Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Hyde Schools
Requesting Parents' Assessment of Hyde School
Anonymous:
This morning I have spent time trying to locate information about the Hyde School. I found this web site pretty quickly by doing a Google search. Most of the comments I read here are very troubling. When I read Hyde's official material I got the impression that the school focuses heavily on values and character. Reading this web site, however, I'm beginning to get a very different, and troubling, picture of Hyde. Many of the comments I read on this site suggest that there's a disturbing side to Hyde and that many people have had very negative experiences (not everyone, it appears, but many). Many people who post here seem to be troubled especially by the school's founder, Joe Gauld, along with some other Hyde staff.
I am very eager for more information, especially current information, about what kind of school Hyde REALLY is, the positive and negative. I would appreciate it if people would post serious comments. (I prefer to avoid the sillier and more juvenile comments.)
Thank you.
Anonymous:
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---This morning I have spent time trying to locate information about the Hyde School. I found this web site pretty quickly by doing a Google search. Most of the comments I read here are very troubling. When I read Hyde's official material I got the impression that the school focuses heavily on values and character. Reading this web site, however, I'm beginning to get a very different, and troubling, picture of Hyde. Many of the comments I read on this site suggest that there's a disturbing side to Hyde and that many people have had very negative experiences (not everyone, it appears, but many). Many people who post here seem to be troubled especially by the school's founder, Joe Gauld, along with some other Hyde staff.
I am very eager for more information, especially current information, about what kind of school Hyde REALLY is, the positive and negative. I would appreciate it if people would post serious comments. (I prefer to avoid the sillier and more juvenile comments.)
Thank you.
--- End quote ---
May I ask what 'catch words' you used for your Google? I only found this site on page 2 or 3 of a Google, and that was thanks to a slew of words and descriptives I can't even remember offhand now.
As to your request for more info, I think your best bet is to read through this site more thoroughly, as long and laborious as it may seem; the spontaneous info you get gives a more rounded picture that is more to be believed. Also check the other forum sites via the Index, to get a bigger picture of the kind of schools out there for 'problematic' teens. Some postings have links too.
Anonymous:
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---This morning I have spent time trying to locate information about the Hyde School. I found this web site pretty quickly by doing a Google search. Most of the comments I read here are very troubling. When I read Hyde's official material I got the impression that the school focuses heavily on values and character. Reading this web site, however, I'm beginning to get a very different, and troubling, picture of Hyde. Many of the comments I read on this site suggest that there's a disturbing side to Hyde and that many people have had very negative experiences (not everyone, it appears, but many). Many people who post here seem to be troubled especially by the school's founder, Joe Gauld, along with some other Hyde staff.
I am very eager for more information, especially current information, about what kind of school Hyde REALLY is, the positive and negative. I would appreciate it if people would post serious comments. (I prefer to avoid the sillier and more juvenile comments.)
Thank you.
--- End quote ---
May I ask what 'catch words' you used for your Google? I only found this site on page 2 or 3 of a Google, and that was thanks to a slew of words and descriptives I can't even remember offhand now.
As to your request for more info, I think your best bet is to read through this site more thoroughly, as long and laborious as it may seem; the spontaneous info you get gives a more rounded picture that is more to be believed. Also check the other forum sites via the Index, to get a bigger picture of the kind of schools out there for 'problematic' teens. Some postings have links too.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for responding. I am reading through this web site, which is a bit overwhelming, to learn more about Hyde from different people's perspectives. It's impossible to read everything, of course, but some clear patterns seem to be emerging. Putting aside the snide and simply irreverant comments, the impression I get is that Hyde attracts a lot of parents who seem to be desperate and aren't sure where to turn (similar to our situation). Hyde's public relations material seems to be very appealing, and as someone here said, seductive. They use lots of very appealing terms and concepts related to values, character, attitude, etc. The people who are happy with Hyde seem to fit a pattern, perhaps people who really like structure and authority figures. I get the sense that many people who go to Hyde end up feeling frustrated, angry, or worse, and then go somewhere else. That scares me.
Beneath the surface, I'm getting the sense that Hyde is a much more complicated and controversial place than their official materials suggest. I keep seeing lots of references to cult qualities and lots of mention of some very arrogant staffers. I'm also concerned about the groups that everyone is required to participate in. I'm more than willing to look at my own stuff and our family dynamics, but everything I read tells me that Hyde's groups aren't run by professionals but, rather, teachers and other staff. This seems quite risky to me, given what I know about the kinds of personal issues that usually come up in these groups.
I've also read many comments about how many Hyde students come to the school with some pretty serious emotional and psychological problems. Am I right that Hyde doesn't have any mental health staff on campus? That too is very troubling, and very different from every other school I've looked at that serves this kind of struggling teenager.
(To answer your question, I Googled Hyde and found this web site several pages into their listings. I'm trying to find everything I can about this school. You mentioned other websites. Which others should I look at?)
Thanks.
Anonymous:
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---This morning I have spent time trying to locate information about the Hyde School. I found this web site pretty quickly by doing a Google search. Most of the comments I read here are very troubling. When I read Hyde's official material I got the impression that the school focuses heavily on values and character. Reading this web site, however, I'm beginning to get a very different, and troubling, picture of Hyde. Many of the comments I read on this site suggest that there's a disturbing side to Hyde and that many people have had very negative experiences (not everyone, it appears, but many). Many people who post here seem to be troubled especially by the school's founder, Joe Gauld, along with some other Hyde staff.
I am very eager for more information, especially current information, about what kind of school Hyde REALLY is, the positive and negative. I would appreciate it if people would post serious comments. (I prefer to avoid the sillier and more juvenile comments.)
Thank you.
--- End quote ---
May I ask what 'catch words' you used for your Google? I only found this site on page 2 or 3 of a Google, and that was thanks to a slew of words and descriptives I can't even remember offhand now.
As to your request for more info, I think your best bet is to read through this site more thoroughly, as long and laborious as it may seem; the spontaneous info you get gives a more rounded picture that is more to be believed. Also check the other forum sites via the Index, to get a bigger picture of the kind of schools out there for 'problematic' teens. Some postings have links too.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for responding. I am reading through this web site, which is a bit overwhelming, to learn more about Hyde from different people's perspectives. It's impossible to read everything, of course, but some clear patterns seem to be emerging. Putting aside the snide and simply irreverant comments, the impression I get is that Hyde attracts a lot of parents who seem to be desperate and aren't sure where to turn (similar to our situation). Hyde's public relations material seems to be very appealing, and as someone here said, seductive. They use lots of very appealing terms and concepts related to values, character, attitude, etc. The people who are happy with Hyde seem to fit a pattern, perhaps people who really like structure and authority figures. I get the sense that many people who go to Hyde end up feeling frustrated, angry, or worse, and then go somewhere else. That scares me.
Beneath the surface, I'm getting the sense that Hyde is a much more complicated and controversial place than their official materials suggest. I keep seeing lots of references to cult qualities and lots of mention of some very arrogant staffers. I'm also concerned about the groups that everyone is required to participate in. I'm more than willing to look at my own stuff and our family dynamics, but everything I read tells me that Hyde's groups aren't run by professionals but, rather, teachers and other staff. This seems quite risky to me, given what I know about the kinds of personal issues that usually come up in these groups.
I've also read many comments about how many Hyde students come to the school with some pretty serious emotional and psychological problems. Am I right that Hyde doesn't have any mental health staff on campus? That too is very troubling, and very different from every other school I've looked at that serves this kind of struggling teenager.
(To answer your question, I Googled Hyde and found this web site several pages into their listings. I'm trying to find everything I can about this school. You mentioned other websites. Which others should I look at?)
Thanks.
--- End quote ---
Okay, first: I don't know of other sites that deal with this kind of info re. Hyde (perhaps I misunderstood you or mistated myself, my apologies if so). I've heard of chat rooms and the like but these usu. entail a sign-in and I'm relatively protective of my privacy (mostly because of Hyde and the way they've dealt with me).
2nd, let me try to deal with some of your specifics. The groups are run by staff, i.e., teachers, teacher-administrators; the family groups might even have a gung-ho parent get involved but that has been a rare experience. No, no one is trained. Well, they are 'trained' the Hyde way, by other staffers. And yes, there is a lot of excess, and it generally is not dealt with in a loving fashion, if you get my drift. Those that emote more believablly and with more gut-wrenching material are regarded as being more 'in touch' with themselves, and generally achieve more success in the character development arena. [It has also been my experience that kids more academically inclined are regarded as being more 'out of touch' with themselves, as well as the analogous assessment of character development; and likewise for the parents.]
There are no mental health personnel involved with the school to my knowledge. Issues that would ordinarily be thus addressed are generally regarded as 'character development' issues by Hyde, regardless of whatever lip service they give to parents.
How one sees Hyde living up to its espoused ideals often depends in large part, with some exceptions to be sure, on how one measures up (as per Hyde) in the character development department. Perhaps most disturbing -- despite all the avowed rhetoric re. truth, etc. -- is Hyde's complete unwillingness to admit mistakes and mistreatment when these indeed have happened, let alone apologize for what have sometimes amounted to life-changing wounds in kids' psyches.
It has generally been my experience, as well as observation, that an awful lot is excused if the presumed goals are laudatory enough, which is a very dangerous situation indeed. Under the guise of tough-love-type confrontations, many thinly veiled witchhunts and axe-grinders have met their marks. Of course, some people really believe their effluents, all the sadder for the damage done.
For the money that you would spend at Hyde, you'd do far better at a more middle of the road type place that would at least give your child a good education.
I am a former student, not exactly a fan of the place; do feel free to take my words with the appropriate grain of salt.
I am also a parent, of a child with developmental issues, and spend way more time dealing with inappropriate school systems than I care to admit to.
all my best! :D
Anonymous:
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---
--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---This morning I have spent time trying to locate information about the Hyde School. I found this web site pretty quickly by doing a Google search. Most of the comments I read here are very troubling. When I read Hyde's official material I got the impression that the school focuses heavily on values and character. Reading this web site, however, I'm beginning to get a very different, and troubling, picture of Hyde. Many of the comments I read on this site suggest that there's a disturbing side to Hyde and that many people have had very negative experiences (not everyone, it appears, but many). Many people who post here seem to be troubled especially by the school's founder, Joe Gauld, along with some other Hyde staff.
I am very eager for more information, especially current information, about what kind of school Hyde REALLY is, the positive and negative. I would appreciate it if people would post serious comments. (I prefer to avoid the sillier and more juvenile comments.)
Thank you.
--- End quote ---
May I ask what 'catch words' you used for your Google? I only found this site on page 2 or 3 of a Google, and that was thanks to a slew of words and descriptives I can't even remember offhand now.
As to your request for more info, I think your best bet is to read through this site more thoroughly, as long and laborious as it may seem; the spontaneous info you get gives a more rounded picture that is more to be believed. Also check the other forum sites via the Index, to get a bigger picture of the kind of schools out there for 'problematic' teens. Some postings have links too.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for responding. I am reading through this web site, which is a bit overwhelming, to learn more about Hyde from different people's perspectives. It's impossible to read everything, of course, but some clear patterns seem to be emerging. Putting aside the snide and simply irreverant comments, the impression I get is that Hyde attracts a lot of parents who seem to be desperate and aren't sure where to turn (similar to our situation). Hyde's public relations material seems to be very appealing, and as someone here said, seductive. They use lots of very appealing terms and concepts related to values, character, attitude, etc. The people who are happy with Hyde seem to fit a pattern, perhaps people who really like structure and authority figures. I get the sense that many people who go to Hyde end up feeling frustrated, angry, or worse, and then go somewhere else. That scares me.
Beneath the surface, I'm getting the sense that Hyde is a much more complicated and controversial place than their official materials suggest. I keep seeing lots of references to cult qualities and lots of mention of some very arrogant staffers. I'm also concerned about the groups that everyone is required to participate in. I'm more than willing to look at my own stuff and our family dynamics, but everything I read tells me that Hyde's groups aren't run by professionals but, rather, teachers and other staff. This seems quite risky to me, given what I know about the kinds of personal issues that usually come up in these groups.
I've also read many comments about how many Hyde students come to the school with some pretty serious emotional and psychological problems. Am I right that Hyde doesn't have any mental health staff on campus? That too is very troubling, and very different from every other school I've looked at that serves this kind of struggling teenager.
(To answer your question, I Googled Hyde and found this web site several pages into their listings. I'm trying to find everything I can about this school. You mentioned other websites. Which others should I look at?)
Thanks.
--- End quote ---
Okay, first: I don't know of other sites that deal with this kind of info re. Hyde (perhaps I misunderstood you or mistated myself, my apologies if so). I've heard of chat rooms and the like but these usu. entail a sign-in and I'm relatively protective of my privacy (mostly because of Hyde and the way they've dealt with me).
2nd, let me try to deal with some of your specifics. The groups are run by staff, i.e., teachers, teacher-administrators; the family groups might even have a gung-ho parent get involved but that has been a rare experience. No, no one is trained. Well, they are 'trained' the Hyde way, by other staffers. And yes, there is a lot of excess, and it generally is not dealt with in a loving fashion, if you get my drift. Those that emote more believablly and with more gut-wrenching material are regarded as being more 'in touch' with themselves, and generally achieve more success in the character development arena. [It has also been my experience that kids more academically inclined are regarded as being more 'out of touch' with themselves, as well as the analogous assessment of character development; and likewise for the parents.]
There are no mental health personnel involved with the school to my knowledge. Issues that would ordinarily be thus addressed are generally regarded as 'character development' issues by Hyde, regardless of whatever lip service they give to parents.
How one sees Hyde living up to its espoused ideals often depends in large part, with some exceptions to be sure, on how one measures up (as per Hyde) in the character development department. Perhaps most disturbing -- despite all the avowed rhetoric re. truth, etc. -- is Hyde's complete unwillingness to admit mistakes and mistreatment when these indeed have happened, let alone apologize for what have sometimes amounted to life-changing wounds in kids' psyches.
It has generally been my experience, as well as observation, that an awful lot is excused if the presumed goals are laudatory enough, which is a very dangerous situation indeed. Under the guise of tough-love-type confrontations, many thinly veiled witchhunts and axe-grinders have met their marks. Of course, some people really believe their effluents, all the sadder for the damage done.
For the money that you would spend at Hyde, you'd do far better at a more middle of the road type place that would at least give your child a good education.
I am a former student, not exactly a fan of the place; do feel free to take my words with the appropriate grain of salt.
I am also a parent, of a child with developmental issues, and spend way more time dealing with inappropriate school systems than I care to admit to.
all my best! :D
--- End quote ---
Thank you so much for sharing your comments and observations. This is the kind of helpful information I'm looking for. Everything you're saying about Hyde seems to confirm what I've been reading and hearing. I realize other Hyde parents may have different views, but your comments are very similar to others I've gotten. Even if this isn't everyone's experience at Hyde, it certainly seems to be what many people experience, and that is what really concerns me. Your points about the "I'm right, you're wrong" stance that you say many Hyde staff take is a major red flag in my book. I've seen that kind of arrogance and self-righteousness elsewhere and am determined to steer clear of it. The absence of mental health professionals at Hyde really concerns me too, given my kid's needs. I don't understand how a school like Hyde can accept these kinds of students without any mental health resources. That seems very odd to me, and dangerous.
You've been very, very helpful. I appreciate your generosity and insights. Thanks.
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