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Revision as of 01:55, 7 June 2009
Private school| West Ridge Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| West Jordan, Utah, USA | |
| Information | |
| School type | private |
| Director | Kenneth Allen |
| Age range | 9 - 17 |
| Website | http://www.utahboysranch.org/ |
West Ridge Academy, formerly called the Utah Boys Ranch, is "an early-intervention residential program that deals with boys at risk" in West Jordan, Utah, USA. There are several Mormon Missionaries called to serve missions at the "Academy" every two years.
History
The Utah Boys Ranch was founded by Lowell Bennion and a group of his associates in 1964. Later, leadership changed hands and Utah State Senator Chris Buttars became the executive director and remained so for more than fifteen years before retiring in the face of IRS problems. The stated purpose of the camp is to provide clinical services and education through theistic practices, emphasizing "spiritual and moral values" and the "principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ." Since their founding, they claim to have helped over 25,000 teens. The Utah Boys Ranch claims to "have elected to operate completely free from the restraints imposed by governmental grants, subsidies, or contracts." The Utah Boys Ranch Director claims that "the facts indicate that our government believes the laws governing separation of church and state are violated when governmenr dollars are used in any program that promotes and teaches religious principles."
The board of directors is composed of prominent Utah Mormons, such as LDS author and politician Richard Eyre, General Relief Society President Mary Ellen Smoot, BYU religion instructor Sally Wyne, politician LaVar Christensen and Senator Chris Buttars. Former Utah State Senator Delpha Baird, former West Jordan, Utah Policy Chief Ken McGuire, and former West Jordan, Utah Court Judge Ronald Kunz were all members of the founding Board of Trustees. Deseret Industries donates food and supplies.
The Utah Boys Ranch original logo contained the phrase from the popular Mormon hymn #237, "Do What is Right."
Media coverage
On January 2, 2009, journalist Eric Norwood, a former Boys Ranch resident, published an article detailing abuses and controversial ranch practices. On January 9, 2009, Salt Lake City radio station KRCL invited Senator Buttars, West Ridge staff, and Eric Norwood on their talk show RadioActive! to discuss the article, but Buttars and West Ridge Academy declined.
References
- http://www.utahboysranch.org/Admissions/Admissions.html
- http://www.mormontimes.com/mormon_living/mission_life/?id=7284
- http://web.archive.org/web/20000303175823/utahboysranch.org/news.htm
- http://www.isaccorp.org/documents/utah-boys-ranch.09.27.04.html
- http://www.utahboysranch.org/
- http://web.archive.org/web/20000411154008/utahboysranch.org/director.htm
- UBR board of Trustees
- http://web.archive.org/web/20000411103942/utahboysranch.org/board.htm
- http://web.archive.org/web/20000303021520/utahboysranch.org/dowhatisright.htm
- Norwood, Eric (2009-01-02). "Trapped In A Mormon Gulag". Orato Media Corp. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - KRCL RadioActive