In reference to barry's note of the 9/18/07 interview on the El Peecho site, there's no doubt that residents of Pennhurst suffered terrible conditions and abuse by their keepers. The world is made up of all kinds of people, and they are found everywhere—even in places like Pennhurst.
I still say, however, that having been inside Pennhurst as a "guest" when the facility was still operational, caring for people who are mentally challenged and in an institutional setting is extremely difficult. Especially when the caregivers did not have adequate support from the state or the residents' families. I believe it takes very special people to do this work the way we think it should be done.
I had a young mentally retarded cousin in Pennhurst. I just learned this a week ago. I have little doubt that she had few or no visitors and suffered as many others did. It's appalling, for every person who ever had to live there. And now it's hit even closer to home for me.
Hey, barry, I lived in Coventryville next to the historic Dunn house, off of Rt. 23 about 2 miles west of Owen J. Roberts High School, the school I graduated from in 1975. How would I recall the name of the principal...when nobody ever paid attention to him anyway? I'm not fake...are you?
The horrible things we did in the name of science...good god. I also just finished The State Boys Rebellion. It is amazing how bad things were for so long and how they changed so drastically in 50 years. Bravo to you 'boys', Joey. I would have fought for you...I do now in my job as a special education teacher. Yet, still, I am told to mind my own business when fighting for a child. I don't and get in trouble. Crazy, huh? BTW, the pic should be something out of hollywood, not a real hell.
jen i have been there 3 days ago i live 3 blocks away from penn if you want we can meet up and go i would love to go again if you wonna meet up and goo e-mail me at crxracer51789@aol.com
i was there 3 days ago and i heard lil kids playing in all the buildings when i was there and doors slaming and that was my first time there its wwas pretty kool
well I saw one of the boarded up stairwells.. it was for people's safety more than anything else.. the floor on the level above was falling and I guess whoever boarded it up didn't want anyone wandering up there, taking a wrong step, falling through and getting hurt ..
Many kudos to those of you who work helping the mentally disabled and who get up and care every day! I know I sure couldn't deal with it; I have trouble dealing socially with "normal" people as it is, heh.
I still say, however, that having been inside Pennhurst as a "guest" when the facility was still operational, caring for people who are mentally challenged and in an institutional setting is extremely difficult. Especially when the caregivers did not have adequate support from the state or the residents' families. I believe it takes very special people to do this work the way we think it should be done.
I had a young mentally retarded cousin in Pennhurst. I just learned this a week ago. I have little doubt that she had few or no visitors and suffered as many others did. It's appalling, for every person who ever had to live there. And now it's hit even closer to home for me.