Your opinion on behavior modification?

I'm doing an essay on WWASP and Aspen schools and need opinions. A lot of these programs use BM also known as behavior modification. It's in act in which children must be good to earn privliges. If they are not listening/complying then they are dropped 'levels' and are stripped of certain earnings. WWASP/Aspen schools have been none to abuse and torture and very strange ways of BM. Tons of these programs promise to offer a program with 'Home-based privlidges.' Meaning they try and keep it as neutral as possible. An example of BM at these programs are.. Having one month of good behavior in order to call parents, 3 months of perfect behavior to move up a level, ect. If they are not complying consequences along with decreased privlidges are.. Eating dinner while on a toilet (Program: Tranquility Bay in Jamaica which was an american school), Laying on a gray mat in the safety room (New Haven Girls Program), ect. Most programs offer children to call their parents only ONCE a week. I have personally been to a state-runned facility (I am talking about private ones.) and it wasn't horrible, but I do remember getting very upset with their Behavior Modification. I was told everyone on my phone call list must be approved by therapist and family could only visit once a week. Better than these programs, right? So tell me, what do you think BM in private runned facilities? Deadly or a wake-up call to troubled teens?