TYC - EDUCATION - OXYMORON?

Most people who are familiar with the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), know that education and TYC is indeed a oxymoron. A recently released, detailed report about the statewide education program in TYC verified that youth are provided with a poor education. Many were well aware of this status, even though top officials in the agency will quickly defend the education system. It has been proven through the Dallas News series on TYC that youth are warehoused, given little if any rehabilation and treatment and provided with the minimum of help for their individual areas of trouble. So why would this now be a surprise that youth are given little assistance with their education?

I can recall when dorm staff and education staff had a huge split between their groups. The educators were better educated and made it a point to rub the fact in the lower paid and lower educated JCO staff. This still goes on today. Several institutions have been so short of teachers that only JCO staff were in the room for supervision purposes. They didn't get many thanks for filling in as teachers and what ever else.

At one time at the West Texas state school some teachers wore a shirt to school with words similar to "if you want my paycheck, get an education like mine". This was a direct slap at the dorm/JCO staff members, but now some of them probably get paid close to what some teachers make.

Have you noticed that youth are constantly provided with diplomas and a big deal is made of their graduation. Even in the institutions when there has been a long teacher shortage! I wonder who did the teaching? The JCO's who covered the classes for the teachers? Or, was this just another promote out of the way scheme by TYC? Either way, the youth is the ones who lose in the long run. Give them a TYC certificate, even if they can't spell their names correctly.

Some youth used to do their 'art' work in class by drawing symbols, gang tears, etc. on their pillow cases they brought to school. It was a good way I assume for them and the teachers to pass the day away. Many were good with daily puzzles, tic-tac-toe and other unusual forms of work to meet the daily education requirements. There are some good teachers that care about these youth, but there are many who seem to be just 'there'.

My question is: After all the heavy scrutiny that TYC has been under for the past year; how could this still be going on? It appears that even after all the supposed changes and directions from the legislature.......little has really changed. The good ole' boy system of do as you please and we will cover for you, is still in full force in TYC.

After the local people in Evins failed to indict any of the eight employees accused of youth abuse, the feds may have to come in to insure justice is done. Many of the local folks appear to be relatives of the accused, so outsiders may have to insure justice is not stamped out in south Texas. When abused youth see the justice system in that area and TYC, why should they change their ways? Indirectly, TYC continues to only refine these troubled youth in their criminal ways. If youth live with daily confusion and criminal activity in TYC, that is their treatment! They learn from what they see in TYC. More criminal behavior from the lowest staff to the top management?

The West Texas school is funded through Sept 2009, but many feel that after the Sunset Commission recommendations about TYC were made and were so negative....and the continuing refusal of TYC management to bring the broken culture about,....the school and others will close earlier than projected.

What happened to education in TYC? Was it ever really there? Was there ever any real treatment for youth?

Oxymoron?..........what do you think?

I wrote about all this in my book ...www.rapedbythestate.com, in 2004, and it was all proven to be true. TYC brought about its own demise.