Challenge Day-MTV-Oprah-West Virginia

[CoolBreeze]

Challenge Day: Just another New Age dog and pony show.

I'm always suspicious when MTV gets involved with anything here in WV. The red flags go up everywhere, except apparently at our public schools. Public schools: Those government baby sitters who'd rather teach about "feelings" instead of something that the kid might be able to use to feed himself.

Challenge Day is a commercialized movement made popular by Oprah Winfrey where groups of over 100 people fork over thousands of dollars to be led in large scale touchy- feely group exercises and group therapy. A one day event, Challenge Day uses manipulative tools such as sad music and imagining one's death to get people to participate in the activities. Many consider Challenge Day to be a cult, citing that participants are not allowed to discuss Challenge Day activities with those tho did not participate, the use of hand symbols, cryptic messages, and people's absolute faith in the so called cause. Many also cite the idea that Challenge Day can be detrimental to a person's health and well being in that it attacks a person's emotions in the form of large scale group therapy, but does not offer any sort of follow-up with the participants.
Guy 1 "yeah, i say a sign to switch my thumbs and to drop my waterline"
Guy 2 "Don't worry about it- it's just some Challenge Day crap"
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p ... enge%20Day


CHARLESTON -- On Thursday, Riverside High students will work to understand their classmates better. And thanks to an upcoming cable television documentary, the whole world will be watching.

The students will participate in Challenge Day, a seven-hour program that seeks to break down cliques and end bullying by showing teenagers how similar they are.

Principal Paula Potter said her school already hosted the event once this year, in early December, but will hold another this week for an MTV documentary.

MTV chose Riverside and 11 other high schools nationwide for a documentary about Challenge Day. The show is set to air this fall. http://www.dailymail.com/News/201003020830

FROM THE CHALLENGE DAY WEBSITE:

The Challenge Day program is approximately 6 ½ hours long and takes place during a school day. Challenge Day is most effective when it is implemented on the school campus, on a school day, during normal school hours.

Challenge Day Leaders work to create trust and connection in the morning by helping participants step out of their comfort zones through music and games. Participants begin to recognize stereotypes and labels that exist among them, and are then willing to be vulnerable enough with one another to connect as human beings. Leaders also discuss the healthy expression of emotions, and the negative effects of keeping feelings inside. During the afternoon, participants dive into the issue of social oppression and examine the impact oppression has on their lives and the lives of people around them. By the end of the afternoon, participants have an opportunity to take a stand against oppression, make amends for hurts they have caused each other, and state their commitment to creating change on their campus and in their community. The day is both inspiring and awakening for students and adults.

Hugs

· We recommend you always start & end your gatherings in hugs.

Possible Discussion Topics include:

· Body Image (Eating Disorders / Steroid Abuse)

· Media

· Gender Roles

· Fitting In

· Being new to a school

· Depression

· Suicide

· Team Work

· Getting Real

· Family Relationships

Some people consider Challenge Day to be little more than a cult:
http://www.cultnews.com/?p=2201

The local school district is supporting them by allowing them to conduct business inside the school and taking kids out of classes to participate in Challenge Day activities.

I experienced challenge day twice and it reminded me of the cults of the 60's and 70's that used group hipnosis/and group suggestion to get individuals to comply and even become emotionally obsessed.

I recognized the new age mumbo jumbo right away. I also saw how emotional certain individuals became. This is a grand dramatic activity which many people interpret as a "positive way" to change violent or bullying behaviors.

It may look this way for a day or so, but In time I saw no permanent change in the level of violence at the schools. Some individuals became obsessed with the rituals involved. They seem to become addicted to the drama and emotional outbreaks at the challenge day group "therapy" sessions. They want that rush of endorphines.

This is all very scairy. They are very adept in getting money by aggresively demanding donations so we can save our children from violence, bullying, racism etc.. They have also been able to get support from many political and business leaders up to the Govenor of our state. Whether this support is just a photo opportunity or true financiel support, the current trend of aggressive guilt marketing is paying off for them interms of large sums of money. Someone is getting rich some where;

".... the Challenge Day program has received numerous awards from the Juvenile Justice System, the D.A.R.E. Officers Association, government officials, and many school districts and cities nationwide...."

Whatever people might think of this program, it has two issues that most understand: It rakes-in a LOT of money (it's always about the money) and it blows another day of school. With MTV involved, looking for the "money shots", I dont think this can end well.

[fearpeddler]

2 words........ effing bullsh*t.....

[Lee]

One word:

GAY!!!!

[lastone]

ILLEGAL

WITHOUT MY PARENTAL CONSENT, NO CHILD OF MINE WOULD EVER BE ALLOWED TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS HOG WASH AND YOU WOULD PAY.!

CULT IS CORRECT

[Bob Campbell]

What's high school without bullying?