The Tribune's Sept. 19 article on the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools for struggling teens graphed some “Worldwide Woes,” but it should have also mentioned that the association has a tremendous success record and a high parent satisfaction rate (97 percent) evidenced by the nearly 2,000 letters received from parents and students in the past year alone.

It should also be mentioned that:

l The U.S. Consulate has confirmed that during seven years of operation there has never been a single substantiated case of abuse or mistreatment at Casa by the Sea (Mexico).

l After a year of thorough governmental investigation there were no findings of abuse or mistreatment at Dundee Ranch (Costa Rica).

l Carolina Springs is currently in good standing with the state of South Carolina and has never had a substantiated case of abuse or mistreatment.

l Charges against Wayne Winder were dropped after Majestic Ranch (Randolph, Utah) students admitted to state officials they had made up stories.

l Cross Creek has been in good standing with the state of Utah for 16 years and has never had a substantiated case of abuse or mistreatment.

l All students from Morava Academy (Czech Republic) were interviewed upon their return home and there were no findings of abuse or mistreatment at the academy.

l The investigation by Samoan authorities actually happened at another program in Samoa, not at Paradise Cove which was in good standing with the Samoan government and the U.S. Consulate during its entire operation in Samoa.

Robert B. Lichfield

Consultant, World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools

Toquerville