So thankful I grew up in a time when locking up kids was pretty much unheard of. You had to do some really bad shit, and fighting and being bullied didn't qualify. I was bullied every day of school from 5th to 8th grade in addition to having the fuck beat out of me at home every day from age 5 until the day I left for the army at 18. Not here to whine and match sorrows with you, just wanted to say I understand how bad bullying can be especially when you have nowhere and no one to help you. I'm sorry you had to go through all that.
Um - I am not sure when that was. I was threatened with Juvie by my parents in the 70s, and I don’t think we’ve stopped locking up girls for being difficult yet…
Your experience was different than mine, my parents threatened to send me to military school as I guess that would have taken the chore of beating me every day and subcontracted it. What I meant was fighting at school didn't automatically result in arrest for either party as it often does now. If some parents pursued that option it was left to them to initiate it. YMMV. Of course it a minor killed someone or something similar but that was rare in my area, Tennessee in the 70s/80s.
It's a real sin what's happening to kids today, especially those in government institutions whether it's educational or penal. Cops in school serve no purpose but to condition young minds to accept the: presence of uniformed, armed agents of the state posted in every corner of their daily lives. They're pumped full of chemicals to keep them docile and make them more pliable for indoctrination. Those who run afoul of the government get into the system and a history that follows them for life, marking them for ostracizing. And yes you're absolutely right about locking up girls for being difficult but it happens to boys too.
Alternative Girl Gang is a good name for an all girl alternative rock band. 🎸 Sending you much love. Although being in that facility wasn’t an ideal place to stay to say the least, from that experience I would imagine the experience has given you much wisdom and insight, and of course a lot of empathy, love and deeper understanding for humanity and suffering. I’ll keep all your girls in my prayers. Everyone has the right to be loved. ✨🙏🤗💜
And for long enough you miss it. I grew up in foster homes as a youngster and in my teens got sent to an assessment centre ( as they were called in Scotland ) a place you went to as a troubled child to be assessed on your future) , from there I was sent to an Approved School ( like Juvenile school in America.)
Hated every moment.
Hated the teachers and learnt a total distrust with those in authority that still lingers with me now at 65.
As I say, I hated it but missed the other kids I was with, the good and the bad. And in my adulthood you could always tell a fellow inmate I reckon.
I thought this might be hard to read bc I was in one of those places too, san bernardino county CA. but the way you went about telling it -- holy shit. some of the things that happen in those places are impossible to talk about, but what you focused on - the friendships, the ones who made it survivable (literally) - that right there is medicine. To this day, one of my greatest friends in the world is a girl I was in that place with back in the day. I was 15, she was 16. She knows me better than fkng anyone in many ways. so for that, i am grateful. thanks for the reminder. salute to you and all the girls in there for surviving that shit. its insane what can happen to you in the machine, especially when you're under 18.
They do lock you up in FL for being angry and autistic. That's for sure. The way the state of FL treats women is inhumane and the women that participate in it are the worst kind of scum. That girl from your school is undoubtedly a Karen now. You are not and that in itself is a victory. Sending you lots of love. ❤️
So thankful I grew up in a time when locking up kids was pretty much unheard of. You had to do some really bad shit, and fighting and being bullied didn't qualify. I was bullied every day of school from 5th to 8th grade in addition to having the fuck beat out of me at home every day from age 5 until the day I left for the army at 18. Not here to whine and match sorrows with you, just wanted to say I understand how bad bullying can be especially when you have nowhere and no one to help you. I'm sorry you had to go through all that.
Um - I am not sure when that was. I was threatened with Juvie by my parents in the 70s, and I don’t think we’ve stopped locking up girls for being difficult yet…
Your experience was different than mine, my parents threatened to send me to military school as I guess that would have taken the chore of beating me every day and subcontracted it. What I meant was fighting at school didn't automatically result in arrest for either party as it often does now. If some parents pursued that option it was left to them to initiate it. YMMV. Of course it a minor killed someone or something similar but that was rare in my area, Tennessee in the 70s/80s.
It's a real sin what's happening to kids today, especially those in government institutions whether it's educational or penal. Cops in school serve no purpose but to condition young minds to accept the: presence of uniformed, armed agents of the state posted in every corner of their daily lives. They're pumped full of chemicals to keep them docile and make them more pliable for indoctrination. Those who run afoul of the government get into the system and a history that follows them for life, marking them for ostracizing. And yes you're absolutely right about locking up girls for being difficult but it happens to boys too.
Have a great day!
This had me riveted. Such injustices yet not an ounce of self pity. Your writing is powerful.
This is an incredible piece, bravo!
Alternative Girl Gang is a good name for an all girl alternative rock band. 🎸 Sending you much love. Although being in that facility wasn’t an ideal place to stay to say the least, from that experience I would imagine the experience has given you much wisdom and insight, and of course a lot of empathy, love and deeper understanding for humanity and suffering. I’ll keep all your girls in my prayers. Everyone has the right to be loved. ✨🙏🤗💜
That was pretty damn grim. I am sorry that happened to you and these girls.
I don't care what anyone says about your philosophy, you nailed it with that fucking chair. Or Desk, or whatever.
And for long enough you miss it. I grew up in foster homes as a youngster and in my teens got sent to an assessment centre ( as they were called in Scotland ) a place you went to as a troubled child to be assessed on your future) , from there I was sent to an Approved School ( like Juvenile school in America.)
Hated every moment.
Hated the teachers and learnt a total distrust with those in authority that still lingers with me now at 65.
As I say, I hated it but missed the other kids I was with, the good and the bad. And in my adulthood you could always tell a fellow inmate I reckon.
Your story resonated.
Thank you
I thought this might be hard to read bc I was in one of those places too, san bernardino county CA. but the way you went about telling it -- holy shit. some of the things that happen in those places are impossible to talk about, but what you focused on - the friendships, the ones who made it survivable (literally) - that right there is medicine. To this day, one of my greatest friends in the world is a girl I was in that place with back in the day. I was 15, she was 16. She knows me better than fkng anyone in many ways. so for that, i am grateful. thanks for the reminder. salute to you and all the girls in there for surviving that shit. its insane what can happen to you in the machine, especially when you're under 18.
That was one hell of an experience you had to go through.
Fantastic description of this crazy point in your life, well done.
It’s mind blowing to me how common this (weird prisons for children) seems to be in the states. Anyway this is a great piece
Thank you, Sara!
Lots of love from a girl’s girl. Phenomenal writing and perspective. Thanks for sharing the other side.
Thanks so much. It was something I really needed to get out.
Yeah I get it, something that helps me too.
Such great and honest writing. Glad you are here to tell it.
ox
They do lock you up in FL for being angry and autistic. That's for sure. The way the state of FL treats women is inhumane and the women that participate in it are the worst kind of scum. That girl from your school is undoubtedly a Karen now. You are not and that in itself is a victory. Sending you lots of love. ❤️
Any thoughts of turning this into a memoir? Good stuff. Thank you for sharing a time in your life that was most definitely unfun.
I wouldn’t be able to relive it at this point, but thank you!
it might make good fan fiction...
Never thought I’d hear your origin story. This is pretty interesting.
Wow. So powerful. I can’t imagine what such a facility must have been like. Thank you for sharing.