BCTI I to was a BCTI student of Fife DSHS does not look at BCTI as an acredited school BCTI prayes on the poor Fife Washington

I am with you on this subject. I am no ex employee, I am an ex student, just as you are. I feel your anger. I say they are gone!!! BCTI should pay and pay with everything they have and everything they don't for taking advantage of all of us (no matter our situation). I truly believe that what goes around comes around and it will come around on them 10 fold and whoever knew their practice and was in on it will have that guilt following them around for the rest of their misrable lives.

The main objective is that EVERYONE that has a dispute such as ours should get together and MAKE these people pay for the greif they have caused us. The problem is that not all of us can afford an attorney (such as you and I) because we are taking care of young children and have little or no income.

I wish there was an attorney out there reading this that would be willing to work on a contengency basis. If there was, this attorney would be rich as hell from all the complaints on this place. If you would like to email me sometime (I have some info you might be interested in) We should all get together to MAKE THESE PEOPLE PAY.

We can then show them that we all know what working as a team is all about.

PS I know exactally what you are talking about with the favoritism. It was discusting. All that seemed to do is give people with an already "look at me, look at me" attitude a bigger head about their sorry selves. Sorry, I am a bit angry today.

I know there were some good teachers there. I was in the morning classes. So Margarit I so I don't know if I saw you there,but I think I do remember you Tasha. If your talking about the Jon that was in the am class I had him and he was a good teacher,and I think he had his favs as well. The other teachers that I do remembr are Swani and Larry,they were both very nice people.

And I do feel bad for all the staff that got screwed over by this co.but you don't have a $10,000 doller dept you have to pay back. And that is what is so frustrating about the whole thing.

And the other reports that have been filed on here saying that almost all the students are and were stupid trailer trash with little or no eduaction is what made me go off like that.

When your on welfaire you have to be in school or looking for a job to keep your benifits, and I am fine with that. I think that is a good idea.
But to be pushed through a class you never attended due to problems you could not controle, makes you kinda bitter about the whole thing.
After I went back the second time,to finnish. I was treated badly from all the instuctors. Except Larry and Swannie. But the others that were there did not give two rat tailes where or how I was.

I understand now why Larry called me everyday to come in. The class that I was in first almost made him quit and I felt terrible for that. He took an intrest in my LD(learning Disabilaty) and helped me the best he could in his class.
And as for the "mommy and dad" comment. I was on my own at 16. My mom passed when I was 16 and I had no one from there. Thats what I ment when I said that. That some people don't know what it is to struggle and take things for granted I don't and never have.

I hope that these people get what they deserve. I hope my $10,000 doller student lone is forgiven. I would not be suprised if it never was and I still have to pay it back.
But maybe the people who took advantage of the one's less fortunite than thet were will get there day of recoining.

Hi Margaret, Good to hear from you. I worked with you at Good ole Bictie (twice, silly me) ...I remember when you left. Things got even better...some psycho pulled a gun on your replacement and a few other fun adventures.

I had contacted the reporter from The News Tribune, and orignally had said I didn't want to publically say anything about BCTI. Since they've closed down, I feel a little safer speaking out.

I worked there from Summer 1997 to sometime in 1998, and then again in 1999 to sometime in 2000. My Bachellor's Degree from a top SEC school is in Educational Psychology. My work history was mostly counselling with some rehab work with homeless and unemployed populations. I also had been in various administrative and clerical positions and knew all the software programs I would be required to teach.

There were 3 kinds of instructors at that time - The ones who had left (been asked to resign) and were never spoken of, the ones who were actually trying to help people out, and the ones "in on the game".

As an instructor in "mod 5" I won the highest company awards for "retention" for the first 3 classes I taught. I was convinced I was helping people make a better life. Then came a few classes with students who didn't have the basic skills to live on their own, and when I voiced concern, I was told that all we were responsible to do was prove that their attendance at BCTI had "changed her life"...and even though she couldn't write a simple sentence or type more than 4 words a minute, we were told to qualify her job at Taco Bell as training related. I hope someone stood up for her and interviened. I couldn't..I needed the paycheck..I needed the job as an Instructor.

More students came through who in some way or another had obstacles that couldn't be overcome, and my partner and I were told we would do what it took to get them graduated. We were told to accept verbal abuse, threats, and insults, because the "student was always right".

BCTI prayed on emotionally unstable people as employees. The Instructional team meetings were a cross between an Amway sales meeting and a church revival. We were almost brainwashed into thinking that retention was soley in our control. Later, I moved to Module 2, then to Module one to fill in for John (See Margaret's letter above) and then into Module 3. I had no experience with bookkeeping what-soever, but was assured that as long as I didn't lose any students, I would do just fine. If a student had to leave school, I was told it was my fault, and soley my responsibility to do whatever it took to keep all students in my class. Students who lost their funding and had to quit were strikes against me..and I would be reprimanded for it.

As an instructor, I was handed a loose leave binder that had basic outlines of daily lesson plans. I had to write the exercises and the "script" for the lectures I gave. My fellow instructors and I tried so hard to give so much more than was required to our students.

The first time I left BCTI, it was because mod 5 was put under graduate services, and I no longer was ONLY responsible to keep students in class every day, but I was responsible for them finding jobs. Students were told they'd have job placement assistance. All I could provide was a copy of "today's careers" and a phone book. After sending out 150 resumes and only getting 2 interviews on my initial job search, I was now required to get 20-30 students employment. I left because I couldn't take the pressure. I left feeling like a failure.

I went back for a second time, thinking it was my fault the first time I left, and I could do better. I was reprimanded because a homeless crack user who had been enrolled was jailed and no longer able to attend class. I was scolded because a student dropped out due to severe medical conditions. I recieved written reprimands in my folder because my "retention rate" dropped below 92%.

The second time I left, I left on my own again. I'd grown tired of trying to make a difference. After the night a student brought a gun on campus, after the nights students would leave class to go get drunk at the hotel lounge next door and come back to my class drunk, after nights of sitting inside waiting for the police with a battered woman so she could safely get to her car past her abusive husband, I decided there was no way I could make a difference.

Suffice to say, now that others have stood up, I too can stand up. I'm sorry so many got duped..got cheated...got hurt. I hope you all can get access to a lawyer, and I hope you all can get compensation.

Yes, we instructors, most of us, were trying to do the best we could to give you all a good education. The problem was that we had families to feed, and rent to pay too. It isn't wise to bite the hand that feeds you. We were all caught in a web of lies and deception, and when you're emotionally vunerable, it's easy to be preyed upon.

I won't be going back into the employment world. The only employment I've had in Washington State in the last 8 years was BCTI, and you think I'm going to put *that* on my resume? Ha...

Again, Margaret, good to hear from you. I hope you're doing well. The antidepressants and counselling are finally working for me, but it's taken a few years to get over it all.

Oh, and I resent the bit the former student said about we have no idea and "mommy and daddy paying for everything". I won't go into my life story, but trust me, you have no idea what my life was like. I know you're hurt, but I'm not your enemy, Mr. Jonez and Mr. Pygott are. I suggest you find a class action suit and sign up.

What goes around comes around, and thank God it's comin' around.

Nicole, I am one of the instructors who worked at Fife during the time you were there, While I hope I am one of the ones whom you remember fondly, I will accept responsibility if I am not. I earned a BA in Psychology in 1975 after doing four years of college in three years. I was in the work force for two years, then returned to school for another two years, receiving my Special Education teaching credentials. (I took those classes at night, while working in the Spokane public school system as a Teachers Aide during the day.) Upon graduation in 1979 I started my career as an educator. During the next 17 years, I had many ups and downs, including one in the Auburn welfare office where I broke down in tears when a welfare worker called me a liar.

My students, in Mod One, became the single most important thing in my life. My mental and physical health suffered, as did my relationships with my family, especially my husband. We almost divorced, and it took us years to fix the damage that my working at Bictie did to our lives. Now that the school, and its founders, are back in the news, I find that once again, Bictie is affecting me. Why am I telling you all of this? Not for sympathy, but to let you know that we were deceived by Bictie just as much as the students were.

The instructors that I knew were all hard working and caring people. I worked at night, and the night instructors often had meetings after the students went home, trying to find better ways to teach the curriculum. These meetings were not sanctioned by management; in fact, once management discovered they were happening, we were told to stop. We didn't. Even though the company's focus was on RETENTION, we knew if we were the best instructors we could be, the students would stay and graduate AND get the careers that they deserved.

We were dismayed at the revolving door of instructors, and worked hard to create a team of instructors whom the students count on to be there each day. It was company policy not to let the students know when instructors were leaving. We HATED that and tried to pick up the pieces as best as we could. I remember quite vividly working triple shifts after my partner John, a bictie legend, left. Not only was I dealing with my own pain, I was taking on the pain and anger of an entire campus of students and staff.

During the 3+ years that I was at Bictie, I earned every company award possible. My partners, first John, the Lyn, and I wrote curriculum, made presentations at instructor trainings, and were often asked to mentor new instructors. In March of 2000, after a couple months of anti-depressants I finally realized the truth. Whatever we had done yesterday did not matter. It would never be enough, and no one was respected. One Friday afternoon I was called aside by my ADI and subjected to 90 minutes of discipline. I was chastised in the same voice I had heard her use when dealing with her children. Never once was I asked to state my position on the issue in question. She didn't even take a breath long enough for me to consider speaking. She just went off without even knowing the truth. I realized then that the truth didn't matter, and I was just another body there to serve the great and wonderful OZ. On Monday I put in my notice, effective at the end of the current C class. At the same time I was told not to mention her little tirade to anyone else. I did not comply with her wishes.

In conclusion, I apologize if this is way too long to read.

Hey Nicole, try not to be so hard on staff, they did what they could. It was one of those instructors that filed the complaint with the State of Oregon that lead to the investigation.

First off, I'll admit that some of the admissions people new exactly what they game was and didn't car about enrolling people that were not right for the program (you'd see certain people everytime getting accolades at Success Team meetings), and some instructors probably were clueless (maybe because they were new?).

With that said, most of the staff (EXcluding VPs, corporate ASC, and some EDs) did what they could to help students.
But when the stated mission of the company, the manipulated culture of AFTER, and genuine concern for students is in conflict with that which allows one to keep their job (i.e. numbers, only enrollment & retention numbers), there is bound to be problems.

You probably won't see many more posts from employees defending the company, you can bet many got shafted with the sudden closure of the schools. As for owners Tom & Morrie, I would bet my first born child that they are too busy hiding their BCTI profits in their family of church organizations in the Gig Harbor area.

We'll probably never know why the sudden closure, all campus phones are disconnected, including corporate ASC's main number 800-752-bcti. (although the websites are still up bcti.org and bces.com).

I was nice the first time when I wrote this. But as I read more and more of the rebutals on the wonders of BCTI, I have some more to say.
How dare you sit there and say that we are just bitter people who did not get the education the first time around?? To all the high and mighty "Teachers" at BCTI what kind of tranning did you have to become a "TEACHER" there? I don't consider you all teachers,profecers,or anything related to that proffesion.

You must have had an easy life where mommy and daddy paid your way through everything. And there is nothing worng with being a trucker,singale mom,recovering addic,or trying to get off welfair!!! We are you so called Bread and Butter.

The knowlage that you get from BCTI is a joke! It is outdated,and has no use for what you use in the "real world."

And if this is such an accredit school why aren't the people who started it telling there side of the story? Why did they pull out of there offices and don't answer there doors when the news knocks on them.

I can tell yo why,Because they are worng they got cought with there pants down. Enugh of us got tired of them scewing over the little man just trying to make it in life.

So all "Teachers" can SHUT UP!!!!!!!! Think about it, if you were not guilty of anything why would you run?? And why would you not defend your self or the company that you have made so sucssesful? And yes I know I can't spell so you can just shut up about that to.

So when you are fileing unemployment and you get turned down,and your rent is due,and the repo man is at your door for your car,just remember what you said about KARMA!!!!

Maybe one of us "less educated people" will be the BOSS of your next job,so I would not speek so harshly next time to those who might be the next hand that feeds you!