Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Hyde Schools

Hyde?s Board & Lawyer?s responses to federal lawsuit against them

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survivorami:
From chair of the Board of Governors:

Dear Hyde Community,

 I want you to hear first from me some news about long-threatened legal action against Hyde and personal attacks on stalwarts in our community.  Some former students have taken to social media and message boards to voice complaints against Hyde, posting distorted claims of abuse, forced labor and negligence frequently in harsh, uncivil, insulting tones. A Massachusetts law firm began soliciting former students as clients, even on these message boards.  For more than two years this law firm has been threatening to assert claims against Hyde. With open minds, we have engaged with this law firm, eager to understand whether or how individuals were allegedly harmed during their time at Hyde, and ready to address or remedy any wrongs revealed to us.  Far from achieving the clarity and understanding we sought, we have received allegations that either grossly mischaracterize Hyde?s policies and practices over time or are patently false. This week, the law firm shared a draft lawsuit on behalf of a former student who briefly attended Hyde. We are constrained in our ability to comment about pending litigation or former students, but we want our community to know that Hyde vehemently denies these claims and intends to vigorously defend itself, its reputation, and the character education model that makes Hyde the special and effective school it is. The law firm reported that they intend to file suit in the coming days. The draft we have seen includes incredibly inflammatory and disturbing allegations against not only Hyde School, but several members of the Gauld family.  We also know that the law firm has been talking to reporters who have sent us questions on allegations that are not in the draft of the suit. One of the most egregious and offensive lines of questions picks up on social media chatter tying alumni who have passed away for any reason to Hyde School. This narrative is not only false, it preys upon vulnerable families. In Hyde?s 60 years, two students have passed away while enrolled at Hyde. One resulted from a skiing accident in 1970 during a family vacation. The second young man passed away in 1988 during a pickup basketball game due to an undiagnosed medical ailment. Our hearts go out to all families who have lost loved ones.  As you know, since 1966, Hyde has created a unique learning environment that fosters growth and accountability for high-potential students.  Hyde is a school of high expectations. In addition to college preparatory academics, Hyde requires participation in athletics, public speaking, and performing arts. Our students face challenges and harness their strengths in an environment of remarkable support from peers, faculty, and parents. These unique ingredients of a Hyde education have led to life-changing outcomes for thousands of students and their families, but not for every one of them. The news you will hear may make you think that Hyde has skeletons, dark secrets now coming to light. But Hyde, as you know, has always been an open book, a place of extraordinary transparency.  We take seriously our obligation to investigate and, where appropriate, report to law enforcement.  Contrary to the allegations made in the lawsuit, Hyde considers its obligation to protect students to be paramount. We stand behind our school leaders and believe that they have worked tirelessly to do the right thing for our students.  Our philosophy and curriculum have been consistently accredited, each time with multiple commendations, during six decennial accreditation visits (since 1970) by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.  Of the 2,500 graduates of the Maine campus, 96 percent were admitted to accredited colleges.  As proud as we are of this history, we know not all of our former students and families feel positively about Hyde. We pay attention to all feedback, whether positive or critical, which has contributed to our continuous improvement.   Hyde remains committed to who we are as we continue to grow and serve our students and families.

Sincerely,   Dana McAvity Chair, Board of Governors

survivorami:
Response letter from Hyde School?s lawyer to the media re: lawsuit

This was a letter from Hyde?s lawyer that was linked in a news article about the Hyde School lawsuit that just dropped that alleges labor trafficking and abuse:

July 14, 2025

Longtime Hyde School Attorney Addresses Allegations

I'm Martha Gaythwaite, partner at Verrill in Portland. I represent Hyde School, which has been a client of my firm for nearly four decades. Hyde School was founded in 1966 as an independent school pioneering character-based education. Its approach - challenging students to harness their strengths in an environment of remarkable support from both the Hyde School faculty and staff as well as the students' own families - has led to life-changing outcomes for many students and their families. Hyde has refined character-based education over time, instilling values that guide students on their path. Hyde's student body has always been composed of a wide range of student profiles and experience.

The allegations in the recently filed complaint are difficult to read. Hyde School, a consistently accredited member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, is not part of the so-called profit-driven Troubled Teen industry.

It was particularly disappointing to see the personal attacks that have been lodged against the individual defendants who are nearing retirement and who have devoted their lives and professional careers to helping Hyde students and their families. They are constrained by the confidentiality rules regarding students, as well as their own sense of decency and loyalty, from making disclosures that would counter the narrative the Plaintiffs are pushing.

Because a complaint has been filed, I am also constrained by the Court's rules about what comments I can make. It is clear that the Plaintiffs' attorneys reached out to the media months ago in anticipation of filing the complaint. Presumably, by soliciting media coverage so far in advance of filing the complaint, it was hoped that the amount of negative publicity and resultant reputational damage would be maximized.

Trial is years away. At a trial, the actual facts will be litigated. There are rules in place in the courts to ensure fairness and exclude rumor, innuendo and gossip. Some of your readers and viewers will be potential members of the jury pool who will be asked to decide what actual facts are true. I hope that they will be able to keep an open mind and not rush to judgment based on salacious sound bites and one-sided accounts of events, many of which allegedly occurred decades ago and were never reported to anyone at the time.

But opinions are being formed now, based on media reports. I hope that each media outlet will responsibly shed light - not just heat - on these allegations. The public and the entire Hyde school community are counting on it.

Martha C. Gaythwaite
Partner
Verrill

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