Author Topic: NOTICE TO HYDE STUDENTS  (Read 17237 times)

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Offline Anonymous

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NOTICE TO HYDE STUDENTS
« on: December 15, 2005, 07:09:00 AM »
This website provides a valuable opportunity for people affiliated with, and interested in, the Hyde School to share their views about the school.  Parents who are enrolled at Hyde or considering Hyde should have the benefit of reasonable, respectful dialogue about Hyde.  Many parents are trying to make very serious decisions about whether to enroll at Hyde or withdraw their children from Hyde because of their serious concerns about the school.

Most of the comments posted on this website have been thoughtful, spirited, and reasonable.  People have disagreed with each other, usually respectfully.

Recently, however, a number of people have posted very immature and hurtful comments.  Some appear to come from Hyde students who have discovered this site.  

I would hope everyone who posts on this website would think seriously about how important this website is to people who are making life-altering decisions.  Silly, provocative, disrespectful comments get in the way of serious discussions that matter to many people.  Moreover, inappropriate comments from people affiliated with Hyde only serve to discredit the school even more.  Right now Hyde has a very serious public relations problem, and this website has fueled the fire.  In appropriate comments on websites like this make the problem worse.

I would appreciate it if people who have posted on this website inappropriately would refrain from doing so and respect the needs of people who are relying on this website to make important decisions. Hyde students who want to share their experiences at the school should feel free to do so, but please handle this in a mature way.  Those of us who are trying to figure out whether to sever our ties with Hyde or stay affiliated with the school would appreciate it.

Thank you.
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2005, 01:24:00 PM »
This is slander -
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2005, 02:05:00 PM »
I sincerely appreciated your thoughtful message. Your concern about Hyde students responding on this site with perhaps inflammatory words is probably just age-appropriate, but may also truly reflect their frustration in being so very suppressed 24/7 and living in a fear-oriented atmosphere....this is just my gut reaction. This gives them a venue to vent without being (hopefully) put on 2/4.

I learned of this site recently from parents of a wonderful young man who spent two years at Hyde - He did NOT want to be a senior at Hyde - he was tired of it all, and was extremely frustrated that he was constantly being pulled out of academic classes to act as a "senior Proctor" for the kids on 2/4 when the school could not find enough available seniors.

He is happy with his transtion - but Hyde put his parents through absolute hell and agony when they chose to withdraw him - recommendations and school reports and all that stuff that is required to transfer ANYWHERE were just incredibly difficult to get.........Hyde didn't want to lose this student, but they did.

They also lost my son after just one year - My husband and I were totally "on board" with Hyde and totally committed to availing us of all opportunities...........participated fully and honestly at Family Weekends and FLCs.  But it started to become apparent that we, too, were living in an atmosphere of fear and "Big Brother is Watching You" - There were often many HAPA parents strolling around with flat affect on their   faces and "snooping" into people's private conversations, etc. - It was just so eery - My husband and I have made some really wonderful friends at Hyde - but our bond has been the genuine laughter we shared when we were allowed "off campus" for a meal during these weekends.

But backing up a bit - our son went to Hyde with our blessing for a few reasons. He is learning disabled, has two genetic brain anomalies which impact his auditory processsing and his word retrieval abilites. He needs the structure of a "shoe box" and NOT the structure of a "football field" - he was adopted at birth and has waded through immense attachment issues.

We thought the Hyde Message was great - (It turns out that the messenger is 180 degrees opposite...)

In our interview, we were told the following:

1. There were many adopted children at Hyde - and they were about to launch special programs for these adopted children with huge issues.

2. We were encouraged to sign our son up to participate in the "LEAD Program" - a nightly special ed study hall/classroom where their individual needs would be addressed - for this, we paid an additional 2/3,000 dollars each semester.

FACT-

Yes, there are many, many adopted children at Hyde - they never started any sort of help program - and when asked, they were dismissive - child's problems had nothing to do with adoption - we should just reach further into ourselves to ascertain that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" - In an FLC seminar, I mentioned that for our son, adopted at birth, the apple fell from a different tree in another orchard.........I got the evil stare from the facilitator - a divorcee and recovered (recovering?? - as are many...) alcoholic - she chewed me out literally after the seminar broke...

LEAD Program - we paid extra thousands of dollars so our son could get the extra academic help that he truly needs.  Turns out that the LEAD program has NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, to do with helping kids with learning disabilities.  It is just a mandatory study hall - staffed by whomever might be available - there was absolutely no help given to individual students - according to our son, whom we have chosen to listen to, most of the time was spent by the "proctor" critiquing, criticising and demeaning the kids.

I spoke to a few of my son's teachers periodically about his progress. Bear in my mind, it can be VERY, VERY difficult to reach a teacher - you might wait DAYS for a return phone call - not always, but often enough.

I was just blown away by one of my son's teachers - who, after several questions from me, finally admitted that her "teaching credentials" included ONLY studying a foreign language in HIGH SCHOOL and then spending a few weeks in Europe!!!! She had no certification at all!!

The other issue which transcends all of the above is the lack of adequate medical staff.  I have talked to many, many parents at Hyde.  Some of their children have huge medical/psychological issues. And Hyde has a nurse and nursing staff who basically distribute meds.........period!!

When my son was ill last Winter at Hyde, I was phoned to be advised that he would be taken to a local doctor.  I asked for his symptons - was told what they were - and then I asked if they had read his medical history - They had NOT - My son had a life-threatening disease when he was 3/5 years old - it impacts ALL medical intervention for him - they couldn't find his records - I ended up driving to Hyde on a minute's notice to take him to their local off-campus doctor - we ended up in the local hospital for further tests - and he was much sicker than Hyde would EVER have known, because THEY DIDN'T READ HIS HISTORY or COULD NOT FIND IT.  I was appalled, and this incident started to turn the tide against HYDE for us as a family.

I just thought that if they can't even take care of him medically, how on earth can they take care of his learing issues.

I don't know how many of you know that there is no doctor on the Hyde campus and there are absolutely no medical professionals on campus to help a myriad of kids with a myriad of issues.

But one tragic moment sticks in my mind - and will stick in my mind forever........and should make ANY prospective parent think twice about Hyde and its abilitiy to deal with an emergency....

A father of a Hyde-Woodstock boy collapsed outside the gym last Spring - Hyde had no doctor to help him, Hyde had no defribilator to help, Hyde eventually called a local ambulance. The father died where he fell.  Hyde THEN had NO help for the many kids who witnessed this tragedy.....Hyde again had no plan...........

And they seem to have truly NO plan for much of anything, but the constant hype to solicit the almighty $$$$ at every possible gathering.

Shame on Joe Gauld - and shame on his pathetic family followers and other wierd followers.......

I have never been in such a negative atmosphere - smiles and "good stuff" is put down.  Truly sad....
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2005, 02:21:00 PM »
An Ambulance was called within minutes and a trained emergency medical tech was on the scene within two minutes.
There were no difib machines then, but there are now...it was a tragic happening, but from your description you make it sound like there was chaos and a lackluster response.  I was there and witnessed this terrible event and will be affected for life, but it sounds like your description of this event is from hearsay.
Shame on you!
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Offline Lars

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« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2005, 02:26:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-12-15 11:05:00, Anonymous wrote:


I learned of this site recently from parents of a wonderful young man who spent two years at Hyde - He did NOT want to be a senior at Hyde - he was tired of it all, and was extremely frustrated that he was constantly being pulled out of academic classes to act as a "senior Proctor" for the kids on 2/4 when the school could not find enough available seniors.



He is happy with his transtion - but Hyde put his parents through absolute hell and agony when they chose to withdraw him - recommendations and school reports and all that stuff that is required to transfer ANYWHERE were just incredibly difficult to get.........Hyde didn't want to lose this student, but they did.



They also lost my son after just one year - My husband and I were totally "on board" with Hyde and totally committed to availing us of all opportunities...........participated fully and honestly at Family Weekends and FLCs.  But it started to become apparent that we, too, were living in an atmosphere of fear and "Big Brother is Watching You" - There were often many HAPA parents strolling around with flat affect on their   faces and "snooping" into people's private conversations, etc. - It was just so eery - My husband and I have made some really wonderful friends at Hyde - but our bond has been the genuine laughter we shared when we were allowed "off campus" for a meal during these weekends.



It's encouraging to see that some parents had the courage to do the right thing and yank their kid out of there.  My parents - two otherwise very intelligent people - either did not see that Hyde was not right for me or refused to admit that they had made a mistake.  Hyde not only conned them into making me do a second junior year because I "wasn't ready to be a senior," (despite not flunking academically) they also convinced them to renege on their promise to me to allow me to return to my former school for my senior year if I stopped screwing up.  Kudos to you guys for showing the perceptiveness, guts & integrity that my parents lacked.[ This Message was edited by: Lars on 2005-12-15 11:26 ]
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2005, 03:24:00 PM »
Hyde rocks!! :wave:
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2005, 03:44:00 PM »
Quote

On 2005-12-15 12:24:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Hyde rocks!! ::spam::
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2005, 03:54:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-12-15 12:44:00, Anonymous wrote:

"
Quote

On 2005-12-15 12:24:00, Anonymous wrote:


"Hyde rocks!! ::spam:: "
Does using big words make you feel better about yourself, you cocksucker
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2005, 03:57:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-12-15 12:54:00, Anonymous wrote:

"
Quote

On 2005-12-15 12:44:00, Anonymous wrote:


"
Quote


On 2005-12-15 12:24:00, Anonymous wrote:



"Hyde rocks!! ::spam:: "

Does using big words make you feel better about yourself, you cocksucker"


Sure.  It confirms for me that I don't want to send my kid to a school that producers "leaders" such as yourself.
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2005, 04:08:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-12-15 11:05:00, Anonymous wrote:

"I sincerely appreciated your thoughtful message. Your concern about Hyde students responding on this site with perhaps inflammatory words is probably just age-appropriate, but may also truly reflect their frustration in being so very suppressed 24/7 and living in a fear-oriented atmosphere....this is just my gut reaction. This gives them a venue to vent without being (hopefully) put on 2/4.



I learned of this site recently from parents of a wonderful young man who spent two years at Hyde - He did NOT want to be a senior at Hyde - he was tired of it all, and was extremely frustrated that he was constantly being pulled out of academic classes to act as a "senior Proctor" for the kids on 2/4 when the school could not find enough available seniors.



He is happy with his transtion - but Hyde put his parents through absolute hell and agony when they chose to withdraw him - recommendations and school reports and all that stuff that is required to transfer ANYWHERE were just incredibly difficult to get.........Hyde didn't want to lose this student, but they did.



They also lost my son after just one year - My husband and I were totally "on board" with Hyde and totally committed to availing us of all opportunities...........participated fully and honestly at Family Weekends and FLCs.  But it started to become apparent that we, too, were living in an atmosphere of fear and "Big Brother is Watching You" - There were often many HAPA parents strolling around with flat affect on their   faces and "snooping" into people's private conversations, etc. - It was just so eery - My husband and I have made some really wonderful friends at Hyde - but our bond has been the genuine laughter we shared when we were allowed "off campus" for a meal during these weekends.



But backing up a bit - our son went to Hyde with our blessing for a few reasons. He is learning disabled, has two genetic brain anomalies which impact his auditory processsing and his word retrieval abilites. He needs the structure of a "shoe box" and NOT the structure of a "football field" - he was adopted at birth and has waded through immense attachment issues.



We thought the Hyde Message was great - (It turns out that the messenger is 180 degrees opposite...)



In our interview, we were told the following:



1. There were many adopted children at Hyde - and they were about to launch special programs for these adopted children with huge issues.



2. We were encouraged to sign our son up to participate in the "LEAD Program" - a nightly special ed study hall/classroom where their individual needs would be addressed - for this, we paid an additional 2/3,000 dollars each semester.



FACT-



Yes, there are many, many adopted children at Hyde - they never started any sort of help program - and when asked, they were dismissive - child's problems had nothing to do with adoption - we should just reach further into ourselves to ascertain that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" - In an FLC seminar, I mentioned that for our son, adopted at birth, the apple fell from a different tree in another orchard.........I got the evil stare from the facilitator - a divorcee and recovered (recovering?? - as are many...) alcoholic - she chewed me out literally after the seminar broke...



LEAD Program - we paid extra thousands of dollars so our son could get the extra academic help that he truly needs.  Turns out that the LEAD program has NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, to do with helping kids with learning disabilities.  It is just a mandatory study hall - staffed by whomever might be available - there was absolutely no help given to individual students - according to our son, whom we have chosen to listen to, most of the time was spent by the "proctor" critiquing, criticising and demeaning the kids.



I spoke to a few of my son's teachers periodically about his progress. Bear in my mind, it can be VERY, VERY difficult to reach a teacher - you might wait DAYS for a return phone call - not always, but often enough.



I was just blown away by one of my son's teachers - who, after several questions from me, finally admitted that her "teaching credentials" included ONLY studying a foreign language in HIGH SCHOOL and then spending a few weeks in Europe!!!! She had no certification at all!!



The other issue which transcends all of the above is the lack of adequate medical staff.  I have talked to many, many parents at Hyde.  Some of their children have huge medical/psychological issues. And Hyde has a nurse and nursing staff who basically distribute meds.........period!!



When my son was ill last Winter at Hyde, I was phoned to be advised that he would be taken to a local doctor.  I asked for his symptons - was told what they were - and then I asked if they had read his medical history - They had NOT - My son had a life-threatening disease when he was 3/5 years old - it impacts ALL medical intervention for him - they couldn't find his records - I ended up driving to Hyde on a minute's notice to take him to their local off-campus doctor - we ended up in the local hospital for further tests - and he was much sicker than Hyde would EVER have known, because THEY DIDN'T READ HIS HISTORY or COULD NOT FIND IT.  I was appalled, and this incident started to turn the tide against HYDE for us as a family.



I just thought that if they can't even take care of him medically, how on earth can they take care of his learing issues.



I don't know how many of you know that there is no doctor on the Hyde campus and there are absolutely no medical professionals on campus to help a myriad of kids with a myriad of issues.



But one tragic moment sticks in my mind - and will stick in my mind forever........and should make ANY prospective parent think twice about Hyde and its abilitiy to deal with an emergency....



A father of a Hyde-Woodstock boy collapsed outside the gym last Spring - Hyde had no doctor to help him, Hyde had no defribilator to help, Hyde eventually called a local ambulance. The father died where he fell.  Hyde THEN had NO help for the many kids who witnessed this tragedy.....Hyde again had no plan...........



And they seem to have truly NO plan for much of anything, but the constant hype to solicit the almighty $$$$ at every possible gathering.



Shame on Joe Gauld - and shame on his pathetic family followers and other wierd followers.......



I have never been in such a negative atmosphere - smiles and "good stuff" is put down.  Truly sad...."


Thanks so very much for this wonderfully insightful set of comments.  I can't tell you how gratifying and reassuring it is to read another parent's perceptions of Hyde that are nearly identical to my own.  It sounds as if we've had very similar experiences, and they're not good ones (overall).  We too met some lovely parents who, off campus, were very critical of Hyde.  Only then (off campus) did they feel comfortable letting their hair down. It's clear that a number of parents fake their way through Hyde and simply fly below radar to avoid the hassle.  The mood around Hyde is so hyper-critical and judgmental.  It's very hard to feel safe and trust anyone there.

And you're so very right about the 180 degree hypocrisy at Hyde.  Every parent considering Hyde should be fully aware that many people at Hyde preach one thing and act just the opposite.  

We too paid for LEAD and got virtually no professional assistance.  We feel terribly misled.  Also, we're appalled that so many kids at Hyde struggle with psychiatric issues and adoption issues and, yet, the school tunes this stuff right out (I love your line about the apple falling from the tree in a different orchard, and I'm not surprised to hear that some arrogant Hyde staff person laid in to you for saying that - ugh).  

Everything at Hyde is seen through that tiny, narrow "character" lens.  Character is great, character is important - no argument there.  But at Hyde there's nothing else, and Hyde's interpretation of character is unbelievably distorted and hypocritical.  And then there are the Hyde teachers whose professional qualifications to be in the classroom and mentor adolescents are about as thin as wax paper (with holes).  I can't believe Hyde gets away with this incompetence.  I have met a few qualified teachers there, but they don't seem to hang on long.  My guess is they were duped too and got out of Hyde as soon as they could.  As you say, shame on Joe Gauld and his "family" of followers.
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2005, 05:13:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-12-15 12:57:00, Anonymous wrote:

"
Quote

On 2005-12-15 12:54:00, Anonymous wrote:


"
Quote


On 2005-12-15 12:44:00, Anonymous wrote:



"
Quote



On 2005-12-15 12:24:00, Anonymous wrote:




"Hyde rocks!! ::spam:: "


Does using big words make you feel better about yourself, you cocksucker"




Sure.  It confirms for me that I don't want to send my kid to a school that producers "leaders" such as yourself."
Hmmmm, "produCERS leaders" hmmmmmm, you are intelligent, asshole :lol:
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Offline Lars

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« Reply #11 on: December 15, 2005, 05:15:00 PM »
Quote
<
Thanks so very much for this wonderfully insightful set of comments.  I can't tell you how gratifying and reassuring it is to read another parent's perceptions of Hyde that are nearly identical to my own.  It sounds as if we've had very similar experiences, and they're not good ones (overall).  We too met some lovely parents who, off campus, were very critical of Hyde.  Only then (off campus) did they feel comfortable letting their hair down. It's clear that a number of parents fake their way through Hyde and simply fly below radar to avoid the hassle.  The mood around Hyde is so hyper-critical and judgmental.  It's very hard to feel safe and trust anyone there.



And you're so very right about the 180 degree hypocrisy at Hyde.  Every parent considering Hyde should be fully aware that many people at Hyde preach one thing and act just the opposite.  



We too paid for LEAD and got virtually no professional assistance.  We feel terribly misled.  Also, we're appalled that so many kids at Hyde struggle with psychiatric issues and adoption issues and, yet, the school tunes this stuff right out (I love your line about the apple falling from the tree in a different orchard, and I'm not surprised to hear that some arrogant Hyde staff person laid in to you for saying that - ugh).  



Everything at Hyde is seen through that tiny, narrow "character" lens.  Character is great, character is important - no argument there.  But at Hyde there's nothing else, and Hyde's interpretation of character is unbelievably distorted and hypocritical.  And then there are the Hyde teachers whose professional qualifications to be in the classroom and mentor adolescents are about as thin as wax paper (with holes).  I can't believe Hyde gets away with this incompetence.  I have met a few qualified teachers there, but they don't seem to hang on long.  My guess is they were duped too and got out of Hyde as soon as they could.  As you say, shame on Joe Gauld and his "family" of followers."


As with the poster you're responding to, I'm gratified to see that at least some and possibly many of the parents are perceptive enough to really understand what's really going on there.  And though I've long since moved on from Hyde, it's discouraging to see that little if anything has changed since I graduated from there in 1990.

I appreciate your comments, and like I mentioned previously, I wish my parents had figured this out..or if they did, they hadn't been so hard-headed about making me stay in that miserable place.  Have you pulled your kid out?  Different kids have different needs, and I don't know what led you to get involved there.  But I know that I only found success and happiness when I left Hyde and went to college.  Even after I got my first college report card and made the dean's list (at a big state university with no "structure" and every temptation under the sun available), I'm not sure if it dawned on my parents that they'd made a big mistake keeping me at Hyde.  I could never get good grades at Hyde because of their ridiculous grading system, a system designed to help kids who didn't have the intellect to really suceed in school, but which hurt a smart kid like me who didn't fit their outspoken mold.

And to reiterate what the originator of this thread said, if any pro-Hyde folks want to join in this discussion, please be civil and refrain from insulting people. Happy holidays to everyone!
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #12 on: December 15, 2005, 05:50:00 PM »
Good evening Lars, how are you?
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Offline Lars

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« Reply #13 on: December 15, 2005, 05:57:00 PM »
I'm good.  Enjoying a lull in the courts' schedules & getting the kids ready to fly back east for the holidays (when you have kids, you're rendered irrelevant to the rest of the family except in your capacity as a producer and transporter of grandchildren!  :lol: ).  Best wishes to everyone![ This Message was edited by: Lars on 2005-12-15 14:59 ]
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #14 on: December 15, 2005, 06:12:00 PM »
Quote
On 2005-12-15 14:57:00, Lars wrote:

"I'm good.  Enjoying a lull in the courts' schedules & getting the kids ready to fly back east for the holidays (when you have kids, you're rendered irrelevant to the rest of the family except in your capacity as a producer and transporter of grandchildren!  :lol: ).  Best wishes to everyone![ This Message was edited by: Lars on 2005-12-15 14:59 ]"
Aint that the truth!
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