Will Smith's Hubbard-Teaching School Insists It's Not Scientologist

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Will Smith 's soon-to-open private school is not a Scientology facility, as some reports have suggested, the academy's director said.

Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, have founded the New Village Academy, scheduled to open in September.

The school will use instructional methods developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard called study technology. And a few teachers belong to the church.

But the couple say they are not Scientologists, and the academy's director insists the facility has no religious affiliation.

"We are a secular school, and just like all nonreligious independent schools, faculty and staff do not promote their own religions at school or pass on the beliefs of their particular faith to children," New Village Academy director Jacqueline Olivier told the Los Angeles Times.

Oliver said some of the school's staffers are Scientologists, Muslim, Christian or Jewish.

In addition to reading and math, the school offers classes on yoga, robotics and etiquette.

Comments

[CrabbyGolightly]

Apparently the school is using Scientology lingo called "study technolgy,'' which apparently strikes terror in the hearts and minds of U.S. educators. Which seems sad because, as reported in the Times' and Wikipedia, "study technology" sounds like a fantastic and logical approach to learning.

Essentially "study technology" focuses on righting three wrongs that deleteriously impact learning: Ignoring misunderstood words, depriving hands-on experience, and advancing to higher concepts before simpler fundamentals are mastered. To which Crabby says, duh. And if it's true as the LA Times' reports, that "there is no reputable educator anywhere who endorses [study technology]," at least according to David S. Touretzky, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, then can I proffer a thought?

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith I'm all for debunking myths, lies, and cults, but when someone, anyone, advises that students ought to know the words they read, learn by doing, and master one level of a subject before advancing to the next, I'd hail them as an educational genius. And if there is "no reputable educator" who endorses such approach, then does that not explain America's epidemic of failing public schools?

Will Smith, actor, rapper, A-lister, suspected closet Scientologist, good luck with your school. But here's one small tip: find someone with the educational gravitas to persuade the public that your school's methods make sense. And too bad that only privileged kids who attend expensive private schools are held to such high standards.

CrabbyGolightly.com

[luckyoldson]

Don't forget:

The thetan is the identity which IS the individual; it is not the body. In Scientology, it has been found that a thetan can leave the body and exist independent of the flesh.

This phenomenon is called exteriorization. After exteriorization, a person gains certainty he is himself and not his body.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Will is a scientology freak, but will not admit it just yet.
The only scientology freaks that admit they are scientology freaks are Cruise, Travolta, and Kirsti Alley.

Will isn't a big enough freak yet. Give'm time.

BTW, has anyone seen how crazy or "clear" Will has been acting? He is the new Cruise.

Bunch of freaks.

[afrographia]

Are the beliefs of scientologists any more crazy than that of Jews ("We're God's CHOSEN people." Yeah, right) or Evangelicals ("Yeah, Jesus was born of a woman who never had sex" OK, sure) or Catholics ("Our pope is is the infallible voice of God." Hmm, let's look at what your popes have done in history)....I haven't even talked about Mormons or Muslims... I'm not going so far as Bill Maher does in the upcoming Religulous movie in terms of saying that all these people are nutcases. Rather, my idea is that if you're going to pick on any one of them as laughable, acknowledge that to some extent all faith traditions are laughable to those who don't believe in them. When they are no longer just "funny" is when people begin to die because of them...

[luckyoldson]

Surely you jest.

You're actually comparing Scientology to being Jewish or Catholic??

Maybe you should read up on Scientology...

[middleoftheroad]

This is a silly argument, as you have a problem with organized religion and must not have faith in it (maybe you are spiritual, but there is a difference)...Does NORMAL Christianity cut you off from your loved ones who are NOT followers? Do they give you tasks to fill your day and MAKE you earn money for them? Do they have you learn endless amounts of info in a structured surrounding? Do they have a higher and higher pyramid ranks where you never REALLY attain what the end game is? Do they have a place called the Guardian Office which works like a Gestapo with the religion to enforce their laws with followers or attack critics? It's not responsible to compare a cult to a religion.

[blindjester]

You sound like one of those people who argue that table tennis is a sport but golf isn't, then write your definitions to conform to that opinion.

You don't have to convince anybody that cults have disagreeable customs and bizarre beliefs. We're with you on that. The question is, how is that different from any other religious group?

Bizarre belief, war, murder, torture, misogyny, thought control and tyranny have been part of pretty much every religion ever created by humans, many putting the worst "cults" to shame. Good luck finding one that doesn't currently or historically have these issues.

[tecpatl]

It is not a religion it is a cult because one must PAY for knowledge. That is one of the definitions of a cult. Oh, and just try to leave or speak the truth about Scientology. Do some research before you talk. Try reading some of the posts of former Scientologists.

[afrographia]

LOL, "paying" is not one of the definitions of a cult. Cults are associated with mind control, and the denial of self to the point of harming oneself and/or others. Lots of religious traditions take vows of poverty, or ask folks to donate large amounts of their wealth to feed the poor and so forth. Hmm, actually, I take that back--very few really do this. In many, your donations go toward making a small number of fat cats in the church rich--which they then pass off as blessings from God. So which churches are and are not cults?

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Don't forget the final two words that will be said in every class at the end of the day...

Hail Xenu!

[WilliePilgrim]

Appropriate to the legacy of a one-time sci-fi writer as Hubbard was, I would like to predict that in a few generations his movement of Scientology will be as accepted as Mormonism, which incidentally was also faounded by a proto-sci-fi writer and "wannabe" Edgar Allen Poe, Joseph Smith, and a host of other religous founders among whom would be Mohammed who also encorporated a kind of visionary and speculative literature revolving around astonishing otherworldly transformations (since sci-fi didn't really exist at the time) who invariably claim they're a messenger from a vastly superior divine creative/foundaitonal force and they this time he really really means it. And I would also predict that were it possible we'd find all these religous movement founders had similar brain structure anomalies that were instrumental is forming these urgent missions on which they found themselves so propelled and so convinced and convincing. That said I don't know what the excuses would be for the followers except a sincere desire to be deluded and happily so.
Anyhow, good luck Will Smith. If it helps to deflect certain screwed up people from causing any harm to their neighbors directly, it's an improvement over what we typically get when caged and neurotic monkeys such as we humans are, are placed into a social structure which leaves them so unsatisfied...cheers.

[aristippe]

Never read of any connection between Poe and Mormonism. Nor ever heard anyone refer to him as a religious founder

[NoSillyName]

Me either, but I've been researching it since seeing that post. So far, nothing except references to having been baptised & confirmed Episcopalian, married by a Presbyterian minister because it was convenient, and wasn't known to have a religion in adulthood.

"My own faith is indeed my own".

Poe suggested that we were all god and was astonished to discover that some misunderstood his ideas as being blasphemous.

Ok, I don't believe he had anything to do with Joseph Smith.

Willie Pilgrim, can you tell me where you got this information? I want to research this further. Poe has always been fascinating to me, maybe more so because I've spent different periods of my life, and was born, in Baltimore. Poe's house and grave are there as is the E.A. Poe Society.

[LiberalBuzz]

Tom has been seducing Will over the last few years and the fact Will is pouring money into the church of scamology and starting a school based upon the "teaching principles" of LRH is proof enough that Will is falling under the spell of the cos.

[thundermummy]

"Will is falling under the spell of the cos." - must be the pudding pops!

[woggins]

I'm so tired of folks defending scientology or saying leave them alone.

If huffpo readers and scientologists would bother reading up on why all the worldwide protests by Anonymous have been going since February, 2008 and smaller groups of since 1970.

Read ww.xenu.net and www.xenu-directory.net and stops being ingorant about what scientology is and has in store for us if they succeed at being a major religion.

I use to think their beliefs were OK and the management was at fault.... after 15 years of learning all aspects of scientology, I truly believe it has to be destroyed in total.

[blindjester]

Well, it's a well known fact, Sonny Jim, that there's a secret society of the five wealthiest people in the world, known as The Pentavirate, who run everything in the world, including the newspapers, and meet tri-annually at a secret country mansion in Colorado, known as The Meadows.

[EquinsuOcha]

Oh, I hated the coionel, with his wee beady eyes, "oh you're gonna buy my chicken...ooooohhhhh".

[mredder4]

If it walks like a Scientologist, and talks like a Scientologist....

Well, you get the idea.

Sad to see another influential celebrity sucked into this cult.

[HarveyD]

I wonder if he will continue to deny being a Scientologist for as long as Pete Rose denied betting on baseball.

[middleoftheroad]

Will Smith has also started a "Christian Church" in the Valley as well. Is it a "Christian" church that teaches the basics of L. Ron?? THIS GUY HAS A GOD COMPLEX! Can someone tell him he is JUST a really talented actor and rapper? Will, if you take courses, start a school that has basic L. Ron teachings, give out Scientology stuff to your crew on movies, YOU ARE A SCIENTOLOGIST! Are you the last to know? Come on, what is your OT level? You must have one. Be honest. You are still with holding!

[JJaye]

I really like Will Smith and usually don't comment on him, but I believe this time he's walking down a line of crazy. While Crazy Tom may be able to salvage his career after getting on the crazy train, Will and Jada may not be able to. Get off Will!

[SHOPARAZZI]

nice try. this is an attempt to prevent will's "i am legend" from attaining the box office record he'd claim at the opening.

what's with this country. wasn't it founded upon the freedom of religion, among other things? obama isn't muslim...but what if he were? we can't have a muslim running for public office? muslims aren't equal to christians or jewish ppl or to other religious/spiritual ppl or other beliefs? if he's a scientologist, what's wrong with it? if he says he isnt, why cant ppl believe it? he's been friends with spielberg for years. nobody "accused" him of being jewish. nobody's saying that victoria and david beckham are scientologist. why not? because they're from europe? this country continues to deny its racist. when u call ppl out on it -- they claim u're race-baiting.

when
will
it
end?!

[blindjester]

Well said. We're still pretty prejudiced as a people.

It's not a slur to call Obama a muslim. It's just wrong (and an intentional mistake aimed at the people who do care about such things).

I think Mitt Romney was a terrible candidate, but not because he's Mormon.

I don't care if Madonna practices Kabbalah, if Richard Gere is Buddhist, if Mother Teresa was Catholic, or if Richard Dawkins is an atheist.

I don't care who's a scientologist, either.

Religious tolerance is supposed to be an American value. I wish it was one we practiced.

[Justeesh]

Where in the world did you get the idea that religious tolerance is an American value? Maybe it's "supposed to be" as you say, but wishing it does not make it so. We are a religiously intolerant country -- ask any atheist. Or scientologist, I guess.

Unfortunately, free speech trumps religious tolerance. If someone wants to say I'm going to hell for being atheist, I can't stop them. So I reserve the right to accuse scientology of being a manipulative cult that extracts money from its members in a most hilarious way.

[SHOPARAZZI]

hancock...not i am legend.

who wants this rich back man to have 8 straight #1 hit movies that rank over $100 million?

not america, apparently.

[AgentMacGyver]

Any school with Scientologists on the staff already has serious problems.

[blindjester]

Funny. I feel that way about bigots.

[AgentMacGyver]

Bigoted against cults, sure, I'll accept that label.