Page 6 - The Outlook - Wed., April 26, 1995
BOYS AT AGAPE Boarding School, located south of Othello at the former radar base, correct
each other's papers during school studies.
By Nadine Baldridge
The barracks housing and larger
buildings atop Radar Hill once was
home to dozens of young men serv-
ing in the U.S. Air Force.
Now the former radar base, lo-
cated about six miles south of
Othello, is home for a different
group of boys. The 150youth, ages
when it still was in Stockton. The
school pulled up stakes just ten
days later and he found himself at
the Othello radar base, where he
eventually became a Christian.
"I realized that they really
cared," he said. "It helped me to
respect my dad and my mSm. I
realized through that that my par-
Boys are admitted after parents
are sent an information packet,
including an application and hand-
book of school rules and expects-
tions. There now is a waiting list
since "as many as a dozen a day"
are turned away," Jim Clemensen
said.
When there is an opening, the
12-18, are getting strong doses of ents are my friends." parents are contacted. Whenever
the Bible, discipline and general
education so that they can one day The Clemensens were long-timepossible, Agape prefers that the
return to their parents as welcome foster parents and decided about boy arrive with his parents for an
and pleasant members of their five years ago to open a group orientation tour. The parents and
home. Brian Clemensen said hechild then may meet privately to
families.
Agape BoardingSchool, founded worked for the State of California's discuss their situation. Tuition is
by the Clemensen family, serves group home system and, based on on a sliding scale and is up to $850
as a large foster family for youths his experiences and their studies, per month for each child.
throughout the United States. Up the family decided against a reha- Most admit their sons on the
bilitationorpsychiatriccarehome, spot. Afew boys =are escorted
in the morning at 6 a.m., they They even, tualIy decided to model by professionals," said Brian
Clemensen, the school director. In
spend the day working individu- their boys home after a school for somecases, the parents live too far
ally on school lessons, performing troubled girls.
chores and attending chapel be- away to accompany the boys to
fore the lights are turned out at Jim Clemensen, the Agape ad- Agape, he said.
9:30 v.m. ...... ministrator, becamehostto 14boys Boys admitted tothe boarding
Many of the boarders admit to inone year's time and began look- school are assi ed a buddy " a
having rebelled against their par- ing for more space. The old radar youth who has been on the pre-
ents, and sone report they were base outside Othello appeared to raises for several weeks or months
involved with drugs, alcohol or suit the need, and he rented one
gangs before arriving at the rural dorm building. The owner later
Othello school. Under the strict donated the base, of which the
regimen, they learn that obedi- remaining half will belong to
ence and the work ethic have their Clemensen this year, he said.
rewards and many of the young The school's students were pug
men have become Christians. to work sprucing up the buildings
"Our goal is to help families that
are having problems with teenage
boys," said Jim Clemensen, who
with wife Kathy, son Brian and
daughter-in-law Kirsty began
Agape in Stockton, Calif., before
moving to Othello.
"A lot of them have had a bad
life...and they need people to reach
out," added Kathy Clemensen, who
refers to herself "Ma'am."
Boys attending Agape don't al-
ways like it when they arrive, they
and staff members say. But they
learn to adjust "as soon as you let
it," said one, and they are given
increasing responsibility as they
prove it's deserved.
"I've been in a lot of places be-
cause I was rebelling and sneak-
ing out at night," said a youth who
wasn't fond of the private board-
ingschoors controllingatmosphere
at first. But, he added, "the staff
members care about you" and he
found "a friend in Jesus."
Another youth said he attended
a Christian school when younger,
but he began associating with gang
members and illegal substance
users as he grew older. One day,
strangers visited his home, put
handcuffs on him and took him to
Agape, he said.
A third youth told of his parents
separating when he was age five
and he eventually wound up in a
psychiatric hospital. He found it
was "pretty easy to fool" th e hospi-
tal staff.
He entered the Agape school
and grounds. All of the painting,
roofing and other projects were
accomplished by the boys with staff
help.
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and who has proven responsibil-
ity. The buddy teaches the new
boy the school's rules and ensures
he stays out of trouble, Brian
Clemensen explained.
As boys progress, they can be-
come buddies, dorm room leaders
or junior staffmembers. There are
about 25 staff members to super-
vise, cook, etc.
The school uses the Accelerated
Christian Education (ACE) cur-
riculum used by many home-
schoolers and private schools. New
AFTER A DAY'S study, students at Agape Boarding School
enjoy play in the late afternoon before dinner and chapel. The
school is located at the former U.S. Air Force radar base about-
six miles south of Othello.
students are given diagnostic tests
to determine their skills levels,
and they then are given Pace work-
books for independent study in
math, English, social studies, his-
tory, science and word-building.
Daily school goals are set for
students. By completing the mini-
mum required, a student can fin-
ish 12 Paces (the equivalent of one
year's work) during the school year,
Brian Clemensen said. Some
Agape students finish 24 Paces in
a year, he said.
The school has four quarters
during the year. After a two-week
break, many students attend sum-
mer school and spend the after-
noons recreating or working.
Sample workbooks displayed
include a social studies book of
American history, covering such
topics as religious and philosophi-
cal background. A test asks who
headed the Church of England in
colonial America and which two
men defended British soldiers in-
volved in the Boston massacre.
A spelling book covers such
words as "immerse," "assert" and
"swirl," using each in sentences.
Amath Pace book says,"God used
principals of geometry when He
created flowers, snowflakes and
even man."
Jim Clemensen said he hopes to
eventually start a vocational
school at Agape for older boys.
Once a youth reaches age 18, he
remains at Agape only at his ch oice
since he then is an adult.
Between 4 and 5:30 p.m., the
boys have free time or they can
continue working if they're not
finished with school assignments.
A shower must be taken some
time during those 90 minutes pre-
ceding dinner. Chapel is at 7:30
p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays. Agape Baptist Church
from Tri-Cities conducts the ser-
vices on Sundays.
The Washington Department of
Social and Health Services inves-
tigated Agape Boarding School
A MESSAGE TO OUR CUSTOMERS:
and sought court action about
three years ago due to such find-
ings as "poor" general housekeep-
ing and sanitation, sleeping room
doors being locked, and over-
crowded sleeping areas.
Adams County Community
Counseling Services contacted
The Need
DSHS in November 1992 because
the school is across Sagehill Road
from an adult chemical depen-
dency program and asked that the
state investigate to ensure both
operations had proper licenses and
met requirements.
The Washington State Board of
Education granted a license for
Agape to operate year-round as a
private school, leadingto dismissal
of the DSHS lawsuit in Septem-
ber 1993.
Kathy Clemensen invited the
community to visit Agape Board-
ing School at any time, including
chapel. "We would really like
people to come up and meet us
in stead of talk about us," she said.
Five boys who sang for the
Greater Othello Chamber of Com-
merce recently reported their lives
have been turned around by
Agape. Four reported plans to
become either ministers or mis-
sionaries.
Connell
SALMON AND STEELHEAD
Today's Approach
Grant Count Options
We need healthy
salmon and
steelhead
runs to continue
generating
hydroelectricity
--Prepare for additlonal
endangered fish species
lisr, ings
--Seek ~elief in the courts--Try through legislative action to change laws
--Build coalitions among all"
affected parties for
common approaches to
solutions "X
--Develop a sound biological
plan that seeks fish run
recovery with balanced
actions in the 4 Hs -- hydro,
hatcheries, harvest and
habitat
--Region spending $2 million per day on salmon
--No significant benefit --Additional endangered fish
species listings are likely
--Cost impacts are falling
disproportionately on Grant
County
PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
OF GRANT COUNTY
Cont. #COLUMH 1077KM
Students
for an education
ington University
the Rural American
Fund or Fall 1995.
The scholarships
ition, books, room
are renewable.
To qualify, students
least 23 years old,
Our Goal !
legs for the first time
minimal
currently
unfulfilled in their
ing in and hailing
community, and a
Washington state.
Applications are
University
Hall 401. Candidates
completed applicationsl
April
arship Fund, P.O. Box'.
Harbor, WA 98277.
EPHRATA -- Dennis ]
will discuss water
ing all landowners
Grant County
p.m. Thursday,
Inca Restaurant.
invited to attend.
STRAT
--Start with good stewardship for our fl@
and water resources
--Develop aM build SUpFOrt for a ~oun#
biological fish recovery plan based o~
the "b~t science." A Mid-Columbia
River Plan that links to a regional
re.~¢l~ plan
--Build sffectlv~ coalitlon~ that ~u
ound local and regi
--Promote the plan through'public
e_~lucation on this vital issue
--Create a budge1; for salmon recoverY
that assures only the most cost
effective measures art Implemenf~
/
--Avoid endangered fish species listi~#J¢
and serious disruptions to the
I asin'# economy
i
