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

[Puller58]

Why can't celebs just bank their money and lay off the vanity projects? This only draws attention to something that Smith should realize is not going to help his image.

[lawchic]

Wait. starting a school is a vanity project? What gives. Most of these celebs run in and out of rehab every other week, and switch partners as frequently as they change clothes, but the man starts a school with teachers that practice a religion some people don't agree with, and people fall all over themselves to criticize him.

[trinity29]

oh no they've got will smith now. they must have found out something dark in will smith's background and are trying to use their information to intimidate him. lil tommy needs a friend to boost his sagging career. i am so sick of this scientology cr-a-p. any sane living being capable of doing some research and access to the internet should know that they are not a religious group by any means and have some serious violation against human rights and dignity. how can someone who purport to be good and wanting good for all support this unless they are completely ignorant, or being blackmailed, or have that low self esteem that they need this kind of association and assistance?

[LiberalBuzz]

The church of scamology is famous for blackmail people. So yeah they probably got something on him.

Gotta be big for him to start handing money over to the church of scamology. They are a greedy outfit.

[thebirdstheword]

reading, math, and etiquette? sounds like a well-rounded education to me. all hail xenu!

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Why don't I believe Will Smith on this? Because I'm not an idiot.

[mamacat]

As a long-time sci-fi fan, and a one-time Hubbard reader, I fail to see any attraction in the writings of L Ron Hubbard. His sci-fi books (at least the one that I tried to read) are strictly second or third rate. I would recommend that anyone the least bit curious pick up one for themself and try to read it. To say that his books are boring is a kindness.

Mr. Hubbard's "scientific" teachings are scientific in the same sense that creationism is scientific. It amazes me that anyone could be passionate about creationism, and it totally amazes me that anyone could be passionate about the so-called "teachings" of Mr. Hubbard. Nevertheless, we see constant evidence that non-logical thinking predominates in human society.

It takes all kinds, and those who seek the salvation of anything through non-rigourous thought processes are one kind that I try to stay away from, even if I do enjoy their movies.

[NoSillyName]

I agree, mamacat. I never sought out any of Hubbard's outright fiction, but I read "Dianetics" back in '74. Maybe it provoked a few thoughts at the time, but certainly nothing that compelled me to join the "church" and I don't remember anything about his theories. Book may still be in my library, but I won't bother to look for it.

Some people seem to have the need to follow, join, absorb someone else's version of reality instead of thinking the big thoughts for themselves, asking the big questions and being left with no answers.

Smith & Pinkett are trying to walk a fine line. They keep giving money, now this school, yet insist they aren't Scientologists. Why all the denial? I believe Smith has been seduced by Cruise.

I watched a couple of videos of Cruise speaking all the jargon, breaking into hysterical & seemingly inappropriate laughter for some unknown reason, never making a point... basically appearing to be desperately in need of psychological treatment.

[kimest3e]

My husband and I saw Will on The Colbert Report last week, and I said to my husband "he sure is laughing alot". My husband said yeah kinda like Tom Cruise, not as deranged, but still laughing at stuff thats not really funny. It was a little unsetteling.

[kellygrrrl]

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

right ... like Katie Homes is "Catholic"

Lots of people in Calabasas and Hidden Hills are none too happy about this school and I see a fight coming ...

[blindjester]

"Lots of people in Calabasas and Hidden Hills are none too happy about this school and I see a fight coming ..."

Imagine he was opening a Hebrew school and re-read your comment.

[TM80]

umm, except they're trying to claim it is a secular school.

[kellygrrrl]

Say Goodbye to your Career, Mr. Smith

[SHOPARAZZI]

say goodbye to his career? why? cuz he's opening a school that has teachers of different sects? this type of ignorant thinking is why this country is in the position it is in now. what happened to the principals this country was founded on. why cant ppl be free to believe and follow what they want? what does his religion have to do with his skill as an actor and business man? who runs hollywood? what about the intellectuals, atheists and agnostics who run the rest of the world? they dont believe in god, jesus, et al and yet we buy their products and attend their schools and work for their companies without it having distorted our conscience. why have we become such hypocrites?

[NoSillyName]

Sorry, but he keeps insisting that his is not a scientologist. What's with the tightrope act?