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Will Smith's Scientology school

Marie Claire celebrity news: Will Smith

When people first heard Will Smith and his wife, Jada, were donating $1 million to a new private school, there were cheers all round, however, the press has changed its tune after discovering the facility will be run on Scientology principles.

The New Village Academy, which will open later this year, has reportedly hired a team of Scientologists to help integrate Scientology teaching methods into the school curriculum – although the dreaded 'S' word isn't mentioned anywhere on the school's website, www.newvillageacademy.org.

'School should be forthright about its purposes. And if it's a religious school, I don't see why it wouldn't wish to announce its religious affiliation loud and clear,' Ron Reynolds, executive director of the California Association of Private School Organizations, told Fox News – pointing out that it wasn't the fact that Scientology methods would be taught at the school he objects to, just that they aren't being open about it.

Unlike his good friend Tom Cruise, Will Smith – whose two children are both currently home-schooled - has never openly admitted to being a Scientologist, although has hinted to an affiliation.

Last December, he told Access Hollywood: 'I was introduced [to Scientology] by Tom, and I’m a student of world religion. I was raised in a Baptist household, I went to a Catholic school, but the ideas of the Bible are 98 percent the same ideas of Scientology, 98 percent the same ideas of Hinduism and Buddhism.'

Four years ago, he and his wife also donated $20,000 to the Hollywood Education and Literacy Program, which forms the basis for Scientology's home-schooling system.

Monday 2 June 2008


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It is not, in fact a religious school. It is a school like any other. The educational method was developed by L. Ron Hubbard. That does not make the school a religious institution. I am familiar with the method and it is really just an educational method. Nothing more.

L. Ron Hubbard was a man of many accomplishments. He made contributions to literature, botany, education, music, photography, to name a few.

To focus on this as if it were some kind of secret plot to deviously entrap the children of the world does not say much for your journalistic credentials. And reporting the nonsense that others have conjured up is no excuse either.
Comment by Dave on June 02 10:57


Dave is telling you an "acceptable truth". I used to work for the Church of Scientology and my job was to control and manage all the education groups that use L. Ron Hubbard's "study technology" in the New England area. Not only does Scn control Will Smith's school via their front group "Applied Scholastics" but Will's school has been licensed to use Hubbard's tech and must pay a weekly fee based on the income of the school. That money ends up in the bank accounts of the Church. For more information see studytech.org
Comment by Patty Pieniadz on June 02 11:36

I went to the website. It says right there that part of the curriculum included the "Study Technology" of Hubbard, so this is not "hidden". Kudos to Will Smith for trying to help kids get a real education.
Comment by Steve on June 02 12:03

It is not a religious school to the extent that Scientology is not a religion. And I don't think Scientology is a religion at all, so I suppose I agree with you that it is not a religious school.
But to suggest that it is not based on and will not support Scientology principles and ideas is contrary to common sense, even if one wasn't aware of the aggressive nature of Scientology's attempts to pull people into the "religion."

Comment by Barb on June 02 12:28

Your article does not mention that Christian churches are using L Ron Hubbard's Study Technology. Anyone can determine the effectiveness of Hubbard's break-through in understanding and applying what one is studying (particularly important for execs and employees in a technological society).
The US public school system is an acknowledged failure with average literacy now down to 5th Grade. The US standing worldwide is 29th place. The number of high school dropouts is now at epidemic proportion.

Comment by James Lightfield on June 02 12:44

Sounds like it is some type of secret plot to deviously entrap these poor kids. Are these wealthy celebrity kids who will be attending this school? Maybe it will be a nice tax deduction if this is considered a so called "religious" school. This is interesting but it needs some more investigation to find out what exactly is going on here.
Comment by Jan on June 02 13:10

It IS, in fact, a school that will indoctrinate students in the language and dogma of the Church of Scientlology, conditioning them to accept their "theology".
Not to mention that elron's "contributions" in those varied fields of study were dubious at best and blatant lies at worst.
Comment by Anonomomily on June 02 13:17

Dave, L. Ron Hubbard was a man of many accomplishments. Your words not mine. The facts are Mr Hubbard was a con man of the highest order, a two bit writer of penny dime bad sci fi books. The writer of Dienetics; the warped ramblings of a hoaxter. He is famous for saying at a science fiction writers convention, :If you want to make money' start a religion." This was pre dianetics. He lied about everything, here is just one thing. To read the scientology blog he was a war hero. Nothing about him being relieved of duty. As to your comment on bad journalistic credentials. Check your own gillability credentials. I have no problem with people having opinions, only people having unfounded and unsubstansiated opinions. Check out what I am saying.
Comment by Ken on June 02 13:37

Hubbard's educational method is little more than a slightly modified version of his basic tech which is used to indoctrinate people into becoming mind-controlled Scientologists, so they can "save the planet" by taking over educational, business, healthcare and governmental institutions. The full story of their mafia-like way of operating, is revealed in a TIME magazine cover story from 1991, which anyone can find by searching for it on the web.
Comment by Angela on June 02 14:05

The only schools in the world that use Hubbard's "study-tech" method, which is controversial, maligned, and unaccredited, are schools for Scientology children. The teachers are Scientologists. The fact that the school is not upfront about its obvious religion affiliation is all the more reason that it is a brainwashing centre. I would say it's ONLY for brainwashing kids, but it also serves lunch.
Comment by Tiffany on June 02 14:10

Are they going to teach them about Xenu The Bad and his murder of billions of Galactic citizens? Then his placing their bodies around several of Earth's volcanos 75 million years ago and causing eruptions with nuclear weapons?(despite the fact that these volcanos weren't there 75 million years ago?).

Are they going to be charging hundreds of thousands of dollars for this "education", like the rank and file "church" members? I doubt it.

ElRon was a neurotic, 3rd rate SciFi writer who started a religion on a bet that he could make more money there than with writing. I'd say he won the bet.

Go google "hubbard campbell bet scientology" and you'll find enough info to keep you away from this dangerous cult.
Comment by HeckSpawn on June 02 15:12

It's dispicable to discriminate against people based on religion, because they hold normal jobs, just like anyone else. Do we start going crazy because Born-Again Christians are teachers too?

I've read the Scientology study technology myself, and if anyone considers that a threat, then they are just crazy and discriminating against Scientologists based on their beliefs. So who has the real problem here? Scientologists, or those who can't tolerate other beliefs? Seriously, get over yourselves and let them be.
Comment by Julie on June 02 17:30

Good for you Will! Sounds like he's looked into all kinds of spiritual subjects. At least he knows that using google isn't "research" - it's just "search". True research requires impartially going and looking with your own eyeballs.
Comment by Stewart on June 02 18:18

What a load of bull. 98% like the Bible? And why not mention Scientology on the school website? I don't know, $cientology irritates me every time I hear about them on the news. I don't want to rant any further.
Comment by Li on June 02 19:51

Does it really matter on what some people think. The facts are that the Scientology Study Technology increases IQ and gets children through their schooling so much easier. And they come to enjoy study for real and also coming out the other side applying what they have learned at school. Now who would be against that? I'll leave that to you.
Comment by Jack on June 03 05:44

A better name for Hubbard's Study Technology is "Indoctrination Technology". That may sound like I'm making some snarky comment and taking a dig at Scientology, but I'm perfectly serious. Hubbard's study technology is very specifically designed by Hubbard as a tool for indoctrinating his students into his Scientology writings.
Comment by gargy on June 03 07:02

Scientology is a dangerous cult. The schools are training camps and the whole thing is a money making scam. Tolerating beliefs is one thing but Scientology is not really about beliefs.
Comment by Andrew on June 03 10:39

I studied Applied Scholastics by Mr. Hubbard and went from a printer to a network administrator in 2 years. I was 36 years old at that time. The biggest realization I had is that I could literally know about anything I wanted to and since have studied history, government and other cultures along with computer technology with great relish. Anyone who would knock this study technique is ignorance personified. It's a great credit to Will Smith that he would be interested enough to find the best methods available and then put it to use despite the catcalls of the ignorant.
Comment by Jim on June 03 16:49

Wow, Jim! Only 2 years to study up and become a network admin? Most courses can do it in a couple weeks... I guess it was all the OT studies and Anti-Xenu indoctrination that took all the extra time.
Comment by HeckSpawn on June 04 15:11

If Scientology gives learning or IQ benefits, better than other programs, there should be plenty of independent studies proving that point. But there are not. On the other hand, a strong belief that You are very intelligent will result in a slightly higher IQ score. So... well, just do the math.
Comment by Madoc on June 05 13:29

Will should know about Xenu by now. I'm anxious to see if this will effect his opening this week. There are people boycotting the Scientology celebrities and their films. I like Will and Tom cruise, they are two of the best actors. The scientology is dangerous, from what I have read and seen on the net.
Comment by GONZALES on June 30 22:29

Anyone financing anything to do with Scientology has lost their marbles completely. Stars like this encourage young people to join a cult - irresponsible, amoral.
Comment by Leónora on August 29 08:15


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