West Ridge Academy: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox School |
{{Infobox School |
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| name = West Ridge Academy |
| name = West Ridge Academy |
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Revision as of 23:32, 8 June 2009
| West Ridge Academy | |
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| Information | |
| School type | private |
| Director | Kenneth Allen |
West Ridge Academy, formerly called the Utah Boys Ranch, is "an early-intervention residential program that deals with boys at risk" in West Jordan, Utah, USA. It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation under the name Children and Youth Services Inc.
History
The Utah Boys Ranch was founded by Lowell Bennion and a group of his associates[2] in 1964. Later, leadership changed hands and Utah State Senator Chris Buttars became the executive director and remained so for more than fifteen years before retiring amid controversy.[3] The stated purpose of the academy is to provide clinical services and education through theistic practices, emphasizing "spiritual and moral values" and the "principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ." Since their founding, they claim to have helped over 25,000 teens.[4] The academy claims to "have elected to operate completely free from the restraints imposed by governmental grants, subsidies, or contracts." The Utah Boys Ranch Director claims that "the facts indicate that our government believes the laws governing separation of church and state are violated when governmenr [sic] dollars are used in any program that promotes and teaches religious principles."[5]
The board of directors is composed of prominent Utah Mormons, such as author and politician Richard Eyre, former General Relief Society President Mary Ellen Smoot, BYU religion instructor Sally Wyne, and politician LaVar Christensen.[6] Former Utah State Senator Delpha Baird, former West Jordan, Utah Police Chief Ken McGuire, and former West Jordan Court Judge Ronald Kunz were all members of the founding Board of Trustees.[7] Deseret Industries donates food and supplies.[citation needed]
The Utah Boys Ranch original logo contained the phrase from the popular Mormon hymn #237, "Do What is Right."[8]
There are several Mormon Missionaries called to serve missions at the Academy. These missionaries state they do not proselytize, but provide spiritual counsel for the youths that come to them. [9]
Media coverage
On January 2, 2009, journalist Eric Norwood, a former Boys Ranch resident, published an article detailing abuses and controversial ranch practices.[10] On January 9, 2009, Salt Lake City radio station KRCL invited Senator Buttars, West Ridge staff, and Eric Norwood on their talk show RadioActive! to discuss the article, but Buttars and West Ridge Academy declined.[11]
Notes
- ^ "Admissions". West Ridge Academy web site.
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20000303175823/utahboysranch.org/news.htm
- ^ http://www.isaccorp.org/documents/utah-boys-ranch.09.27.04.html
- ^ http://www.utahboysranch.org/
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20000411154008/utahboysranch.org/director.htm
- ^ "Board of Directors". West Ridge Academy web site.
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20000411103942/utahboysranch.org/board.htm
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20000303021520/utahboysranch.org/dowhatisright.htm
- ^ http://www.mormontimes.com/mormon_living/mission_life/?id=7284
- ^ Norwood, Eric (2009-01-02). "Trapped In A Mormon Gulag". Orato Media Corp. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ KRCL RadioActive