Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Attorney General Schneiderman, Senators Gillibrand & Schumer, Gov. Cuomo: We are writing you today asking your office to hold a formal investigation of Green Chimneys and Managing Director and Founder Samuel B. Ross Jr. Green Chimneys has a long standing history of abuse. The current director Joseph Whalen has an M.BA and no background in psychology or any child/human services related field. Dr. Ross is a fraud who touts animals and farm life as the one answer to everything. Green Chimneys has been the subject of multiple lawsuits over the years. More often than not the plaintiffs are paid off so as not to give Green Chimneys a black eye. 3 rapists-murderers named Philip Zagarella, Eric Lau & Eric Napoletano were at Green Chimneys, Zagrella and Napoletano in the 70s, Lau in the 90s. We found out about them online. There's even a book about Napoletano called 'Mama's Boy" by Richard Pienciak. On May 30, 2001 the local paper featured an article about 3 Green Chimneys boys raping an 8-year-old boy. Animals certainly did not cure them. You can read about them online. There are Green Chimneys survivor sites on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and other watchdog groups. We need your help. Sexual and physical abuse continue at Green Chimneys. There are even videos on YouTube about the abuse there. According to the Deseret News: "Some of the schools have been criminally investigated by state or local authorities, including an expansive probe by the New York Attorney General's Office of Ivy Ridge Academy near the border of Canada and the United States." Please conduct a similar AND thorough investigation into Green Chimneys. Education at Green Chimneys has been called very inadequate. You can read online and it takes place to this day that grades 1-8 are split into A and B. Students in B classes are called slow and there have been questions as to whether any of the "teachers" have credentials. Kids are slapped; have their hair pulled; called retarded and beaten. In some cases they are dragged out of the room at the whim of the teacher and not because of any discernible behavior. Survivors we have talked to all say the same thing - you spend more time doing farm chores than you do in a classroom. Upon leaving Green Chimneys, you have to work hard to maintain your grade level because Green Chimneys has such woefully inadequate material and standards. Among the many complaints, these include but are not limited to the following: Hiring sexual predators Beating Kids Dr. Samuel B. Ross Jr. beating, slapping, kicking kids and making them eat cigarettes Sexual predators among staff & older students; sexual abuse Kids being slapped; kicked; having their hair pulled and being thrown to the ground and in some cases walked on Roomleaders and other larger, older students and staff taking things from younger kids Hiring teenagers under the age of 18 to be in charge of each dorm room, some of whom are abusive and beat the younger kids with impunity Hiring house staff who are abusive and whose backgrounds have not been provided Public beatings conducted by Dr. Samuel B. Ross Jr. Meager portions of food during meal times that usually arrives cold Dragging kids out of the mess hall and beating them when they request more food Some staff would beat kids indiscriminately This petition on was started by a group of Green Chimneys survivors asking for justice, and who are trying to protect the kids who are still in there. We are calling on your office to hold a formal investigation of the schools immediately.
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ILLINOIS DCFS MUST BE INVESTIGATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
stop abuse now or close new lisbon developmental center
Updates
October 25, 2012
I have been hearing from so many survivors whose stories echo the same patterns of neglect I have fought to expose for years. Reading your messages reminds me why we cannot look away from the truth about what happens within these walls.
October 25, 2012
Seeing this momentum grow brings me right back to the nights I spent worrying about what the next child might endure in those halls. It is clear that the public is finally paying attention to the pattern of abuse that has been ignored for far too long.
Reached 100 supporters
October 25, 2012
35 Comments
I have seen Ross stuff cigarettes down a students throat and verbally abuse other students during my time at GCS. I was abused myself
Thank you for starting something like this. My daughter got refered to this program its supposedly will help her with her anxiety she has towards school considering she's been abused by teachers in the past. If it weren't for all these people commenting and writing reviews and starting a petition I would of had my 8 year old in harms way. This is very helpful.
I was an employee at Green Chimneys for a year. My heart goes out to every single child in that place. They put all employees through a stupid unsafe program especially the part where you have to learn to restrain a student. I do believe that all administrators are not well educated for this facility and prepared . That goes for all teachers as well. It's all about the money not the students needs as far as I'm concerned. All employees don't get an breaks during the day at all work right through to end. That should be against the law. Thank you
I worked at this place myself and the abuse that these children go through is unimaginable for any empathetic and warm-hearted soul. The dorm staff without hearts are the psychopaths themselves, and they put the blame on children. The roles are switched at Greenchimneys, the dorm leaders, assistants, staff themselves are sicker than these children. Sometimes, I stuffing them with bunch of medication and putting them to sleep forever. They just deserved it in the first place. I could not stand when they'd beat these innocent poor traumatized children. They got more traumatized getting out of Greenchimneys than when they went in, in the first place. I'm for closing it this damn hell hypothetical therapy.
Hi Judy and Alan, I spent 4 hellish years there myself, and I certainly DO remember that total waste of space Mr Culhane, as well as the horrific abuse doled out by him, Mr. Ross, Mr. Hill, Mr. & Mrs. Doig and others. In all likelihood, our time there did crossover. My name now is Nancy Tipton, and my maiden name had been Taylor. That hell-hole has given me major PTSD as well as a rather keen self-defense mentality, that at times is not for the faint of heart. You are free to connect with me on Facebook.
Green Chimneys sucks
I was a student there and all i can say its all true about the abuse from there especially from mr king... need to call me my number is 845 612 1847
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Attorney General Schneiderman, Senators Gillibrand & Schumer, Gov. Cuomo: We are writing you today asking your office to hold a formal investigation of Green Chimneys and Managing Director and Founder Samuel B. Ross Jr. Green Chimneys has a long standing history of abuse. The current director Joseph Whalen has an M.BA and no background in psychology or any child/human services related field. Dr. Ross is a fraud who touts animals and farm life as the one answer to everything. Green Chimneys has been the subject of multiple lawsuits over the years. More often than not the plaintiffs are paid off so as not to give Green Chimneys a black eye. 3 rapists-murderers named Philip Zagarella, Eric Lau & Eric Napoletano were at Green Chimneys, Zagrella and Napoletano in the 70s, Lau in the 90s. We found out about them online. There's even a book about Napoletano called 'Mama's Boy" by Richard Pienciak. On May 30, 2001 the local paper featured an article about 3 Green Chimneys boys raping an 8-year-old boy. Animals certainly did not cure them. You can read about them online. There are Green Chimneys survivor sites on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and other watchdog groups. We need your help. Sexual and physical abuse continue at Green Chimneys. There are even videos on YouTube about the abuse there. According to the Deseret News: "Some of the schools have been criminally investigated by state or local authorities, including an expansive probe by the New York Attorney General's Office of Ivy Ridge Academy near the border of Canada and the United States." Please conduct a similar AND thorough investigation into Green Chimneys. Education at Green Chimneys has been called very inadequate. You can read online and it takes place to this day that grades 1-8 are split into A and B. Students in B classes are called slow and there have been questions as to whether any of the "teachers" have credentials. Kids are slapped; have their hair pulled; called retarded and beaten. In some cases they are dragged out of the room at the whim of the teacher and not because of any discernible behavior. Survivors we have talked to all say the same thing - you spend more time doing farm chores than you do in a classroom. Upon leaving Green Chimneys, you have to work hard to maintain your grade level because Green Chimneys has such woefully inadequate material and standards. Among the many complaints, these include but are not limited to the following: Hiring sexual predators Beating Kids Dr. Samuel B. Ross Jr. beating, slapping, kicking kids and making them eat cigarettes Sexual predators among staff & older students; sexual abuse Kids being slapped; kicked; having their hair pulled and being thrown to the ground and in some cases walked on Roomleaders and other larger, older students and staff taking things from younger kids Hiring teenagers under the age of 18 to be in charge of each dorm room, some of whom are abusive and beat the younger kids with impunity Hiring house staff who are abusive and whose backgrounds have not been provided Public beatings conducted by Dr. Samuel B. Ross Jr. Meager portions of food during meal times that usually arrives cold Dragging kids out of the mess hall and beating them when they request more food Some staff would beat kids indiscriminately This petition on was started by a group of Green Chimneys survivors asking for justice, and who are trying to protect the kids who are still in there. We are calling on your office to hold a formal investigation of the schools immediately.
Updates
October 25, 2012
I have been hearing from so many survivors whose stories echo the same patterns of neglect I have fought to expose for years. Reading your messages reminds me why we cannot look away from the truth about what happens within these walls.
October 25, 2012
Seeing this momentum grow brings me right back to the nights I spent worrying about what the next child might endure in those halls. It is clear that the public is finally paying attention to the pattern of abuse that has been ignored for far too long.
Reached 100 supporters
October 25, 2012
35 Comments
I was at GCS from 2009, until 2013. In parallel with Nicholas J Ortiz, I too have dealt with the abuse from Mr. King. On top of that, we went to the local police department two days after the incident, because my mother noticed large bruises covering me from my lower back to my hamstrings, from when he had thrown me down to the floor and restrained me. He had made the claim that I had been kicking him several times, when eight other teachers were able to confirm no such thing. I will happily sign this petition, along with the other victims, to help stop such unspeakable acts.
I have seen Ross stuff cigarettes down a students throat and verbally abuse other students during my time at GCS. I was abused myself
Thank you for starting something like this. My daughter got refered to this program its supposedly will help her with her anxiety she has towards school considering she's been abused by teachers in the past. If it weren't for all these people commenting and writing reviews and starting a petition I would of had my 8 year old in harms way. This is very helpful.
I was an employee at Green Chimneys for a year. My heart goes out to every single child in that place. They put all employees through a stupid unsafe program especially the part where you have to learn to restrain a student. I do believe that all administrators are not well educated for this facility and prepared . That goes for all teachers as well. It's all about the money not the students needs as far as I'm concerned. All employees don't get an breaks during the day at all work right through to end. That should be against the law. Thank you
I worked at this place myself and the abuse that these children go through is unimaginable for any empathetic and warm-hearted soul. The dorm staff without hearts are the psychopaths themselves, and they put the blame on children. The roles are switched at Greenchimneys, the dorm leaders, assistants, staff themselves are sicker than these children. Sometimes, I stuffing them with bunch of medication and putting them to sleep forever. They just deserved it in the first place. I could not stand when they'd beat these innocent poor traumatized children. They got more traumatized getting out of Greenchimneys than when they went in, in the first place. I'm for closing it this damn hell hypothetical therapy.
Hi Judy and Alan, I spent 4 hellish years there myself, and I certainly DO remember that total waste of space Mr Culhane, as well as the horrific abuse doled out by him, Mr. Ross, Mr. Hill, Mr. & Mrs. Doig and others. In all likelihood, our time there did crossover. My name now is Nancy Tipton, and my maiden name had been Taylor. That hell-hole has given me major PTSD as well as a rather keen self-defense mentality, that at times is not for the faint of heart. You are free to connect with me on Facebook.
Green Chimneys sucks
I was a student there and all i can say its all true about the abuse from there especially from mr king... need to call me my number is 845 612 1847
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I was at GCS from 2009, until 2013. In parallel with Nicholas J Ortiz, I too have dealt with the abuse from Mr. King. On top of that, we went to the local police department two days after the incident, because my mother noticed large bruises covering me from my lower back to my hamstrings, from when he had thrown me down to the floor and restrained me. He had made the claim that I had been kicking him several times, when eight other teachers were able to confirm no such thing. I will happily sign this petition, along with the other victims, to help stop such unspeakable acts.