Boy there's a whole lot of negativity here..sheesh.
Hyde isn't for everyone, it's for people that aren't satisfied with the way things are going in their families...it's a lot of hard work. And you gotta agree the reason you even looked at Hyde in the first place is that your kid was pretty f***ed up..right..well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree..if you know what I mean, so it doesn't surprise me that I'm reading this stuff.
I was a student and a faculty member and I've moved on, but I cherish the times I had as both student and staff member, it's a great place and it does wonders for the people who buy into the program, just like ANY program. The people who you're hearing from are the ones that wanted their kids fixed, without having to do any work themselves. As soon as the behavior looked better, they were out of there.
Regarding the fundraising...it's obvisous that nobody is getting rich there...the money is actually needed for stuff like electricity, food and good teachers...they could just raise the tuition $2500 per kid, but instead they use the family weekend money pitch as a community builder...again..if you don't buy into the program..you don't get why you're being asked for money.
This website/forum is not the place to find out if Hyde is right for your family...you should probably go up for an interview...it's free, you can see the school in action..good things and bad, and you can maybe learn about what your family should be dealing with and whether or not Hyde is the place for you.
And Tommy...There was no fund rasing in the parent seminars when you were there...it was really low key and done in the school meetings. Joe asked parents for money now and then, but when you were there in '76 the only fund raising was to a few really rich people that helped out with America's Spirit. By the way there's no mention of that on this site. I got to sing on Broadway and at the Kennedy Center, I would have never had that opportunity if I didn't go to Hyde.