Cedu Documentary
October 8th, 2008 — -The Cedu Documentary, “Surviving Cedu,” tells the story of a half-dozen teenagers who were each sent to the Cedu School, variously described to them as a standard boarding school, a wilderness adventure school, or a therapeutic learning environment in the Western mountains of the United States.
- Cedu Brochures
But the experience of the school was something entirely different. Students quickly found themselves in a new, strange, uncomfortable and often frightening world of intense group relationships and heightened, invasive and violent group therapies. Relationships at the school between students - and staff - seemed to have little formal structure or sense of normal boundary - and a student’s life was always under threat of intense and unpredictable disciplining and punishment.
The Cedu schools (one in California, and one in Idaho) were each located in a mountain wilderness, and students soon discovered that they were teenage captives, without identification or money, in an imposing geography they could not easily or safely negotiate or escape.
- San Bernardino Mountains, California
The real origins of the Cedu schools remained hidden from the students, their parents - and much of the staff - until years after their graduation or departure. At the heart of the Cedu program was a philosophy that had grown out of various self-help movements of the 1960s and ’70s, such as Lifespring, Werner Erhard’s EST, and most directly, from Charles E. Dederich’s “Synanon” cult, “church,” and street-level heroin-cure program. The Cedu Schools developed into an industry of sister schools, clones and copy-cats, that are now a multi-million dollar, international - and unregulated business.
- Synanon and Cedu
“Surviving Cedu” follows the narratives of these students, 15 to 20 years after leaving, graduating or escaping from this unique, troubling and isolated world.
Clips from the documentary will be made available here and through video-sharing websites. The documentary, still in production, will be entered into festivals in 2009. The schedule will be updated here.
Blogs and articles on the making and researching of the documentary can be found below.
Help build a biography of the Cedu program by leaving referenced (url, book title, etc) comments below. I will format referenced comments into the main page as we go on.
Video Clips:
- Clip 1 - Welcome to Cedu
- Clip 2 - Come Smush with Me.
- Clip 3 - Let’s have a Rap
- Clip 4 - Propheets
- ASTART Video: Dr. Nicki Bush, on the Alliance for Safe, Therapeutic and Appropriate Residential Treatment Programs. The ASTART Guidelines. [pdf]
More Soon!
Blogs and Articles:
- Cedu Raps and the Synanon Game
- Selling the Schools - Cedu Brochures
- I and Me and Summit Scripts
- Rudy Bentz and the Swift River Academy
- Calling All Cedu Survivors
- What’s a ‘Cedu’?
- Cedu Documentary in Progress
Links and Further Reading
- Cafety - dedicated to oversight and overhaul of the troubled “troubled teen industry.”
- ASTART - an organization of professional psychologists and researchers who advocate for ethical regulation of the industry.
- Fornits - a gathering place for survivors, grads and escapees of Cedu Schools and their clones.
- Straight Incorporated - “The Synanon Church and the medical basis for the $traights”
- Synanon Pages at the Rick Ross Cult Research Institute
- Brainwashing, Cults and Mind-Control - Definitions and discussion [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
October 8th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Thank you Liam. Thank you for letting it be known.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I came across this looking for information about Morava Academy - an US school that was closed in my country years ago. I try to educate myself on this topic - as a mother of two teenagers .I know how desperate a parent can be - but it would never cross my mind to send my child away . We do not have CEDU schools in my country - for this I am grateful, but we must be carreful still.It is so scary to know that such school exist at all.
Thanks a lot Liam, good job!(And excuse my English)
October 9th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Hi Marie!
Thank you - I think you’re English is lovely! Post a link on Morava Academy, if you’d like, and we can look it up and learn about it.
I wish you courage! Bonne Courage with the teens - I’m not sure what they’re up to. You can have them pop onto the site and write a note, if they’d like. Or, if they’re being small terrors, we can probably tell them a few stories that will encourage their most determined good behavior…
very bests,
Liam
October 11th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Hi Liam,
Morava Academy operated in the Czech republic in 1998 and was closed after 9 month. The Americans hired Czech staff - and some of them contacted police and reported what was going on there. I remember that the journalists wrote about a concetration camp for american teenagers - it was horrible and we were really upset and angry - I cannot magine that similar school exist to this day in your country… My little monsters (DS 18 and DD 16) are just typical teenagers , we were always very close –but as puberty hit - hey, who are the two strangers in my home??- sure, they drive me crazy and I almost passed out when I found out that DD smoked pot?!? But I educate myself , choose my battles , and hope fot the best!
Kind regards from Prague and all the best for you!
P.S. Do you know that similar schools existed in communist Russia around 1918?
October 12th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Liam -
I feel so terrible that I do not remember you or many (I remember Morgan Genser) of the people on your documentary. I can only say that once I graduated in June 1990, I ran back to New York as fast as I could. I only kept in touch with one person. The fear, doubts and harassment at Cedu was something I wanted to forget. It also made me into a total bitch. I was so ashamed for how I treated those people who were there while I was there that being in NY and then Virgina isolated me and I could start over as the person that I really am. I was so hurt and angry that I vowed that no matter what, my children will never get shipped off to some cooky school. My daughter is 12 and thank God that she is doing so well but she knows about Cedu and knows that she will never end up in a place like that. So again, thank you for the documentary and to anyone who was there from 1988 - June 1990, I am deeply sorry for any pain I may have caused you.
October 12th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Hi Claire,
Cedu is something I think a lot of people wanted to forget! But, you know, it’s good to rescue these bits of history from the memory hole, before they’re gone for good.
Glad you and family are well. Don’t be too hard on yourself for how you were at 16 or 17. I think the point of making this information public, is to help it be known that this type of ’school’ environment, is not healing, therapeutic, or beneficial - it is tantamount to torture, however, and we all, each of us, had to break, according to our nature. It made some of us mean, some of us neurotic, some of us bitter, some of us wildly untrusting -
And we’ve had to journey back from that, into life. So, welcome back, to all of us.
bests,
Liam
October 13th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Marie -
“P.S. Do you know that similar schools existed in communist Russia around 1918?”
I’ll look this up. Send me any links you have.
Thanks!
October 13th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Seeking;
Mellissa M., David Mc., Cindy Cng., class of 1990?
Please email me w/contact, if you have info. Do not post.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Liam -
Are you only trying to get info on Cedu? If not, I can tell you things about when I was at DeSisto in MA. I was there before Cedu for some months before running away. People have sued the school. Thankfully I got out. I ran away once and was “double hand held leashed”. There was no therapy there. My parents now look back and wish they had never heard about the school or about Michael DeSisto (who is now dead). If you want more on the school, curriculum etc….let me know
October 17th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Liam,
First of all… thank you so much for posting everything on CEDU. I watched the clips on the documentary and I have to say that I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I was very thankful that I went through the program when I did because I feel when they lowered the age bracket, things got more out of hand with how the kids were treated. I can’t imagine what some of the kids experienced after I left. It’s amazing… you have such a trust for these people…
On the other hand, I LMAO during the explanation of RAPS… people do not realize that this behavior is not common. My brother was in rehab seven times and no group ever revealed the level of emotion we got to. I still remember the first time I saw someone take care of themself… it gives me shivers. Anyway, opening this porthole for me has been a huge inspiration you have no idea! Talk to you soon. Michelle
October 21st, 2008 at 8:59 am
Liam,
That is really impressive work so far. I must say that I am a better person for having been there (1979-1981) than I would have turned out otherwise…I had /have a quick temper. I did learn things there to help with that. Yes, there is also some trauma…but I think you would have had it any way, maybe in some other form but still, ‘life changing events’ happen in many ways.
I’m left with this curiosity…do you feel as though you benefited from your time there? Or maybe a better way to ask would be, do you think our time would have been better spent going through our teens else where?
I do have to admit it has taken alot to amaze me since the Cedu days….think I saw it all there!
October 21st, 2008 at 9:31 am
Hi Gregg,
I must return your question with a question:
Can you describe Cedu in 1979, vis-a-vis what you’ve seen in descriptions from former students in the videos, and in the blog responses?
Same, similar, different?
Raps, Propheets, Disclosure Circles, Staff smushing, no-dating, no-normative teen relationships, music generally forbidden, etc?
Try to cover the bases, and give some detail of the scenario then.
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
I just starting viewing your site this week. I graduated in 1988. A former classmate sent me the link. I am very interested in what you are doing here. I had a decent experience overall, but a ton of memories came back to me after viewing a few clips. I am impressed with what you are doing. I am very interested in seeing more.
Sincerely,
Stacey G.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Liam - I want to thank you for all the work you are doing on our behalf. Unfortunately, many people who attended CEDU still grapple with the denial and invalidation foisted on them by their families, who believe that CEDU “saved our lives.” I know that two friends of mine have shared that these clips helped their family members begin to step out of denial. I hope you make the finished product available for purchase so some of us can share it with our families. I know for me, it’s the last taboo subject.
November 9th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Hello
I was at CEDU from April of 94 to June of 96. I cannot tell you how happy I am that we are not alone anymore. We now have proof and evidence to what we went through. I have tried to explain CEDU to so many people and am so glad that you are doing all this. I would love to talk to you.
To any of my friends who read this and want to find me…please do
November 13th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Michele, I believe you were in my peer group with Elana. If you remember me I am on facebook. Hope all is well.
November 15th, 2008 at 9:43 am
I went to CEDU from 1994-1996. I see a lot of familiar names commenting here. Although while I was at CEDU, deep down I hated it. I think almost everyone did. I guess there was a point that I realized I was not getting out unless I completed the program so I just tried to do the best I could and get out of there. I did, and my parents I believe are still really proud of that accomplishment. It was really hard to have to go through it but in the end I believe it was worth it. I still think about the experience often and try to make the best out of what I learned from it. I think it made me much stronger as a person, and I have found value in the program as it relates to my life today. While it was really difficult being a student there it was even harder trying to find myself in society upon graduation. It took me a good two years to readjust to the world in general and it was obvious to people close to me that I was different after CEDU and in a weird way. Over the years however I have found a nice balance that works well for me, and I basically keep my CEDU experience to myself. I think it is great that you are putting together a documentary and if this becomes available to purchase I would be interested in obtaining a copy. If you are looking for more testimonials I would be willing to help out. Contact me anytime. To all the former students, I hope you are well and life is treating you right. Hopefully we will cross paths again in the future.
November 15th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
http://www.caic.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1243&Itemid=12
An interesting program about a related program, Landmark education.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I graduated in 1983….a long time ago…but I am amazed by the detail you have. Contact me if you need to…I’m on facebook too.
November 17th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I went through the CEDU program from June 1992 - December 1994. After watching these video clips, I am extremely interested. I definitely was in CEDU during the height of the reign! I think it is so important that it is being exposed. Please feel free to contact me for any info. Sincerely Amanda C.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:22 am
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27188079#27206055
A link to an old, but updated documentary on Jim Jone’s cult that moved to Guyana. They drank the kool aid 30 years ago today.
Also, a book that I’ve been reading lately that makes for some interesting points is THE NEW BELIEVERS , by David V. Barrett. There’s nothing about Synanon which is disappointing, but they do have a section on the Landmark Forum and some est branch off groups. Its also from the UK point of view which is why I think they have more on European groups and less of the American cults. Good resource.
RIP Congressman Leo Ryan and 900 other pour souls. :peace:
December 11th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Hey there bro… I actually went to Rocky Mountain Academy circa 94-97 and wanted to touch base with you about your project. I watched through what you have compiled so far with the first hand experiences of your fellow classmates at CEDU and can say my experiences were quite similar at RMA…. Please drop me a line….
December 12th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Child was at cedu–bad experiernce. Now my husband is trying to spirit him off to in balance ranch or gatehouse academy. any word on either of those?
I had been looking at Visions drug rehab or Oakley run by Aspen.
December 14th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I’m non-the-better for my 8 months at Cedu Running Springs. Sometimes it really feels like something I survived.
I was luckier then most, I split two weeks before my 18th birthday.
The cast and crew of Running Springs truly didn’t give two shits about us. It really was about the money.
I can’t imagine the staff really believing that we were benefiting from their abuse. What in God’s name were they thinking.
Oh, and a Christmas F- YOU to Dan Earle. Couldn’t keep it zipped, could you a-hole. What a complete pervert.
I’d say f- you to other members of the CEDU kool-aid drinking staff, but luckily they are all dead.
Good job, Liam. Seriously, your doc. helped me a lot.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:33 am
I think your documentary is great. I’ve tryed to explain what we went through to family and friends with no sucess. They all think I’m making up stuff. The one thing I can say about CEDU is that I came out of the place in fear. When I graduated I was so afraid of authority and thought everyone was talking behind my back. To tell you the truth, talking with people from CEDU is alittle scary for me. I remember the raps and things people said to me (and I said to others). I felt so small and afraid
December 18th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Thanks man, I can’t wait to see the whole thing. I and buddy of mine are both convinced that we are suffering PTSD from our experiences with the CEDU Family of Services. The unfortunate thing is that most people, including professionals, don’t believe our stories about what went on; so it is refreshing to see this and I wish you the best of luck.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I really appreciate you doing this. I feel it is important for people to learn what really went on at these places. As someone who has studied psychology I can not understand how the staff members believed in what they were doing. I was traumatized by my experiences at Cedu. It has taken a very long time to get over what happened at that dreadful place. Best of luck to you and I wish sucess on the documentary. -
December 27th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I had a total flashback watching your video. It really brought me back….a real eeirrrre feeling. I hope too see some of the darker elements of being at a cedu school such as the extreme mental illness of some of the students, suicides, self mutilation, sexual enconters between staff and students, and the Roit in the late 90’s at NWA. I have an interesting story about a counsouler swingging on me in front of students; only to have me serously injure him. (I broke his ribs with a log that was duct tapped to my nalgaine water bottle as a punishment for forgetting my water bottle multiple times) They seperated us and tryied to manipulate the story so that I swung first; but to no avail. The students wouldn’t budge. I didnt get in trouble at all because they were scared of being sued.
I am intrested in the differences in the program over the years; Im excited to see the finished documentary thank you for your work.
December 31st, 2008 at 2:04 pm
For the past 12 years, I’ve struggled with the inability to vocalize how awful those 3 years were. Nobody understands it unless they’ve lived it- and it’s an experience that was so traumatizing for so many people that it needs to be talked about.
While I was at Cedu, I was tied to a person I didn’t get along with for 24 hours, made to shovel snow for an entire day in a t-shirt and shorts (because I kept forgetting my jacket in the dorms) and watched a staff member belittle a physically impaired student to the point of his running away and never being found.
It has taken time to forgive and it will take more time to forget- but I think that what you’re doing is wonderful. Thank you.