Comments on: Sanford Shapiro looks at Franklin Academy http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/ Resources for the learning disabilities community Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:49:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Susan http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/comment-page-1/#comment-339214 Susan Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:53:21 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202#comment-339214 Does anyone have any experience--positive or negative--with Franklin Academy's summer sojourn program? I'd appreciate any feedback regarding it. Does anyone have any experience–positive or negative–with Franklin Academy’s summer sojourn program? I’d appreciate any feedback regarding it.

]]> By: Sanford Shapiro http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/comment-page-1/#comment-339077 Sanford Shapiro Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:25:16 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202#comment-339077 T Dorf, Thanks for writing in and letting us know. It's helpful to hear your level of specificity. Glad your daughter's doing well. Please keep us posted. Sanford T Dorf,

Thanks for writing in and letting us know. It’s helpful to hear your level of specificity. Glad your daughter’s doing well. Please keep us posted.

Sanford

]]> By: T Dorf http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/comment-page-1/#comment-339031 T Dorf Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:23:57 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202#comment-339031 My daughter goes to Franklin currently. This is her first year. I have personally spent days on campus during my visits, unannounced, and have NEVER seen any examples of harsh discipline.Even when a kid totally loses it, as my daughter has, they handle it beautifully. In fact, they know not to approach her or argue with her when she is like that, but to stay in view so that she does not hurt herself or others. The talking about what happened always comes after she has had time to cool down. Discipline has been things like no computer after study hours, or she can't leave the dorm to socialize after study hour, etc. for a few days. Really, nothing I wouldn't do at home, and they make sure she understands which choices she made that led to the consequence. She appreciates the consistency and rules, actually, as she usually isn't intentionally "bad", just overwhelmed that day. They really get that, and ALWAYS dig until they find out what the problem was, or problems, and work with her, and others if necessary, on the problems. I find the staff to be incredible in their interactions with these kids, they actually do what they say, and get them to be more independent, and recognize what is going on around them and their reactions to it, as most of the kids have problems with social skills. When she comes home, there has been a huge change in her ability to communicate, and to accept responsibility for herself. She is much more thoughtful of others, and more outgoing. My daughter goes to Franklin currently. This is her first year. I have personally spent days on campus during my visits, unannounced, and have NEVER seen any examples of harsh discipline.Even when a kid totally loses it, as my daughter has, they handle it beautifully. In fact, they know not to approach her or argue with her when she is like that, but to stay in view so that she does not hurt herself or others. The talking about what happened always comes after she has had time to cool down. Discipline has been things like no computer after study hours, or she can’t leave the dorm to socialize after study hour, etc. for a few days. Really, nothing I wouldn’t do at home, and they make sure she understands which choices she made that led to the consequence. She appreciates the consistency and rules, actually, as she usually isn’t intentionally “bad”, just overwhelmed that day. They really get that, and ALWAYS dig until they find out what the problem was, or problems, and work with her, and others if necessary, on the problems. I find the staff to be incredible in their interactions with these kids, they actually do what they say, and get them to be more independent, and recognize what is going on around them and their reactions to it, as most of the kids have problems with social skills.
When she comes home, there has been a huge change in her ability to communicate, and to accept responsibility for herself. She is much more thoughtful of others, and more outgoing.

]]> By: Sanford Shapiro http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/comment-page-1/#comment-322246 Sanford Shapiro Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:13:50 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202#comment-322246 Dear "Disappointing" Sorry for your son's bad experience. Is he doing better this year? Can you give an example of a harsh discipline? Thanks for writing in. Dear “Disappointing”

Sorry for your son’s bad experience. Is he doing better this year?
Can you give an example of a harsh discipline?

Thanks for writing in.

]]> By: Disappointing Experience http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/comment-page-1/#comment-322083 Disappointing Experience Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:49:48 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202#comment-322083 We had a child at Franklin last year. Very bad experience. I agree with the previous posters....the staff is not who they present themselves to be. They seem like they are all for the kids, when in fact they have one and only one way of doing things and if your kid doesn't fit the mold....well that's just too bad. Kind of ridiculous when you think about the population that they are trying to serve.......each child is so different and needs to be dealt with as an individual yet at Franklin there's only one way. Also, I felt that their discipline methods were harsh. I'm not a pushover parent either but if you looked under the hood you found some seriously archaic and possibly illegal methods being used. We had a child at Franklin last year. Very bad experience. I agree with the previous posters….the staff is not who they present themselves to be. They seem like they are all for the kids, when in fact they have one and only one way of doing things and if your kid doesn’t fit the mold….well that’s just too bad. Kind of ridiculous when you think about the population that they are trying to serve…….each child is so different and needs to be dealt with as an individual yet at Franklin there’s only one way. Also, I felt that their discipline methods were harsh. I’m not a pushover parent either but if you looked under the hood you found some seriously archaic and possibly illegal methods being used.

]]> By: Wil Swartzell http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/comment-page-1/#comment-316655 Wil Swartzell Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:50:40 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202#comment-316655 I attended this school for 6 years, starting the year it opened. I really couldn't of had a better fit. I took out of Franklin the knowledge of how to make friends, advocate for yourself ASAP, and experiences I that can never be taken away. I met many people, saw many representatives of other schools, and connected with at least over 500 people during my time there. It is amazing how 6 years there changed my life, and Franklin has been the 2nd most cherished part of my life, my family coming first. I know I don't need to go out and be everything someone says I'll be like being famous or doing something that will change the world. But I do know that as long as I help part of the world, and a group of people, I can feel like I did something in this world worth while. I have explored different interests I never knew existed, DJing, Computers, Flight, and Music Production. I owe my entire life from college and here on - to Franklin Academy. And just for you parents - there are a lot of kids saying they hated Franklin, it was a bad place, the staff is not properly trained, etc etc etc. From my point of view, even though I did not live at Franklin, the staff was MORE than properly trained, I connected to many of them. The Academics were great. Obviously, there is no one school that can fit everyone's needs (those who have learning differences, that is). However, Franklin came close to that, and I know that their efforts are true, there path in front of them, and the world is about to see something truly amazing. - Wil Swartzell, Graduating Class of 09 I attended this school for 6 years, starting the year it opened. I really couldn’t of had a better fit. I took out of Franklin the knowledge of how to make friends, advocate for yourself ASAP, and experiences I that can never be taken away. I met many people, saw many representatives of other schools, and connected with at least over 500 people during my time there. It is amazing how 6 years there changed my life, and Franklin has been the 2nd most cherished part of my life, my family coming first. I know I don’t need to go out and be everything someone says I’ll be like being famous or doing something that will change the world. But I do know that as long as I help part of the world, and a group of people, I can feel like I did something in this world worth while. I have explored different interests I never knew existed, DJing, Computers, Flight, and Music Production. I owe my entire life from college and here on – to Franklin Academy.

And just for you parents – there are a lot of kids saying they hated Franklin, it was a bad place, the staff is not properly trained, etc etc etc. From my point of view, even though I did not live at Franklin, the staff was MORE than properly trained, I connected to many of them. The Academics were great. Obviously, there is no one school that can fit everyone’s needs (those who have learning differences, that is). However, Franklin came close to that, and I know that their efforts are true, there path in front of them, and the world is about to see something truly amazing.

– Wil Swartzell, Graduating Class of 09

]]> By: underdog http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/comment-page-1/#comment-267564 underdog Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:32:26 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202#comment-267564 We had an awful experience at this school. Don't believe the hype! Franklin is run by a headmaster with no special education background and staffed by people with limited experience. My child hated it here and left after 2 months. My child's diagnosis was completely misunderstood by the "experts" at Franklin (although they claim to serve this population) and it made for a terrible experience. This school is not what it seems. Avoid sending your children here! We had an awful experience at this school. Don’t believe the hype! Franklin is run by a headmaster with no special education background and staffed by people with limited experience. My child hated it here and left after 2 months. My child’s diagnosis was completely misunderstood by the “experts” at Franklin (although they claim to serve this population) and it made for a terrible experience. This school is not what it seems. Avoid sending your children here!

]]> By: Sanford Shapiro http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/comment-page-1/#comment-47175 Sanford Shapiro Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:27:29 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202#comment-47175 Thanks for your comments. It's a great reminder that families should use reports like these as a jumping off point for their own additional due diligence. I looked over my post and I'm not so sure my writing of Franklin was glowing. It was more a description of the opportunities the school presents, a partial description of the team assembled, the student profile, and class highlights. In fact, in my mentioning of its newness I highlighted the accreditation process, which hopefully should help the school deliver on its goals and align curriculum delivery with its philosophy.. One of the things I've noticed from seeing so many schools, is that what some do not like about a particular school, others may in fact like. Description and some analysis seem better suited for this website. Then its up to a family to use other forms of guidance, placement help and of course a visit themselves in order to see if there's a fit between the school and their son or daughter. Thanks for your comments. It’s a great reminder that families should use reports like these as a jumping off point for their own additional due diligence. I looked over my post and I’m not so sure my writing of Franklin was glowing. It was more a description of the opportunities the school presents, a partial description of the team assembled, the student profile, and class highlights. In fact, in my mentioning of its newness I highlighted the accreditation process, which hopefully should help the school deliver on its goals and align curriculum delivery with its philosophy.. One of the things I’ve noticed from seeing so many schools, is that what some do not like about a particular school, others may in fact like. Description and some analysis seem better suited for this website. Then its up to a family to use other forms of guidance, placement help and of course a visit themselves in order to see if there’s a fit between the school and their son or daughter.

]]> By: Robert Allen http://www.ldresources.org/2006/01/16/sanford-shapiro-looks-at-franklin-academy/comment-page-1/#comment-47111 Robert Allen Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:13:58 +0000 http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202#comment-47111 This is a glowing review of a very new school - Franklin Academy. The school appears to be having a good start and very well poised to serve students with NLD. Mr. Shapiro recommends schools for parents seeking a LD environment for their children and should be more objective in his analysis - laying out the bad with the good. One starter of the bad is the whopping $58K tuition. This is a glowing review of a very new school – Franklin Academy. The school appears to be having a good start and very well poised to serve students with NLD. Mr. Shapiro recommends schools for parents seeking a LD environment for their children and should be more objective in his analysis – laying out the bad with the good. One starter of the bad is the whopping $58K tuition.

]]>