tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post117389313218236880..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Legislative committee reports presaged TYC woesGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46738507211602217852007-04-23T02:31:00.000-05:002007-04-23T02:31:00.000-05:00You are absolutely right about not bringing back t...You are absolutely right about not bringing back the "old guard" at TYC, i.e. Ron Jackson, Steve Robinson, and thier ilk. This situtuation didn't just happen suddenly; it's been festering for a long time, because of faulty policies , hiring, and lax oversight. TYC used to, and probably still is, run by the "good old boy system." Many of these "good old boys" were not very smart about to deal with psychological problems of troubled youth. But they were good at taking care of each other, and making things look good. We can do better, just keep turning over the rocks. Then we should start cleaning up the adult system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-31924772721356742932007-03-27T23:13:00.000-05:002007-03-27T23:13:00.000-05:00NO! NO! NO! NO! A THOUSAND TIMES NO! Do NOT encour...NO! NO! NO! NO! A THOUSAND TIMES NO! Do NOT encourage the return of ANY past TYC officials in Central Office. Do you think this travesty was created overnight or within the past couple of years? If you think this is just a "current problem with the current administration"- you are kidding yourself. THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN SET UP THE WAY IT IS BY THE FOUNDERS OF THE PAST. YOU CANNOT FIX THE FUTURE BY RELYING ON THE PAST THAT NEVER WORKED AND LED THE AGENCY TO WHERE IT IS TODAY. NEW PEOPLE, NEW START.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-43038484900740976372007-03-15T19:36:00.000-05:002007-03-15T19:36:00.000-05:00Please bring back Steve Robinson and Sandy Burnam!...Please bring back Steve Robinson and Sandy Burnam! I knew when those two left, no one would ever fill their shoes. If Gov. Perry ever were to appoint a commissioner, I would suggest either of these two. Or ever better yet, bring back Ron Jackson!! They knew how to build and maintain relationships with both state leadership and their subordinates. I actually don't think we'd be where we are if those three were around! We miss them terribly. Even though Sandy was rather direct, she was a true leader and I mean a leader like no other. Pointing and waiving that finger and all.... :0 makes you go ooohhhh!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-2466613115594701292007-03-15T01:04:00.000-05:002007-03-15T01:04:00.000-05:00anonymous at 10:35 said: "I figure I'm not the onl...anonymous at 10:35 said: "I figure I'm not the only person at TYC who's struggling right now. :("<BR/><BR/>Trust me...you're not. I am surrounded by people feeling exactly like that, like all I've done for 5/10/15 years is come to work every day and done a damn good job and been proud to tell people where I worked. And despite some other comments, a LOT of those people ARE in central office. I can't even imagine what it's like in the field. <BR/><BR/>This is now a witch hunt, and a broad trashing of everybody that works at TYC. Austin is bad enough...how do you deal with that when you are living in one of these small communities where the facilities are??<BR/><BR/>Madden seems like a good guy, sincere in his efforts, and I know when he visited facilities last year, he was very moved and concerned for both staff and students alike. I believe his intentions are good.<BR/><BR/>Whitmire, however...said point blank today that he "didn't want to hear about the good staff are doing" when the UTMB rep tried to point out that a lot of people working at TYC do a lot of good. He's on a crusade at this point, and will not be stopped. <BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, people WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS MESS are leaving their jobs, having nervous breakdowns, and being treated like criminals for simply coming to work.<BR/><BR/>There are lots of victims in this horror story, and they are not all juvenile delinquents. But that's obviously not the story anybody wants to hear. Bollocks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-39057164911453773882007-03-14T23:27:00.000-05:002007-03-14T23:27:00.000-05:00I remember about ten years back we made a differen...I remember about ten years back we made a difference in the kids we worked with. A lot of things have changed since then. The kids are a tougher bunch now days. I have lost faith in the TYC Mission Statement after all I have seen and experienced over the years. Our board members abandoned us. Our administration betrayed us. Now the focus is on staff for being child molesters and abusers. I thought it was administration that did the kids at West Texas and Central Office administration who covered it up.<BR/><BR/> When I heard a member of the Legislature wanted to pass a law creating a $5000 reward for turning in abuse at TYC I knew it was time to move on. I can see a couple of the little criminals cooking up a scam to frame an officer. The pay off is $5000 with the added bonus of sending a TYC officer to prison. It just doesn’t get any better for the little criminals.<BR/><BR/>About 25% of the JCO staff at my TYC unit is out on stress leave. In straight talk that means 50+ JCO are out burning up sick time as they look for their next job. Most of the staff is new. I walked through the chow hall the other night and did not recognize any of the 2-10 staff, not even one of them! Most of them won’t be around May first.<BR/><BR/>I guess I don’t believe in the TYC Mission Statement anymore so I will follow your wise instruction of staying home. I for one am tired of getting screwed and I am not taking any more crap from the politicians or the criminals running TYC. I know we will be leaving the TYC kids in good hands because you have made it clear you are the ultimate TYC Mission orientated staff with all the answers. If you guys get in over your head feel free not to call for help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-24693447699944400192007-03-14T22:35:00.000-05:002007-03-14T22:35:00.000-05:00Ditto what the previous anonymous said. I'm litera...Ditto what the previous anonymous said. I'm literally coming unglued right now over the thought that some people in my agency, people I thought I trusted and admired, didn't really believe in that mission. I get ALL of my job satisfaction out of the idea that I'm doing this for the kids who really need it. And right now, I'm finding it really hard to have any motivation to go in every morning. Because while I still believe in the mission...I just don't know that I believe in the people around me any more. I figure I'm not the only person at TYC who's struggling right now. :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-82792816644435645242007-03-14T22:25:00.000-05:002007-03-14T22:25:00.000-05:00Thanks for cutting through the hype! More good peo...Thanks for cutting through the hype! More good people would make us, staff and students, all safer and more successful.<BR/>If you believe in the published TYC mission statement, then come on down! If you think it's lip service, then stay home - you won't be helping troubled kids or the staff person next to you. That goes for any new board members as well!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-18275352070423013702007-03-14T15:27:00.000-05:002007-03-14T15:27:00.000-05:00Rep. Madden is a super fine fellow. He really care...Rep. Madden is a super fine fellow. He really cares about Texas. He's just a damn good citizen legislator.tttthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12920590524803977044noreply@blogger.com