Author Topic: Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant  (Read 52631 times)

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Offline Anonymous

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #15 on: October 27, 2005, 05:48:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-10-25 08:20:00, Lars wrote:

"Proper therapy and medication, not their "seminars," turned my life around.  And I came out of my shell in college, where I realized how crappy Hyde's academics were.  Hyde actually ruined my chances to get into some colleges because of their grading system.  You would get two grades, achievement and effort, and the two were averaged together.  I'd get high achievement grades, but low effort grades because they said I wasn't a "leader" in class.  I think they set the system up this way to help some kids who didn't have the intellect, but it really hurt a student like me who didn't fit their mold.  Fortunately, I obtained a very high score on the SAT (and the dumb schmucks on the Hyde faculty couldn't figure out how).  Even so, my high test score combined with my mediocre grades convinced some colleges that I was an underachiever.



In college, I could learn my own way, just sitting back, enjoying the lectures & getting A after A.  Ironically, after a few years I began to participate quite a bit in classroom discussions.



In the real world, colleges, grad schools & employers don't give a f&^% about your effort unless it leads to high achievement.  I wasn't suprised to see that many of my classmates who played the academic game well at Hyde struggled in college and the alumni class notes section of the Hyde newsletter was filled with entries describing how so and so was trying to find him or herself (and glossing over the fact that they had dropped out of college).



I noticed too, that they tried to steer kids to small liberal arts colleges in the northeast.  Screw that, I went west to a big school (Arizona State) and gave them the proverbial middle finger by partying my ass off AND doing well enough to get into law school.



I like this site.  It's cathartic to be able to get some of this of my chest.



 [ This Message was edited by: Lars on 2005-10-25 08:22 ]"


Thank you for explaining about the academics.  Your case is not unique. I too ended up ruining my chances to get into a good college thanks to Hyde.  Hydefan will say we each made our own bed, but the truth is as you tell it! Hyde's academics suck and there is little likelihood anyone who graduates Hyde will get into a competitive school.

This is not a matter of acting up in school or not doing your work. This is a matter of Hyde's acadmics and grading scale not being acceptable in the world we live, not the Hyde World.  I don't know who they think they are kidding about their "honors program."  Hyde does NOT know how to operate as a school!  They are a Struggling Teen Program and have no business implying they are a Prep School with Character Education!!  Character, my a-s!!  The people who run the school need psychological care desperately to bring them back to earth and make them realize they are a CULT and are destructive to real kids!!
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Offline Anonymous

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #16 on: October 28, 2005, 07:09:00 PM »
I have just joined this board and see that it is mostly former students from Hyde.  I am a former Mother at Hyde and find it quite intriguing that the students who are posting have had the same experiences at Hyde School.

We joined Hyde with the best intentions.  A "character first" school that would help our son have more confidence in himself as well as helping to motivate him. I was impressed when the Admissions Counselor told us how many faculty kids went there. In my mind if a faculty member put their child at the school then it must be a very good school!  WRONG!!

I cannot begin to tell you how horrified I was after going to my first family weekend.  The "seminars" were incredibly intrusive and more than that they seemed totally inappropriate for young siblings to attend.  

I could not believe my ears when I heard some of the almost pornographic stories coming out of people's mouths.  I would look around the room at some of these younger kids and cringe that they were exposed to this.  You could see how uncomfortable so many parents and students were and yet people seemed too intimidated to speak out!  I found it strange that Hyde was all about speaking your mind yet no one spoke their mind about what they saw as being wrong at the school.  

This to me seemed very much like a Cult!  There was the "leader", Joe Gauld, the disciples who were the faculty, and then there were the Cultists, (parents and students) who followed the lead.

We did not get out as fast as we should have.  Our son stuck it out for a year and to say it was difficult to get him into another private school is putting it mildly.  The scoring system at Hyde made it very difficult to place him elsewhere.  I got the feeling this is what Hyde wanted.  

I saw many kids held back for one year at Hyde simply because someone (usually a young inexperienced faculty member)did not feel the students effort was up to par.  I felt like this was part of the ploy!

I wish all of you good luck on this board and hope that your lives were not terribly affected by Hyde.
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Offline Lars

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #17 on: October 28, 2005, 11:56:00 PM »
They made repeat my junior year, not because I had failed academically, but because I wasn't "ready" to be a senior there.  In other words, I got held back because I hadn't bought into the cult.  What a waste.

And when I attended their summer program, I ran away (I literally could not stand it) & hitchhiked back to my parents house.  The school told my parents not to let me back in the house, and sure enough, they bought that crap.  It was either live on the streets as a 16 year old, or go back to Hyde.  I went back.  My parents promised me during my second junior year that if I did better I could return to my old public high school.  On the "advice" of the Hyde administration, they reneged on their promise.  To this day I occasionally have nightmares about being told that I have to spend yet another year at Hyde.
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Offline Anonymous

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #18 on: October 29, 2005, 05:00:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-10-28 16:09:00, Anonymous wrote:

"I have just joined this board and see that it is mostly former students from Hyde.  I am a former Mother at Hyde and find it quite intriguing that the students who are posting have had the same experiences at Hyde School.



We joined Hyde with the best intentions.  A "character first" school that would help our son have more confidence in himself as well as helping to motivate him. I was impressed when the Admissions Counselor told us how many faculty kids went there. In my mind if a faculty member put their child at the school then it must be a very good school!  WRONG!!



I cannot begin to tell you how horrified I was after going to my first family weekend.  The "seminars" were incredibly intrusive and more than that they seemed totally inappropriate for young siblings to attend.  



I could not believe my ears when I heard some of the almost pornographic stories coming out of people's mouths.  I would look around the room at some of these younger kids and cringe that they were exposed to this.  You could see how uncomfortable so many parents and students were and yet people seemed too intimidated to speak out!  I found it strange that Hyde was all about speaking your mind yet no one spoke their mind about what they saw as being wrong at the school.  



This to me seemed very much like a Cult!  There was the "leader", Joe Gauld, the disciples who were the faculty, and then there were the Cultists, (parents and students) who followed the lead.



We did not get out as fast as we should have.  Our son stuck it out for a year and to say it was difficult to get him into another private school is putting it mildly.  The scoring system at Hyde made it very difficult to place him elsewhere.  I got the feeling this is what Hyde wanted.  



I saw many kids held back for one year at Hyde simply because someone (usually a young inexperienced faculty member)did not feel the students effort was up to par.  I felt like this was part of the ploy!



I wish all of you good luck on this board and hope that your lives were not terribly affected by Hyde."


I too am relatively new to this website.  Like you, I am amazed at the consistency of so many people's Hyde experiences.  It's obvious to me that there is a very "dark" side to Hyde that needs to be exposed.  Fortunately, this website is informing lots of people about Hyde's very serious shortcomings. I have heard so many disturbing Hyde stories, generally along the same lines as those reported here: incredibly unskilled seminar leaders who expect everyone to disclose intimate details; emotionally abusive intrusions into people's lives; very uneven teaching ability; and the Gauld influence that has created this cultish environment.  I'm very relieved to know that people are finally speaking out about Hyde.
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Offline Antigen

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #19 on: October 30, 2005, 12:46:00 PM »
I want to thank all of you folks for providing your perspectives on this in such reasonable, calm and mature tones. This is what it's all about, in my opinion.

And here's a frequently asked question that maybe you'd like to take a swing at. This is purely subjective and you'll have to guess, obviously. But I'd love to find out what you think.

You guys (parents) talk about noticing pretty quickly that the people at Hyde are... well, a little nuts. I can tell you that most kids who wind up in similar schools and programs notice it right away. In fact, I think that initial disorientation and fear is an integral part of the initiation. It's an area of special interest to me because it didn't effect me so much at the time and, as a kid, I had no proper apreciation for what it did to most of the other kids around me. I knew the script, I knew the culture and none of it, even the strip search or the threat of being physically tackled for trying to leave (or stand up w/o permission), shocked me at all.

So here's the question. What do you make of the parents who sign their kids up, attend all the parent weekends, seminars and activities and just simply fail to notice that the people around them are bug all nuts? How does that work? What's the difference between you and them going in?

Theology: The effort to explain the unknowable in terms of the not worth knowing.
--H. L. Mencken, American publisher

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Offline Anonymous

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #20 on: October 30, 2005, 01:51:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-10-30 09:46:00, Antigen wrote:

"I want to thank all of you folks for providing your perspectives on this in such reasonable, calm and mature tones. This is what it's all about, in my opinion.



And here's a frequently asked question that maybe you'd like to take a swing at. This is purely subjective and you'll have to guess, obviously. But I'd love to find out what you think.



You guys (parents) talk about noticing pretty quickly that the people at Hyde are... well, a little nuts. I can tell you that most kids who wind up in similar schools and programs notice it right away. In fact, I think that initial disorientation and fear is an integral part of the initiation. It's an area of special interest to me because it didn't effect me so much at the time and, as a kid, I had no proper apreciation for what it did to most of the other kids around me. I knew the script, I knew the culture and none of it, even the strip search or the threat of being physically tackled for trying to leave (or stand up w/o permission), shocked me at all.



So here's the question. What do you make of the parents who sign their kids up, attend all the parent weekends, seminars and activities and just simply fail to notice that the people around them are bug all nuts? How does that work? What's the difference between you and them going in?

Theology: The effort to explain the unknowable in terms of the not worth knowing.
--H. L. Mencken, American publisher


"


I think there are several dynamics going on here.  First, many people are attracted to Hyde in the middle of a hot crisis.  They're desperate to find a place for their child and are seduced by Hyde's appealing rhetoric ("We'll help turn your kid -- and your family -- around; we'll hold your kid's fit to the fire; we embrace virtue and values.").  Second, many of Hyde students' parents are struggling with their own major issues (marital infidelity, addiction, mental illness).  They are happy to find a school that has charismatic leadership (Gauld, etc.) much like a cult does, preaches a doctrine (Hyde is full of cliches and evangelical-like scripts that all the "groupies" speak), and offers an environment that seems very much like a recovery or 12-step environment (group support).  For parents in distress this kind of structure is hard to resist.  Third, Hyde provides desperate, struggling parents with a one-stop-shopping approach that is very appealing: sign up here and we'll care for your kid and your family.

Of course, some families are so needy and desperate that they continue to buy this rhetoric and can't see through it.  Others eventually see through it and decide to leave Hyde.  We've now met many unhappy Hyde parents who are looking elsewhere.  Sadly, most are afraid to speak openly about their distress -- they worry that Hyde will give them and their kid a very hard time (like cults handle people who want to leave).  So many parents at Hyde don't know who to trust, so they keep their mouths closed.  Fortunately, websites like this are helping many to know the real Hyde.
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Offline Anonymous

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #21 on: October 30, 2005, 02:20:00 PM »
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On 2005-10-28 20:56:00, Lars wrote:

"They made repeat my junior year, not because I had failed academically, but because I wasn't "ready" to be a senior there.  In other words, I got held back because I hadn't bought into the cult.  What a waste.



And when I attended their summer program, I ran away (I literally could not stand it) & hitchhiked back to my parents house.  The school told my parents not to let me back in the house, and sure enough, they bought that crap.  It was either live on the streets as a 16 year old, or go back to Hyde.  I went back.  My parents promised me during my second junior year that if I did better I could return to my old public high school.  On the "advice" of the Hyde administration, they reneged on their promise.  To this day I occasionally have nightmares about being told that I have to spend yet another year at Hyde."
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Offline tommyfromhyde1

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #22 on: October 30, 2005, 02:28:00 PM »
"
Quote

On 2005-10-28 20:56:00, Lars wrote:


"They made repeat my junior year, not because I had failed academically, but because I wasn't "ready" to be a senior there.  In other words, I got held back because I hadn't bought into the cult.  What a waste.





And when I attended their summer program, I ran away (I literally could not stand it) & hitchhiked back to my parents house.  The school told my parents not to let me back in the house, and sure enough, they bought that crap.  It was either live on the streets as a 16 year old, or go back to Hyde.  I went back.  My parents promised me during my second junior year that if I did better I could return to my old public high school.  On the "advice" of the Hyde administration, they reneged on their promise.  To this day I occasionally have nightmares about being told that I have to spend yet another year at Hyde."

"
Lars, when I was there in '76 Seniors who hadn't drunk the kool-aid were called "senior preps". You couldn't graduate if you didn't gain Senior status. Also, you couldn't graduate if you didn't make Varsity in some sport.
And thanks for verifying that Hyde tells parents to throw their kids out on the street if they run.

The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good.  
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/188301123X/circlofmiamithem' target='_new'>George Washington

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Offline Lars

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #23 on: October 30, 2005, 03:04:00 PM »
Tommy,

They most certainly did tell my parents to throw me out on the streets.  If I knew then what I know now, I would have reported them (my parents AND the school) to the state department of social services.  I would have wound up in foster care, but I wouldn't have had to go back to Hyde.

At Hyde, they probably consider me to be one of their "success stories," but I think I did well after Hyde in spite of the place.  I did graduate with a "diploma" (only given to about 5 or 6 out of the 35 kids I graduated with, the rest got a "certificate" or a "document" - another screwed-up aspect of the program).  But by the second half of my senior year, I knew how to play their game and did so while trying to be as humane as possible to the underclassmen (I never took pleasure in making them do calisthenics at 5:30 in the morning).
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Offline tommyfromhyde1

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #24 on: October 31, 2005, 11:11:00 AM »
Lars,
When were you at Hyde? I ask because Hyde's practices and cult lingo seem to have changed somewhat over the years. Also can you shed some light on what something called "outpost" is all about? They had no such thing in '76.
Thanks,
Tommy

We discover in the gospels a groundwork of vulgar ignorance, of things impossible, of superstition, fanaticism and fabrication.
--Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President, author, scientist, architect, educator, and diplomat

[ This Message was edited by: tommyfromhyde1 on 2005-10-31 08:12 ]
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Offline Anonymous

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #25 on: October 31, 2005, 02:18:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-10-31 08:11:00, tommyfromhyde1 wrote:

"Lars,

When were you at Hyde? I ask because Hyde's practices and cult lingo seem to have changed somewhat over the years. Also can you shed some light on what something called "outpost" is all about? They had no such thing in '76.

Thanks,

Tommy

We discover in the gospels a groundwork of vulgar ignorance, of things impossible, of superstition, fanaticism and fabrication.

--Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President, author, scientist, architect, educator, and diplomat

[ This Message was edited by: tommyfromhyde1 on 2005-10-31 08:12 ]"


I think outpost is the term Hyde uses when it sends an "off track" (to use Hyde jargon) student to the Hyde wilderness program in Eustis, Maine for a "wake-up call" (e.g., due to ethics problems while attending Bath or Woodstock).  My guess is that some time ago Hyde staff realized there's a market for kids who need or want a wilderness experience.  Many Hyde kids enroll at Hyde after a wilderness program, and some Hyde kids were being sent to wilderness programs if issues emerged during their Hyde experience.  The Hyde wilderness component offers other programs as well.  I guess Hyde decided to develop an in-house program that reflects the Hyde perspective.

I have no problem with the general concept of wilderness programs for struggling teens.  In fact, there's some pretty good research evidence concerning the effectiveness of popular programs such as Redcliff Ascent, Catherine Freer, Aspen, Second Nature, Sage, New Horizons, etc.  My major concern is that, as usual, Hyde puts its unique spin on its own wilderness program.  Given the widespread concern I've been hearing from many people (including educational consultants) about Hyde's model in general (how destructive it can be), I'd be concerned about any program that has Hyde's fingerprints on it.
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Offline Lars

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #26 on: November 04, 2005, 09:36:00 PM »
Tommy,

     I started at Hyde in the summer of 1987, before the first of my two junior years there.  They didn't call their wilderness trips "outpost," they called them "attitude trips"  On these and on "2/4," their favorite meaningless torture exercise was called the "cheops" pile.  They had a monstrous pile of sticks out in the back field and they'd make us move the pile about a hundred yards down the field stick by stick.  Then, when the whole pile was transferred, they'd have us move it back again, stick by stick.  Just for kicks, if they felt our attitude wasn't good, they'd halt process to have us do some calisthenics.

     Oh yeah, and the sports programs there were BRUTAL.  It was as if they didn't consider being on a sports team to be a character building experience unless they ran you until you were puking.  True, I was in ridiculously good physical shape (I'm talking muscles on top of muscles - no kidding).  But what good is that when you can't even get laid without getting publicly shamed for it when people found out?

I wasn't exaggerating when I said that going to college was like being let out of prison (Why Arizona State?  Check out Playboy's girls of the Pac-10 pictorial and you'll understand why - especially after you've spent a few winters in Maine).
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Offline Anonymous

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #27 on: November 04, 2005, 09:43:00 PM »
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True, I was in ridiculously good physical shape (I'm talking muscles on top of muscles - no kidding).  But what good is that when you can't even get laid without getting publicly shamed for it when people found out?


And this, ladies and gentleman, is a good example as any as to why someone like Lars never "got it" at Hyde.  A high-schooler who thinks he should be allowed to have sex because of his muscles.

Wow.  Muscles on musles.  Someone should just give you a key to the white house right now.  You clearly deserve it.
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Offline Anonymous

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #28 on: November 04, 2005, 10:12:00 PM »
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On 2005-11-04 18:43:00, Anonymous wrote:

"
Quote

True, I was in ridiculously good physical shape (I'm talking muscles on top of muscles - no kidding).  But what good is that when you can't even get laid without getting publicly shamed for it when people found out?




And this, ladies and gentleman, is a good example as any as to why someone like Lars never "got it" at Hyde.  A high-schooler who thinks he should be allowed to have sex because of his muscles.



Wow.  Muscles on musles.  Someone should just give you a key to the white house right now.  You clearly deserve it."


I don't think what Lars had to say is necessarily appropriate, but isn't this like the pot calling the kettle black?  

My feeling is Hyde Fan, you are the most arrogant person I have seen posting on a board.  Maybe this is why Lars comments triggered something in you! Possibly you are very similar! How can you say Lars didn't "get it!"  Who are you to decide what "getting it" means unless you are part of the staff!!

In any case, whatever Lars says or doesn't say, the fact remains he experienced some pretty abusive situations at Hyde.  Whether he had five layers of muscles doesn't matter!  Let's not confuse the issues!
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Offline Lars

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Warning about Hyde School from an educational consultant
« Reply #29 on: November 04, 2005, 10:56:00 PM »
Pretty funny, I didn't get it because I thought I should be allowed to have sex because of my muscles.  Obviously, Hydefan here has no sense of humor (As I recall, neither did any of the Hyde faculty).  

This dolt has finally shown his true colors.  He's what most message board posters refer to as a troll.  One key to quality discussion on boards like this:  Don't feed the trolls!

Ignore this schmuck, he (or she) just isn't worth responding to anymore.
[ This Message was edited by: Lars on 2005-11-04 20:00 ]
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