Élan School Explained

Élan School
City:Poland
State:Maine
Zipcode:04274
Country:U.S.
Pushpin Map:Maine#United States
Type:Private therapeutic boarding school
Affiliations:NATSAP
Grades:8–12
Age Range:13–18+
Opened:1970
Closed:1 April 2011

Élan School was an abusive behavior modification program and therapeutic boarding school in located in Poland, Maine. It was a full member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and was considered to be a part of the troubled teen industry.The facility was closed down on April 1, 2011, due to multiple reports of abuse, many from former students, dating back to its opening in 1970.[1]

The Élan School was located on a 33acres campus in south Poland that was formerly a hunting lodge.[2] There were also other campuses, such as the one on 424 Maplecrest Road in Parsonsfield, which was formerly a hotel and hospital before it was bought by Élan in 1975. This campus was known to have some of the worst abuse in the school's history, and was put out of use sometime in the 1980s.[3]

The Élan School acquired notoriety during the 1990s and early-2000s when former classmates of Michael Skakel, who had attended in the 1970s, testified against him in his trial for a murder that had occurred about two years before he had enrolled.[4] The school was also the subject of persistent allegations of abuse in their behavioral modification program.[5] [6]

Background and history

Élan School was founded in 1970 by Joseph Ricci, a former heroin addict who had worked with young people in drug treatment facilities,[7] along with psychiatrist Dr. Gerald Davidson and investor David Goldberg.[8] Ricci headed the school until his death in January 29, 2001 due to lung cancer, when his widow Sharon Terry took over. In 1974, Élan 1 was damaged by a fire with damages estimated as $100,000.[9] Maine politician Bill Diamond served as the school's Director of Governmental Relations.[10]

Program

In the school's controversial[6] program, "humiliation" was identified as a therapeutic tool, as was following up on such intervention with encouragement and warm support. Students attended year-round.[11] The school's treatment methods were based on the "therapeutic community" or TC modality popularized in the 1960s at facilities such as Synanon, and later at Daytop Village.[12]

In 2002, a New Jersey educational consultant who had referred students to Élan for twenty-two years told The New York Times that he would refer only "the most serious cases" to the school, which he said would "take kids who haven't responded to other programs and who are really out of control." and that the school was "certainly not for the faint-hearted." He said "There's lots of confrontation, ... and yet there are lots of hugs."[6] Accounts of former students include mentions of physical and mental abuse, including degrading tasks such as "[sessions] of cleaning urinals with a toothbrush that can last for hours" and up to the point of critical malnourishment.[6]

Controversies

Throughout its history, the Élan School was faced with numerous allegations of student maltreatment. In 2001, Details magazine cited Élan as "among the most controversial of the nation's residential therapeutic communities."[13] In 1975, Illinois state officials removed eleven children from the Élan program, alleging mistreatment.[14] In the late-1970s, Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Max Ashburn visited the school after repeatedly hearing rumors of abuse, but the staff did not allow him entry into the school past the lobby.[15] Following this, he began keeping a file in which he documented names and phone numbers related to Élan, as well as reported abuses.

The New York State Education Department, which had paid tuition for special education students to attend Élan School, gave the school a favorable review in 2005.[16] In 2007, however, New York education officials raised questions about the school's practices, alleging in a letter to the school and Maine education officials that Élan students were physically restraining their peers and being deprived of sleep. The allegations prompted the state of New York to threaten to withdraw tuition money for taxpayer-funded students. The school's lawyer contested the allegations.[14]

Skakel and Moxley case

On the evening of October 30, 1975, in Greenwich, Connecticut, 15-year-old Martha Moxley left with friends to participate in "mischief night", in which neighborhood youths would ring doorbells and pull pranks such as toilet papering houses. According to friends, Moxley began flirting with, and eventually kissed, Thomas Skakel, the older brother of 15-year-old Michael Skakel. Moxley was last seen "falling together behind the fence" with Thomas, near the pool in the Skakel backyard, at around 9:30 p.m.[17] The next day, Moxley's corpse was found beneath a tree in her family's backyard. Her pants and underwear were pulled down, but she had not been sexually assaulted. Pieces of a broken six-iron golf club were found near the body. An autopsy indicated that she had been both bludgeoned and stabbed with the club, which was traced back to the Skakel residence.

Michael Skakel's trial began on May 7, 2002, in Norwalk. Two former students from Élan, where Skakel received treatment for alcoholism, testified they heard Skakel confess to killing Moxley with a golf club. One of the former students, Gregory Coleman, testified that Skakel was given special privileges and had bragged, "I'm going to get away with murder. I'm a Kennedy."[18] [19] Furthermore,[20] witnesses testified that beatings and public humiliation were parts of life at Élan during the late-1970s.[14] [21] In trial testimony, former students also described the practice of placing a student in a "boxing ring" surrounded by classmates who confronted the student.[22] [23] The New York Times has reported that, at the school, "smiling without permission can lead to a session of cleaning urinals with a toothbrush that can last for hours." On June 7, 2002, Skakel was found guilty of murdering Moxley and was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.[24]

Deaths related to Élan

Runaways

Students would occasionally run away from Élan. Former Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office Captain Ray Lafrance stated that Élan would send groups in vans to search for and return runaways, and noted that the school only called police to report missing students as a last resort. Lafrance said some runaways would be relieved to be found after spending nights in the woods, though others "were scared to death to go back to Élan. If we really felt they were really scared, we'd bring them into the department, call their parents and at least let them know what's going on. Then we'd call Élan and they'd come pick them up."

In 1979, Lieutenant Max Ashburn was called by a local family to pick up a 16-year-old Élan runaway. The boy had been a student at Élan for several months, and said that his parents lived in another state. Ashburn recalled in 2016 that the boy "was crying, and he was begging me not to take him back"; rather than return him to the school, Ashburn, a former truck driver, took the boy to a local diner, and instructed him to hitch a ride with one of the truck drivers there.

Closure

On March 23, 2011, The Élan School announced it would be closing on April 1, 2011.[35] The school's owner, Sharon Terry, blamed "declining enrollment and resulting financial difficulties," as well as negative attacks on the school via the Internet backlash. In a letter to the Lewiston Sun-Journal, Terry said: "The school has been the target of harsh and false attacks spread over Reddit and the internet with the avowed purpose of forcing the school to be closed."[1]

In media

Élan was featured in Children of Darkness, a documentary film shot in 1983 that explored the experiences of emotionally troubled youth and the various residences and institutions that housed them. A documentary chronicling the school's history and impact titled The Last Stop was released in 2017. The film was directed by an Élan graduate and included interviews from various residents and professionals including Maia Szalavitz.[36] [37] Élan is the main location for the events in Joe versus Elan School, a web-based graphic novel.[38] [39]

See also

External links

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Elan School closing after Web campaign to shut it down. 23 March 2011. Sunjournal.com. 26 August 2021. 14 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414151614/https://www.sunjournal.com/2011/03/23/elan-school-closing-web-campaign-shut/. live.
  2. Web site: Elan Alumni. Elanalum.org. 23 June 2019. 17 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190617201359/http://elanalum.org/. live.
  3. Web site: Elan Parsonsfield. local history matters.blogspot.com. March 2020. 6 September 2021. 7 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210907022227/http://localhistorymatters.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-maple-crest-long-and-varied-history.html?m=1. live.
  4. Web site: A Miscarriage of Justice. Robert F. Jr.. Kennedy. 1 January 2003. The Atlantic. 23 June 2019. 7 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171007220842/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/01/a-miscarriage-of-justice/304759/. live.
  5. Web site: Good News: Bad Economy Killing Abusive Teen Programs. 30 January 2009. HuffPost. 23 June 2019. 16 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181116160212/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/good-news-bad-economy-kil_b_162696. live.
  6. Web site: Skeletons in the Classroom. Warren. St. John. 2 June 2002. 23 June 2019. The New York Times. 16 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181216094254/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/02/style/skeletons-in-the-classroom.html. live.
  7. Web site: Suffer the Little Children . Suzuki's Thoughts . 2023-08-14 . 2023-08-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230815032118/https://suzukisthoughts.blogspot.com/2019/06/suffer-little-children-elan-school-and.html . live .
  8. Web site: JOSEPH RICCI'S CAREER AND CONTROVERSY . Dwight F. Blint . February 15, 2000 . Hartford Courant . January 31, 2021 . July 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709211258/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2000-02-15-0002150060-story.html . live .
  9. News: 1974-01-08 . Fire Levels Drug Center Damage Set at $100,000 . 12 . Evening Express . 2023-08-11.
  10. Web site: Skelton . Kathryn . Tice . Lindsay . His family asks: What really happened to Phil at the Elan School? . Sun Journal . 6 April 2021 . https://archive.today/20190412201300/https://www.sunjournal.com/2016/03/13/family-asks-really-happened-phil-elan-school/ . 12 April 2019 . 13 March 2016 . live .
  11. Web site: Basic School Approval Report Pertaining to the Elan School. live. MuckRock. Kastuck. Maine Department of Education. Edwin. 2002-09-02. 2021-11-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20191223203707/https://www.muckrock.com/foi/file/7752/embed/ . 2019-12-23 .
  12. DeRogatis . Jim . 2001 . Screeching Halt . SPIN Magazine . SPIN Media LLC . 17 . 3 . 124 . 2020-11-23 . 2021-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210927184742/https://books.google.com/books?id=YzBMbiDVcKoC&q=Synanon+elan&pg=PA124 . live .
  13. "Bad Company: The Elan School." Details Magazine, http://bykevingray.com/wp-content/uploads/file/culture/badcompany.pdf, November 2001.
  14. Web site: New York seeks change at Elan School. 2007-03-25. Novi. Wack. dead. Portland Press Herald. https://web.archive.org/web/20081204131734/http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/070325elan.html. 2008-12-04.
  15. Web site: The day 'Officer Smiley' helped a boy escape from the Elan School. Skelton. Kathryn. Tice. Lindsay. March 20, 2016. Sun Journal. July 7, 2022. October 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221001025016/https://www.sunjournal.com/2016/03/20/day-officer-smiley-helped-boy-escape-elan-school/. live.
  16. http://www.elanschool.com/Elan_NY_Report.pdf Special Education Quality Assurance Nondistrict Program Review: Final Report, Élan School
  17. News: Cameron . David R. . Opinion . Many still ask: Who killed Martha Moxley? . 19 June 2016 . Hartford Courant . 22 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161001200002/http://www.courant.com/opinion/hc-op-cameron-who-killed-martha-moxley-0423-20130422-1-story.html . October 1, 2016 . live.
  18. Web site: Probable Cause hearing transcript . 83 . Marthamoxley.com . 2013-10-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120912005541/http://www.marthamoxley.com/transcripts/skakel1.pdf . September 12, 2012 . dead . mdy-all.
  19. Web site: Geringer . Joseph . The Martha Moxley Murder — The Trial: Superior Court Weighs Trial Agenda — Crime Library on . Trutv.com . 2013-10-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090831080903/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/famous/moxley/trial_9.html . August 31, 2009 . live .
  20. News: 1998-09-25 . Ex-Head of Suspect's School Won't Testify in '75 Murder Case . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-07-26 . 0362-4331 . 2023-04-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230420182227/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/25/nyregion/ex-head-of-suspect-s-school-won-t-testify-in-75-murder-case.html . live .
  21. Web site: Corasaniti . Nick . Joseph . Yonette . Timeline of the Skakel Case . 2023-07-26 . www.nytimes.com . en . 2016-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160720042119/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/10/24/nyregion/24skakel-timeline.html . live .
  22. Web site: Classmate: Skakel unsure of role. live. 2002-05-07. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117171735/https://archive.triblive.com/news/classmate-skakel-unsure-of-role/ . 2021-11-17 .
  23. Web site: Moxley case puts school's methods on trial . marthamoxley.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20000914192518/http://marthamoxley.com/news/07032Kbg.htm . 14 September 2000 . dead.
  24. Web site: Christoffersen . John . Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel slams lawyer during murder conviction appeal . U.S. News . Usnews.nbcnews.com . April 26, 2013 . live . October 24, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204630/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/26/17925187-kennedy-cousin-michael-skakel-slams-lawyer-during-murder-conviction-appeal . October 29, 2013.
  25. News: Ackley. Lisa Williams. February 8, 1992. Roy O'Hara guilty on manslaughter. Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. 34. July 7, 2022. July 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220707155034/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105136495/sun-journal/. live.
  26. Web site: State v. O'HARA . 2022-12-03 . 2022-12-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221203195706/https://law.justia.com/cases/maine/supreme-court/1993/627-a-2d-1001-0.html . live .
  27. Web site: Ohio trucker gets life for killing Gary runaway. June 15, 1994. The Times of Northwest Indiana. July 7, 2022. April 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200411203016/https://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/ohio-trucker-gets-life-for-killing-gary-runaway/article_edb57afb-4fb3-5a7f-b594-de046e08ed67.html. live.
  28. Bailey, Blake. "David Sedaris Talks About Surviving the Suicide of a Sibling." Vice, https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7bdvdg/remarkable-messes-0000671-v22n6 . Accessed September 24, 2020.
  29. Sedaris . David . Now We Are Five . 5 January 2022 . The New Yorker . October 28, 2013 . Condé Nast . 21 October 2013 . Tiffany [...] was subsequently sent to a disciplinary institution in Maine called Élan. According to what she told us later, it was a horrible place. She returned home in 1980, having spent two years there . 10 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220110051219/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/10/28/now-we-are-five . live .
  30. Web site: His family asks: What really happened to Phil at the Elan School? | Sun Journal . www.sunjournal.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171004025454/http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2016/03/12/his-family-asks-what-really-happened-phil-elan-school/1881905 . 4 October 2017 . dead.
  31. News: Police looking into 33-year-old death at Elan School. 2016-03-15. live. Seattle Times. 2021-11-17. 2021-11-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117171726/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/police-looking-into-claim-linking-82-death-forced-fighting/.
  32. Web site: State police: Elan student's death investigation continues. Kathryn. Skelton. 21 October 2016. Sunjournal.com. 23 June 2019. 23 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190623124553/https://www.sunjournal.com/2016/10/21/state-police-elan-students-death-investigation-continues/. live.
  33. Skelton, Kathryn and Tice, Lindsay. "His family asks: What really happened to Phil at the Elan School?", Sun Journal, March 13, 2016.
  34. Web site: 2022-08-04. Police looking into 33-year-old death at Elan School. 15 March 2016. The Seattle Times. 2021-11-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117171726/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/police-looking-into-claim-linking-82-death-forced-fighting/. live.
  35. Web site: Rose . Brittany . This Boarding School of Horrors in Poland, Maine Only Shut Down a Decade Ago . 2022-06-27 . Q97.9 . en . 2022-07-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220703120249/https://wjbq.com/elan/ . live .
  36. Web site: Elan film debuts at Emerge Film Festival | Sun Journal . www.sunjournal.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170430080301/http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2017/04/28/elan-film-debuts-festival/2117840 . 30 April 2017 . dead.
  37. Parker Bowman: Valley Vertigo: Documentary details controversial and experimental Élan School, hanfordsentinel.com, January 28, 2020
  38. Web site: 2023-03-13. Týraní dětí na objednávku. Zvrhlý byznys amerických polepšoven. Finmag.cz. 2023-03-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20230313190620/https://finmag.penize.cz/byznys/439934-tyrani-deti-na-objednavku-zvrhly-byznys-americkych-polepsoven. live.
  39. Web site: 2023-03-13. Joe vs. Elan School. elan.school. 2022-04-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20220423155904/https://elan.school/. live.

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