Life skills for outgoing seniors?
I just read the article on springboard; I think it's a good thing.
Does anyone, maybe some of our newer alumni might know? Do the outgoing seniors have a life skills class?
How to handle a credit card, bank account, insurance, buying a car, getting apartment etc....
I think that would be very valuable.
thanks,
Scott 84
What are you talking about?
Milton Hershey School had 20 man dorms at one time. We were practically unsupervised in two units I was in and we were at max at 15 students. As for your attrition numbers...explain this to me...1987 400+ Class of 1990 Members...6/4/90 we graduated 92. Explain how these things including the hazings, unsupervision, etc is anything unique or rare or do you have your head buried in the sand?
I mean at Homecoming during the Dinner we honored child abusers who needed to be placed in jail (next to Malkoff and Lubold) to standing ovations and tears. What do you expect from an organization who honors these types of people?
b/c it was pretty and new. It is also a complete failure. Kids leaving it in record numbers. Bullying at its worst and no supervision. Kids living 8 to a room. It is a total disaster. Now they are going to us it for 8th graders only before they enter senior division. That is worse then what is happening now. Entering senior division without knowing the kids and being thrown into a different dynamic. This spells disaster too.
unc
You and I know that the Admin of the Milt since MSH died hasn't been sugar and spice and everything nice. Don't let the masses know this and it'll blow the well honed illusion. I like Springboard but don't know too much about it but I don't get Milt mailings and such.
the milk from the fridge. 50 days and this great class of "08" will be leaving MHS and they are afraid to say one thing negative. The fear of losing their college money is so great that they are silenced. I understand that, but why should these kids be subjected to such pressures?
unc
Why are you suddenly fishing for negative? Did someone pee in your Cheerios? 
no seniors would answer this b/c to do so would jeopardize their scholarship money. You can PM me and Your name will be kept private and just your experiences will be told. This I promise.
unc
Springboard Academy, maybe someone in charge could take the heat for a change. Millions of dollars for what?
Can you guys and gals from the Class of "08" let us know how the Transitional Living Program is going. Both the ups and downs. I thought originally that only some seniors were going into the program and they were going to special homes for the program. I wish they had this program when I was at MHS. I also wished they had girls too. I just can't win. 
unc
unc
PS.... This has nothing to do with seniors.
what would you like to see? and what part are you waiting to see about the Springboard or the senior classes?
Not dissagreeing with you, just interested in your take on things
thanks,
Scottmhs
are working on right now. Some of us have been meeting with Web, and Ralph and Catherine Skeena, and some of the seniors and juniors to see how we could get together more often with the students and get to know them before they graduate. Unfortunately we only just started this process...but hey, you and several others found themilt.com!!! 
seriously spread the word in your class so they get connected before they graduate.
Thank you so much! I hope that not only myself, but the rest of my class does very well. I know it is something that recently has a lot of people spinning in circles, because the uncertainty is maddening!
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I really wish the school would create more opportunities for us to connect with Alums. The administration spends so much time talking about why milts seem to have so many issues after graduation, but never really allow us to have contact with those who know best; the alums! And believe me, if I ever make it out to the west coast I would love to be shown around. Thanks!
Amanda
Amanda,
first and formost, Congratulation on your pending graduation. Job well done!
Thank you for giving and insite into what the school is doing to better prepair outgoing seniors for life after MHS.
If I can give you one bit of advice, your not going to know everything, you will run into someting that your not going to feel comfortable about. Trust you feelings and we alumni are here to help, if you have a questions, ASK!, Please.
If you ever make it out to the west coast, let me know, we have a few "tanned Cows" out here who would love to show you around.
Good luck,
Scott Solter 84'
Your input, and that of other graduating Seniors is so beneficial........
This is one of many things we, previous alumni, have been striving for for our younger brothers and sisters! And I feel safe to speak for many when I say, we wish you much success! 
During the evening of the ASD, I had the pleasure to discuss this program with one of the MHS administrators and I was informed that the Springboard Academy program will migrate to an 8th grade level population. Now right from the get go, I was informed that the duties of the Springboard Academy fall outside this administrator's area of responsibility.
The reason I was provided for the shift away from 6th and 7th graders is based on the premise that the 8th grade population will move into the Senior Division level programs the following year, so that group of students would benefit most from the focused attention they would receive during the Springboard era of their lives.
As mentioned above not sure this information is indeed factual since the administrator informed me that someone else manages the Springboard Academy program.
Hi! I am currently a senior at the milt. The entire senior class is in the Transitional Living (TL) program. We are responsible for time management, budgeting, there is curriculum in place to teach us how to handle insurance, bills, checking/savings accounts, investing. You name it, we learn it! I feel very confident that there are going to be many successful and productive alumni produced from the graduating class of 2008.
Amanda
Here is the link to the MHS website describing Springboard Academy. About 80 new, to the school, 6th and 7th grade students started this program in September 2007. The Transitional Living Program is also described on the school's website.
http://www.mhs-pa.org/programs/academics/springboard-academy/
is for new students to get accustomed to Milt life. This was a program to keep kids in the school till they graduated. The attrition rate was unbelievable for many years and they hope this program will succeed in reducing the attrition rate. The school has reported that the attrition rate has gone down considerably in the last year. If this is the case then why have this program? That is why I have a sit and wait attitude on this subject. This is a very expensive undertaking and is there bang for the buck? I don't know and I feel no one knows for sure.
unc
PS.... This has nothing to do with seniors.
what would you like to see? and what part are you waiting to see about the Springboard or the senior classes?
Not dissagreeing with you, just interested in your take on things
thanks,
Scottmhs
UNC,
what would you like to see? and what part are you waiting to see about the Springboard or the senior classes?
Not dissagreeing with you, just interested in your take on things
thanks,
Scottmhs
is a horse of a different color. It is a wait and see program in my humble opinion.
unc
is a great idea and we all could have benefited by such a program. The students are given a small budget and they must stretch it for a month. I bet they are eating a lot of frozen Pizza,s.
unc
they acutally have what they call "Transitional Living". The seniors are responsible for "paying their rent, bills, food, time management, laundry etc." I'm sure along with that is the budgeting of money, insurance, study habits etc.
I have worked in the PA public school system and I would not have been able to remotely speak nor touch the kids like Mike Weller, Buzz Cash and a few others of the Severed Six honored back at the 07 Homecoming Dinner. They were welcomed back into the School family and all that. For PA's standards you have to pass a few clearances by the state to teach including assault, child molestation and I could go on.
These people during our era allowed physical, emotional and mental child abuse to occur. I've said this for 15 years and WILL NOT allow it to be let go. I know some who were destroyed by houseparents, hazing and worse. As we have described and discussed here prior we have admitted these rituals and that there was no recourse for the adults and not many places for students to turn to. (Reference the "Why I Left" thread for starters.)
Prior to our era it was even worse or so I've been told by more than a few older alums.
Conversely in a public school system, yes it occurs, but even the most minor infractions are investigated. Just putting a perspective on Unc's statements.