleed it, sweat it, yell, cry it, and scream it out of you.”[/quote]
…is very stilted. I was in fact frequently trusted, educated and directly counseled for my particular needs, BY RUDY BENTZ. I can directly point to sections of my ILE journal and draw lines to my life today, accounting measurably for the improvement. I chose to use what I was taught to improve myself and ignore those things that don’t suit me today. Because another does not have this experience, that doesn’t mean that the sweat, blood, tears, screams and humiliations were wrong or misguided attempts at opening someone’s eyes to a better way to think, feel or live.
I guess ultimately there are two problems with this criticism of Rudy: you can’t prove what would have happened without his influence; and you can’t account for the choices of any one “victim” after his teachings. This seems to be more of a personal preference commentary about how “we wish it wasn’t the way it was.”
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Well Ned,
I can see a few points of agreement, with which, I think, everybody who experienced Mr. Bentz, and the school, will be familiar and agree.
That the major “therapeutic” element of this type of school, did involve: “sweat, blood, tears, screams and humiliations.”
Perhaps you should tell the uninformed reader what the “ILE” - or “Fulltime,” as we knew it - refers to? What were the specifics? And what caused you to be on one?
What is an I.L.E.? I’ll leave it to anyone who can answer that riddle.
You say you have a young child, (congratulations), who always wants you to pick him up, and that sometimes, you don’t; I don’t recognize the analogy to that of sending adolescents and near-children to isolated, remote mountain-top cabins, where forced daily and nightly labor is the penalty for:
Singing even a note of an “un-approved” song,
Or for looking at someone, or God forbid, talking to someone, who you are “banned” from interacting with - usually because you are good friends;
Or from expressing a romantic interest for a peer - not acting on it, but just the act of admitting it.
It was for these ‘terrible’ acts,’ that students at the Cedu school were forced into daily and nightly labor, in the field, in the dirt, in the horse manure; on the stony back of a mountain filled with briers, snakes and scorpions; or over a sink, for the rest of the night, scrubbing blackened, carbonized pans with corrosive cleaners and broad, jagged steel wool.
Do you see the difference between occasionally not picking up your child, and the reality of life at an abusive, unregulated ‘therapeutic’ boarding school such as this, staffed by admitted drug addicts, some of whom also regularly admitted to - and regaled us with stories of - committing incredible acts of violence, such as homicide and child abuse?
Is there a slight difference there?
That you enjoyed, or did not mind, being forced to snuggle with adult men and women who were your teachers and therapists - “smushing” - is something to consider. It’s not for you, as an adolescent, to have formed a complete opinion of the act, given the ease of manipulating an adolescent.
But it is for you, as an adult, to ask yourself if you feel that it is appropriate, ethical, or legal, for 30 to 60 year-old, un-trained, un-liscenced, non-professional, former or recent drug and alcohol-addicted “counselors”, to be cuddling with the students in their care.
If you were able to, as you say, “take the good” from the program, and not turn into an abuser yourself, then all the best to you. You might have a little humility, though, in allowing those who did not enjoy the experience, to speak their minds.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
face it Rudy is not a nice guy. I believe he was and still is an a**hole. He was very intimating, scary, and very selfish. If you were not part of his group then you were treated like the lowest person on the planet. Not too many know, but because I had a speech problem, Rudy started to call me “ELMER FUDD”.
If Rudy was here to help me then why would he call me Elmer Fudd? Other staff members have come forward and stated that what they have done is not right, and have apologized. Rudy will never admit to what he did was wrong
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Well this is to no offense to the latter. But my opinion on , smushing .. ( I was a 14 year-old female)
That is laying on a shoulder, between the legs, trading massages, laying on a hip or leg, being rubbed and “comforted” for anyone to do, period unless it is the person you are f#@%^ing is inappropriate.
I don’t ever remember smushing with a female faculty. It was all male faculty, and they weren’t trying to be my daddy. I think the lines of love and care were blurred. I wasn’t just being held and comforted it was more.
And no offense Ned, but your response does not surprise me in the least bit. Of course you were frequently trusted …you were the poster child for CEDU. no offense. I am glad you got out of it what you did. For me it was a different experience. I tried the ole, learn from this experience and for some reason the night terrors and all the other issues I had after that said something different why, one because they never stopped.I spent most of my time being punished, and told I was unworthy and worthless, and that could change if I choose to go with their belief system.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Ned, I’ve come up with a shorter answer:
You say you liked parts of the program. Others say they did not (by the truckload). Would you stop them from criticizing?
Meaningful, experience-based criticism tends to make what’s good become better, and what’s not good become obsolete.
The principle of competition, and free-markets. I think it applies here just as well.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I think any program, as soon as Rudy and Jill enter it, becomes a poisonous, harmful environment.
I hear from CEDU graduates (post Rudy era) that is wasn’t that bad.
It’s very interesting to me. Food for thought.
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
What is an I.L.E.?
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Oh BTW, HI NED!!!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Some other points of view [Here].
You can add yours, for the record.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
A clip from the book. I recommend reading it, to see if you recognize some of the tactics and “therapeutic” exercises. As well as the feeling that one man, with no training in psychology, therapy, or child-development, is sternly lecturing, belittling, debasing, isolating, controlling the movement and communication of, and personally attacking, children in his care - and, to some degree, their gullible, willingly naive parents.
“What it takes to Pull Me Through”
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Disclosure…disclosure…disclosure…DISCLOSE!! DISCLOSE!!!
This is a theme that you find in this book and that we were taught at CEDU.
Every propheet started with “dirt lists” and “disclosure circles”
DISCLOSE DISCLOSE DISCLOSE!!!!
Little anecdote,
My therapist is trying to re-teach me that I don’t need to disclose everything, that some things ARE personal, and not everyone needs to know them.
We joke that I have OCD… Obsessive Compulsive Disclosure
May 25th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
A letter to Rudy Bentz.
RE: Google Forum
to: rbentz@mindspring.com
Dear Mr. Bentz,
Have you ever googled yourself? Have you ever seen what people think about you? Besides killing some poor innocent during a drunk driving accident.. do you realize just how many people you have hurt?
Please, Take a moment and read what people have to say. Go down to the brass tacks and take a deep look at your inner child. Do you want to live? Are you living with your truth? Are you a shiny chrome ball or is your rock bottom hidden and dirty by the actions of your “I”. Where is your “me”? How close are you really to death and fear? Have you ever been a Brothers Keeper?
Children learn what they live… and you made life pretty ugly for many youths. Perhaps this explains the suicide and drug overdose statistics of children that have crossed your path. When is the last time you found yourself “running yourself into the ground” or “digging holes in your life”?
Is “me” winning? Did you “run” your thinking right out of town?
To the degree you feel your sorrow.. to that same degree you feel your joy. I think your pendulum has been stuck on denial.
Sounds like Bullshit to me.
You know, the harder the truth to tell, the truer the friend who tells it. I think all these people on the web are really good friends to you… you just have to reach out an accept them.
It’s time to cop out. Come clean. Climb out of the ditch you have dug and fill it back in!
Rudy, The truth shall set you free.
From,
Me
June 16th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Guest:
Rudy Bentz worked at the CEDU school along with his wife Jill. He was very prominent in this program that used groups (raps)not for therapy but to bully and emotionally abuse eachother. I can tell you right now that many kids confessed to false dirt or exaggerated dirt under heavy bombardment in the rap arena. They also facilitated workshops called propheets that were intense, highly contrived experientials that tore you down but did not build you up. Frankly, it was the worst kind of experience for developing minds. Look at the CEDU site, but start for the earliest page. The more current pages are irrelevant. There is a lot of anger.
By the way, I did attend CEDU when the Bentzs were there. The whole program, on a systemic level, was damaging and not remotely designed for emotional growth. You do drink the Kool Aid just to survive; it is hard to resists the program directives when you are isolated, monitored, and your parents manipulated. You realize you have no recourse but to buy into the program.
Rudy Bentz, by philosophy, has no business in the Waldorf program.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:12 am
Wow! How did I miss this thread with Ned? (couldn’t resist the rhyming)
Where to start? Ned got a wholesome education from Cedu. I truly am happy for him that he was one of the lucky few the program was actually designed for and improved his life with no ill after effects. Seriously.
I remember Ned and it doesn’t surprise me either. I think I was on a similar path as him and did everything I could by the book. But honestly, I did it to get by and survive and that’s it.
At some point, they decided I wasn’t going to get by without doing an ILE, so they trumped up a reason. Get this: my mom put a package of new underwear in my visit bag before I left home to come back to Cedu and I didn’t know it. I got nailed with it because it wasn’t cleared for me to bring back before I ever left.
So they slapped me on an ILE and I broke rocks with a pick ax and got reemed in raps. Just to stick it to me and give me the Full Time experience. What did I learn?
I learned how it must have felt to be a dissenter and piss off someone in the Soviet system and be sent to a Gulag.
But hey I’m not bitter.
August 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Robert A,
My story exactly.
I also followed the rules to the best of any humans ability so that I could survive the system and make my passage through the program as “easy” as possible… “Easy”… haha…. Sounds funny.
Truly, so minimize the damage and pain of it all.
After my Imagine I was put on a table ONLY because I had never been on a table before. Good ole Rudy Bentz’s idea. I got reamed in one of his raps for never getting into enough trouble to be put on a full time of table. He screamed … “well after this rap… go pick one on the upper level”
One of many sentences that I will always remember… verbatim…
August 11th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
My aunt happens to be a retired nursing professor of both the medical and psychological fields. I have emailed various articles I have found on CEDU to her recently. She was utterly sickened to hear of the BS we went through at CEDU. I was there 92-94. Her opinion was none other than the fact that there were some REALLY REALLY sick fuckers working at CEDU and the other various schools like it! I was not aware of this but on one visit I had where my mother and aunt came to visit, my aunt asked one of the admin (don’t remember who) exactly what CEDU’s success records were with the kids that had come and gone through the program! Answer was, “We do not kep records on that sorry!”
Un-flipping believable eh?
On to Rudy Bentz. I will never forget the day I was on one of quite a few “fulltimes” and he comes and sits down and says something to the extent of “You think you’re so smart huh? How are you gonna like it when someone kicks in your parents front door and blasts your old man with a shotgun right in front of you? Not so tough then huh?”
I was thinking what in the f&&k is wrong with this lumbering maniac (Rudy). That guy had it out for me as well as so many others the entire time I was there. On a better note before I got sent to RMA for 10 weeks, I was on a room restriction in Rudy’s office in Emerson. While in there I drank all his Frappucino’s … HA HA HA fucker!!
The thing that disturbs me the most is that people like Rudy and Jill who was just an absolute closet-case lesbian in my opinion, and Russ Decker and all these sick bastards that ran the place is that now they are in other educational environments tainting youths ever more with their un-reveling rotten propaganda. Does no one do thorough background checks anymore? Sick I tell you!!!! Props to the guy who wrote the book on his “emotional growth experience” at one of these torture compounds..
I remember being up on the hill behind Emerson on work detail hauling wheel barrows full of bloulders all the way from the flipping farm. God I wanted to burn that place down so bad. Extreme?? Not really I am sure many others pondered that at one time or another.. For those of you that were there 80’s 90’s remember Cheryl the kitchen lady? She was pretty nice. Well enough for now I guess. Oh and by the way Ned, no offense but how much did you get paid to write such a fruitful review on CEDU??
God bless and good night everyone…
August 20th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Hey guys! Check out this link and what “Rudy is known for”
http://www.secretprisonsforteens.dk/fornitswiki/index.php/Rudy_Bentz
I just remember him comparing us all to him because HE killed someone drunk driving.
Like at 14 I needed to burden myself with his adult mistakes.
What a joke.
I really wonder sometimes if he even knows what kind of DAMAGE he did to us kids.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I would LOVE to take him to a rap.