This letter is in response to Frank Dare’s letter to the editor of Dec. 13.
He states he was a counselor at Maple Lane, that neither Maple Lane or Green Hill was a “school.” I beg to differ with him, because between 1966 through 1975, I worked for the Chehalis School District, which administered the school at Green Hill.
We had principals, teachers, counselors, a librarian and myself. My duty as secretary was security, making sure a student was in attendance, then sending him back to either his cottage, the hospital or wherever he was assigned to be next. If necessary, I notified security.
At that time, many students had not completed their high school requirements for graduation, so the intent was to see that they either graduated or fulfilled requirements for a GED. There was a library. Art and music were offered, plus vocational classes: print shop, metal shop, floral and garden, culinary arts, etc. Each of these classes provided the student with a skill that they could use after their stay at Green Hill. Some of their completed work was sold.
Many years before, students learned to take care of the cows and acquired skills to be a farmer. Green Hill was a correction school. Not a prison.
There were many students who came to the office between classes to just talk. One day, I asked a student why he thought it was OK for him to break into someone’s home to take whatever he wanted. His answer was, “Why not? Your insurance will replace anything I take, newer and better.” I replied, “maybe what he was taking had meaning to me, like it belonged to my family or was a special gift.”
He had no concept of my answer.
When I read their files, I found 95% of the time they didn’t have a chance to learn right from wrong. Either they didn’t have parents who had parenting skills or even cared. But, for me, what was even worse was that all of them had been before judges not just one, two or three times, but many eight, 10 or 12 times.
What sense does that make?
So, for those of you who are doing the blame game of liberals, Democrats, governors and attorneys general, take a second look at the judicial system. Make laws that allow for second chances, but then enforce the laws to full measure.
Note: While at Green Hill, a group of cottage parents went to Seattle to see what it would look like to actually live on the streets for one week. They came back and called for a meeting at the auditorium where we learned that they concluded we were all one week away from living like animals.
If that was evident 50 years ago, how can anyone be appalled at what is happening today?
Rose Spogen
Chehalis
