Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Hyde Schools => Topic started by: daedalus on November 04, 2006, 04:29:23 AM
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as a surviver of the hyde instsitutition, i feel like i need to say something about my experience here. i graduated hyde last year, in 06, and i was never as troubled or "off track" when i was not at school. parents, teachers, doctors, all cannot figure out what is wrong. being told what to look like, who to associate with, what i can and cant put into my body, these things were never questioned. But when i was free of the institution, everything started to feel better.
Joseph W. Gauld, one of three founders of the hyde school, is an interesting person. the only time i ever talked to him face to face, it was in a conferance with my parents. my parents weekend was not going well because i insisted that i change schools, which is not accepted. he yelled at me and told my father to "kick him out, and spray him with a hose when he's comes back to your porch." he was the angriest person in the room, besides me. i read some of his essays from the 1970s, in a collection called "the courage to grow." he examines such relevant topics as weather it is ok to beat your kids, or if blacks and whites are intellectually equal. he states that black men are superior in areas such as music and expression but do not have the intellegence to succeed academically. people that i have brought this up with respond with the fact that he wrote it 35 years ago. fuck that. how this racist, hateful, child-smacking asshole is allowed to educate children is way beyond me.
i saw a lot of changes in the four years i was forced to spend at hyde. one thing that did not change was that every year a large majority of students were "ethically dishonest." it is easy to see through people when they only do the bare minimum to keep up apperiances. the morals and ideals of the five words and principals are great. i can't argue that "courage" is a bad thing, but the inability to act and think for myself is not the way i am going to use it. it is very striking to me the contrast between the wholesome and ethical image projected by the leadership of hyde and the utter unprofessionalism of the faculty. during my time at hyde bath, not only was i battered by the ex-dean without provocation, but a student at the school was molested by a teacher. the hyde school did not follow up on the case legally. recently i learned that a teacher at the bath campus had sex with a newly graduated student, and returned to work the following year only to leave after it came out. i have heard similar allegations of abuse and misconduct at the Woodstock campus, but have no direct evidence to confirm them. the fact is, hyde is cashing in on your insecurities. the sooner these people are exposed the better.
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as a surviver of the hyde instsitutition, i feel like i need to say something about my experience here. i graduated hyde last year, in 06, and i was never as troubled or "off track" when i was not at school. parents, teachers, doctors, all cannot figure out what is wrong. being told what to look like, who to associate with, what i can and cant put into my body, these things were never questioned. But when i was free of the institution, everything started to feel better.
Joseph W. Gauld, one of three founders of the hyde school, is an interesting person. the only time i ever talked to him face to face, it was in a conferance with my parents. my parents weekend was not going well because i insisted that i change schools, which is not accepted. he yelled at me and told my father to "kick him out, and spray him with a hose when he's comes back to your porch." he was the angriest person in the room, besides me. i read some of his essays from the 1970s, in a collection called "the courage to grow." he examines such relevant topics as weather it is ok to beat your kids, or if blacks and whites are intellectually equal. he states that black men are superior in areas such as music and expression but do not have the intellegence to succeed academically. people that i have brought this up with respond with the fact that he wrote it 35 years ago. fuck that. how this racist, hateful, child-smacking asshole is allowed to educate children is way beyond me.
i saw a lot of changes in the four years i was forced to spend at hyde. one thing that did not change was that every year a large majority of students were "ethically dishonest." it is easy to see through people when they only do the bare minimum to keep up apperiances. the morals and ideals of the five words and principals are great. i can't argue that "courage" is a bad thing, but the inability to act and think for myself is not the way i am going to use it. it is very striking to me the contrast between the wholesome and ethical image projected by the leadership of hyde and the utter unprofessionalism of the faculty. during my time at hyde bath, not only was i battered by the ex-dean without provocation, but a student at the school was molested by a teacher. the hyde school did not follow up on the case legally. recently i learned that a teacher at the bath campus had sex with a newly graduated student, and returned to work the following year only to leave after it came out. i have heard similar allegations of abuse and misconduct at the Woodstock campus, but have no direct evidence to confirm them. the fact is, hyde is cashing in on your insecurities. the sooner these people are exposed the better.
Everything, and I mean everything, you say about Hyde is like my own experience there. I don't know who you are, but we seem to have traveled the same path (I was at Woodstock). THe hypocricy you describe is the same that I saw at Woodstock. All the Hyde principals sound real good, but the true reality is laughable. Some people at Hyde take that stuff seriously, but so many students just play the game and keep their head down. The same is true of many staff. They talk a good game, but their behavior contradicts so much of what Hyde says it stands for. I've also seen staff yell at kids, call them names, provoke them, and all that. It infuriates me that the Hyde leaders act as if this stuff doesn't happen. Parents who send their kids to Hyde probably have no idea what really goes on there.
And what you say about Joe Gauld is absolutely true. I saw him completely lose it with students and parents. The guy is such a hypocrite. He talks about humility and then flips on the switch and acts like the most arrogant person imagineable. Why he's still around is hard to understand.
We need to spread the word about Hyde. Hyde may have some successes (I think they're often the children of staff or siblings of alumni), but overall it's a disgrace.
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as a surviver of the hyde instsitutition, i feel like i need to say something about my experience here. i graduated hyde last year, in 06, and i was never as troubled or "off track" when i was not at school. parents, teachers, doctors, all cannot figure out what is wrong. being told what to look like, who to associate with, what i can and cant put into my body, these things were never questioned. But when i was free of the institution, everything started to feel better.
Joseph W. Gauld, one of three founders of the hyde school, is an interesting person. the only time i ever talked to him face to face, it was in a conferance with my parents. my parents weekend was not going well because i insisted that i change schools, which is not accepted. he yelled at me and told my father to "kick him out, and spray him with a hose when he's comes back to your porch." he was the angriest person in the room, besides me. i read some of his essays from the 1970s, in a collection called "the courage to grow." he examines such relevant topics as weather it is ok to beat your kids, or if blacks and whites are intellectually equal. he states that black men are superior in areas such as music and expression but do not have the intellegence to succeed academically. people that i have brought this up with respond with the fact that he wrote it 35 years ago. fuck that. how this racist, hateful, child-smacking asshole is allowed to educate children is way beyond me.
i saw a lot of changes in the four years i was forced to spend at hyde. one thing that did not change was that every year a large majority of students were "ethically dishonest." it is easy to see through people when they only do the bare minimum to keep up apperiances. the morals and ideals of the five words and principals are great. i can't argue that "courage" is a bad thing, but the inability to act and think for myself is not the way i am going to use it. it is very striking to me the contrast between the wholesome and ethical image projected by the leadership of hyde and the utter unprofessionalism of the faculty. during my time at hyde bath, not only was i battered by the ex-dean without provocation, but a student at the school was molested by a teacher. the hyde school did not follow up on the case legally. recently i learned that a teacher at the bath campus had sex with a newly graduated student, and returned to work the following year only to leave after it came out. i have heard similar allegations of abuse and misconduct at the Woodstock campus, but have no direct evidence to confirm them. the fact is, hyde is cashing in on your insecurities. the sooner these people are exposed the better.
Everything, and I mean everything, you say about Hyde is like my own experience there. I don't know who you are, but we seem to have traveled the same path (I was at Woodstock). THe hypocricy you describe is the same that I saw at Woodstock. All the Hyde principals sound real good, but the true reality is laughable. Some people at Hyde take that stuff seriously, but so many students just play the game and keep their head down. The same is true of many staff. They talk a good game, but their behavior contradicts so much of what Hyde says it stands for. I've also seen staff yell at kids, call them names, provoke them, and all that. It infuriates me that the Hyde leaders act as if this stuff doesn't happen. Parents who send their kids to Hyde probably have no idea what really goes on there.
And what you say about Joe Gauld is absolutely true. I saw him completely lose it with students and parents. The guy is such a hypocrite. He talks about humility and then flips on the switch and acts like the most arrogant person imagineable. Why he's still around is hard to understand.
We need to spread the word about Hyde. Hyde may have some successes (I think they're often the children of staff or siblings of alumni), but overall it's a disgrace.
Hey,
This is more interesting then the porn or the boring blowhards that usually post here.
Neil Loughjizm
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as a surviver of the hyde instsitutition, i feel like i need to say something about my experience here. i graduated hyde last year, in 06, and i was never as troubled or "off track" when i was not at school. parents, teachers, doctors, all cannot figure out what is wrong. being told what to look like, who to associate with, what i can and cant put into my body, these things were never questioned. But when i was free of the institution, everything started to feel better.
Joseph W. Gauld, one of three founders of the hyde school, is an interesting person. the only time i ever talked to him face to face, it was in a conferance with my parents. my parents weekend was not going well because i insisted that i change schools, which is not accepted. he yelled at me and told my father to "kick him out, and spray him with a hose when he's comes back to your porch." he was the angriest person in the room, besides me. i read some of his essays from the 1970s, in a collection called "the courage to grow." he examines such relevant topics as weather it is ok to beat your kids, or if blacks and whites are intellectually equal. he states that black men are superior in areas such as music and expression but do not have the intellegence to succeed academically. people that i have brought this up with respond with the fact that he wrote it 35 years ago. fuck that. how this racist, hateful, child-smacking asshole is allowed to educate children is way beyond me.
i saw a lot of changes in the four years i was forced to spend at hyde. one thing that did not change was that every year a large majority of students were "ethically dishonest." it is easy to see through people when they only do the bare minimum to keep up apperiances. the morals and ideals of the five words and principals are great. i can't argue that "courage" is a bad thing, but the inability to act and think for myself is not the way i am going to use it. it is very striking to me the contrast between the wholesome and ethical image projected by the leadership of hyde and the utter unprofessionalism of the faculty. during my time at hyde bath, not only was i battered by the ex-dean without provocation, but a student at the school was molested by a teacher. the hyde school did not follow up on the case legally. recently i learned that a teacher at the bath campus had sex with a newly graduated student, and returned to work the following year only to leave after it came out. i have heard similar allegations of abuse and misconduct at the Woodstock campus, but have no direct evidence to confirm them. the fact is, hyde is cashing in on your insecurities. the sooner these people are exposed the better.
Daedalus,
High five to you for helping to expose the truth about Hyde. You have heard similar stories of abuse at the Woodstock campus because it is true. I was there when it happened to a girl I know, but Hyde's followers try to minimize it and sweep it under the carpet.
Are you interested in starting a blog or another site dedicated to Hyde? The only way we will get more people to come forward is to be accessible and I am not so sure it is easy to find Hyde on Fornits when you google Hyde. Let me know your thoughts. I think there are lots more students out there who would join in if they knew about a site for Hyde
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Whats the story with all this sexual abuse by teachers? There are posts all over this site about several incidences? Doesn't Hyde screen their teachers? Do you think the problem could be the type of teachers Hyde attracts and the low salaries they pay? How could it be that there is no one watching out for our kids and no accountability?
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my daughter was at hyde as freshman last year...her father and I are divorced. He did not want me involved with the parent program since he was the paying parent. We have a shared parenting plan, and at summer challenge he got away with that ....but not after Hyde saw I existed... then I was allowed to participate after that. I did..and invovled myself a lot with the Hyde process.....and this dad did not like this and would not re enroll her the following year, and I was disappointed. I would like my daughter back at Hyde and she would like to be there too. I am still involved with the parent progam without being enrolled at Hyde and I get a lot of value from this process dispite the negitive feedback on this site. I am happy for the skills she learned,because my daughter recieved a lot of confidence from this school that helped her make a transistion to another school.... and I give Hyde the credit for that dispite her horrible parents.....
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Whats the story with all this sexual abuse by teachers? There are posts all over this site about several incidences? Doesn't Hyde screen their teachers? Do you think the problem could be the type of teachers Hyde attracts and the low salaries they pay? How could it be that there is no one watching out for our kids and no accountability?
The question is, why are we hearing about abuses at Hyde including sexual abuse by teachers and staff? Is there any accountability outside school grounds? Is there a watchdog committee making sure our kids are safe? How does the govt intervene with private boarding school?
No doubt what you are sharing is important, but it is equally important that we find out about anything harmful at Hyde and this website is exposing a lot of negativity regarding the boarding schools.
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my daughter was at hyde as freshman last year...her father and I are divorced. He did not want me involved with the parent program since he was the paying parent. We have a shared parenting plan, and at summer challenge he got away with that ....but not after Hyde saw I existed... then I was allowed to participate after that. I did..and invovled myself a lot with the Hyde process.....and this dad did not like this and would not re enroll her the following year, and I was disappointed. I would like my daughter back at Hyde and she would like to be there too. I am still involved with the parent progam without being enrolled at Hyde and I get a lot of value from this process dispite the negitive feedback on this site. I am happy for the skills she learned,because my daughter recieved a lot of confidence from this school that helped her make a transistion to another school.... and I give Hyde the credit for that dispite her horrible parents.....
Clearly you have a big problem with an "ex" and clearly you need help with this. It would be wise for you to seek professional counseling rather than advice from staff at Hyde whose lives are more screwed up than yours. You might as well go to a free 12 step program where they aren't after your money.
I challenge you to look around the room at Hyde and see what type of people are "committed" and "involved." Listen closely and then read up on Cults. Look for the resemblance. I look at the Hyde website and see the names of the same confused staff and parents in key positions years later. Although they feel they are getting a lot out of Hyde, they are right where they were years ago. Only difference is they have Hyde to lean on and feel a certain security sharing their misery with others in the same boat.
I don't mean to be hard on you, but I am trying to get you to face reality. Great that you feel you are getting something out of Hyde, but is it really anymore than having people pat you on the back and say, "I can relate to that?" Why are those same key people still struggling with the same problems they had 25 years ago?
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yes, absolutely. i was thinking the other day that there are more than enough outspoken victims of hyde to orgonize resistance. i am very interested in starting some sort of website or something to dispell myths about the virtues of hyde and educate people before they get sucked in.... i have no experience with this sort of thing but i feel like it is my responsibiliy to fight this thing. lets get in touch somehow?....
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whattya call this?!
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yes, absolutely. i was thinking the other day that there are more than enough outspoken victims of hyde to orgonize resistance. i am very interested in starting some sort of website or something to dispell myths about the virtues of hyde and educate people before they get sucked in.... i have no experience with this sort of thing but i feel like it is my responsibiliy to fight this thing. lets get in touch somehow?....
Maybe you cooda orgonized your thoughts a little better two while you're on some sort of website like this one.
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yes, absolutely. i was thinking the other day that there are more than enough outspoken victims of hyde to orgonize resistance. i am very interested in starting some sort of website or something to dispell myths about the virtues of hyde and educate people before they get sucked in.... i have no experience with this sort of thing but i feel like it is my responsibiliy to fight this thing. lets get in touch somehow?....
Don't you know anyone who can start a site or a blog? Don't want to take away from Fornits because Ginger has been wonderful giving us this outlet, but starting a Hyde site could add another venue for Hyde students, parents and staff to vent.
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yes, absolutely. i was thinking the other day that there are more than enough outspoken victims of hyde to orgonize resistance. i am very interested in starting some sort of website or something to dispell myths about the virtues of hyde and educate people before they get sucked in.... i have no experience with this sort of thing but i feel like it is my responsibiliy to fight this thing. lets get in touch somehow?....
Don't you know anyone who can start a site or a blog? Don't want to take away from Fornits because Ginger has been wonderful giving us this outlet, but starting a Hyde site could add another venue for Hyde students, parents and staff to vent.
I would wholeheartedly support a Hyde blog. I know many former Hyde parents who are extremely eager to inform others about their very negative experiences at Hyde. Of course, people who have had good experiences there would also be free to post. There's so much "behind closed doors" muttering about Hyde that it's important to get all of this out in the open.
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Duncan McCrann, who was head of school at Hyde Woodstock, is no longer in that position. Does anyone know why?
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Duncan McCrann, who was head of school at Hyde Woodstock, is no longer in that position. Does anyone know why?
He "supposedly" wanted to do what he loves, go back to teaching. How come Hyde is not honest about the real reason he left the same way they teach the students to be honest? Part of the hypocricy of Hyde. Obviously things were not working out well for Duncan in the position he was in and the Gaulds wanted to make a change. Then again, could it be that word got around about his son being sodomized on the Bath Campus?
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Duncan McCrann, who was head of school at Hyde Woodstock, is no longer in that position. Does anyone know why?
He "supposedly" wanted to do what he loves, go back to teaching. How come Hyde is not honest about the real reason he left the same way they teach the students to be honest? Part of the hypocricy of Hyde. Obviously things were not working out well for Duncan in the position he was in and the Gaulds wanted to make a change. Then again, could it be that word got around about his son being sodomized on the Bath Campus?
I hadn't heard that his son was assaulted at Hyde. By another student?. Is that fact or rumor?
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It was several male students and call it rumor or fact, but the information came directly from the victim. it was no secret on either campus.
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It was several male students and call it rumor or fact, but the information came directly from the victim. it was no secret on either campus.
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Well... I sure as hell wouldn't want anything more to do with such a "school" if that happened to MY son... JEEESH!!! :flame:
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Needs repeating.
as a surviver of the hyde instsitutition, i feel like i need to say something about my experience here. i graduated hyde last year, in 06, and i was never as troubled or "off track" when i was not at school. parents, teachers, doctors, all cannot figure out what is wrong. being told what to look like, who to associate with, what i can and cant put into my body, these things were never questioned. But when i was free of the institution, everything started to feel better.
Joseph W. Gauld, one of three founders of the hyde school, is an interesting person. the only time i ever talked to him face to face, it was in a conferance with my parents. my parents weekend was not going well because i insisted that i change schools, which is not accepted. he yelled at me and told my father to "kick him out, and spray him with a hose when he's comes back to your porch." he was the angriest person in the room, besides me. i read some of his essays from the 1970s, in a collection called "the courage to grow." he examines such relevant topics as weather it is ok to beat your kids, or if blacks and whites are intellectually equal. he states that black men are superior in areas such as music and expression but do not have the intellegence to succeed academically. people that i have brought this up with respond with the fact that he wrote it 35 years ago. fuck that. how this racist, hateful, child-smacking asshole is allowed to educate children is way beyond me.
i saw a lot of changes in the four years i was forced to spend at hyde. one thing that did not change was that every year a large majority of students were "ethically dishonest." it is easy to see through people when they only do the bare minimum to keep up apperiances. the morals and ideals of the five words and principals are great. i can't argue that "courage" is a bad thing, but the inability to act and think for myself is not the way i am going to use it. it is very striking to me the contrast between the wholesome and ethical image projected by the leadership of hyde and the utter unprofessionalism of the faculty. during my time at hyde bath, not only was i battered by the ex-dean without provocation, but a student at the school was molested by a teacher. the hyde school did not follow up on the case legally. recently i learned that a teacher at the bath campus had sex with a newly graduated student, and returned to work the following year only to leave after it came out. i have heard similar allegations of abuse and misconduct at the Woodstock campus, but have no direct evidence to confirm them. the fact is, hyde is cashing in on your insecurities. the sooner these people are exposed the better.
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Also needs repeating...no one has an exclusive right to judgement...
excuse me for the informal writing, it's 3:30 in the morning, so bear with me...i'm going to be a senior and it's going to be my 4th year. i have seen good and bad. good from hyde's perspective and good that hyde hasn't recognized. the sterotypical "tool"(what most kids would call the 100% good guys are the ones Hyde will usually praise, yes, and still challenge. i've seen a kid i went to summer challenge with eventually graduate dirty. yes. but I was able to see the IMMENSE positive change he made. he realized to take his life seriously. M.D. was the classic "bad boy" and still looks like the really cool really tough guy. but he's a good kid now. he always was, but he learned some responsibility. for him, that's really all he needed. i've seen "bad" kids come in, refuse; and then refuse a year and a half into it. those kids are a waste of our time, the parents' money. i've seen good kids, such as myself, who've never done anything bad, learn to be less oblivious and also learn that not all of the current youth culture's bad. like, that drinking a little at a party isn't nearly the end of the world. i've gotten a lot out of hyde cuz i put a lot of faith and trust into it. granted, i DID NOT wanna be there during SC '03 and the beginning of freshman year. but i see that hyde is a place to develop yourself, but whatever it needs to be. not necessarily what hyde thinks it should be. whether or not hyde recognizes that you accomplished something doesn't matter. YES THERE ARE FLAWS! but nothing's perfect. i see that there IS a business perspective; hey, someone's gotta pay the bills to keep the place actually open. i worked in the admissions office for three weeks this summer...i noticed we, at least the woodstock campus, has begun to be more selective and not letting people who aren't ready for us in. which is good. i encourage you look at the school, regardless of the stories, it really depends on your kid. maybe he/she needs something more extreme. like elan, or family foundation(although, they may wanna kill themselves after F.F.). or wilderness. or rehab. hyde is a GREAT transition school from one of those, because they are 1) more willing to go to something less strict and 2) if they did the other program right, then they'll be more willing to continue the change they've been making. it's TOTALLY TRUE that hyde's NOT FOR EVERYONE. but you never know till you at least look. but i know that the common thing with teens today is lack of self-confidence, self-worth, or immaturity. usually a good combination. i was all three. what keeps me coming back are the PEOPLE and the staff. so i'm really tired, but PLEASE, if you have any questions, i'll answer them. i see myself as a completely neutral, seeing as i see them all from both sides. My name is Billy Procida...my email address is [email protected]. And good luck with however YOU raise your children. but it's late, and i gotta sleep
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Also needs repeating...no one has an exclusive right to judgement...
Since you've been there and I haven't, what are your thoughts on daedalus' experience?
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Also needs repeating...no one has an exclusive right to judgement...
Since you've been there and I haven't, what are your thoughts on daedalus' experience?
First of all, Daedalus said he just graduated in 2006. In 10-15 years, his views may change from those of a young, angry kid, who obviously still has some issues. He may come to appreciate some of the things he learned (or resisted learning) at Hyde. Second, he misrepresents and distorts some of the things he says (of which I know firsthand) which causes me to question the rest of what he says that I don't know firsthand. Always question someone who has an agenda, as I'm sure you will question what I say Bonney... my thoughts on this subject.
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So then, please. By all means enlighten us. Tell us how Hyde works and how it changes these kids. What's so different and special about Hyde that makes it work? What are the good things about Hyde that you see and the bad?
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Some interesting thoughts here, balanced and without rancor. Our family was at Hyde for a year and several months, until I was thrown out of the program and the rest of the family decided, given that fact, that it didn't make any sense for them to continue.
I wrote up an account of my experience. Anyone interested in reading "The Jekyll Side Of Hyde," can e-mail me.
Gary Eskow
www.garyeskow.com (http://www.garyeskow.com)
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Some interesting thoughts here, balanced and without rancor. Our family was at Hyde for a year and several months, until I was thrown out of the program and the rest of the family decided, given that fact, that it didn't make any sense for them to continue.
I wrote up an account of my experience. Anyone interested in reading "The Jekyll Side Of Hyde," can e-mail me.
Gary Eskow
www.garyeskow.com (http://www.garyeskow.com)
Your account of your Hyde experience is very illuminating. Is your Hyde experience typical, from what you can tell? My family and I have considered Hyde. What you have to say is very troubling.
Given what you have to say, would you advise parents to stay away from Hyde?
I also wonder whether the controversy related to Hyde threatens its future. Are they now having enrollment problems?
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Your account of your Hyde experience is very illuminating. Is your Hyde experience typical, from what you can tell? My family and I have considered Hyde. What you have to say is very troubling.
Given what you have to say, would you advise parents to stay away from Hyde?
I also wonder whether the controversy related to Hyde threatens its future. Are they now having enrollment problems?
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Did you read my report? Where did you see it?
I would not advise parents to eliminate Hyde from consideration, but would recommend caution. Without question there are students and families who have grown in this environment. Generally, these are students without serious emotional or medical problems who need some guidance and are not particularly rebellious.
Fundamentally, my Hyde experience mirrors the stories of many students regarding the hypocrisy that is practiced there. That Mr. Gauld is allowed to behave in the most startling manner and repeatedly break the most fundamental "principles"of Hyde- and the mandates of common decency- without being challenged by any staff member, encourages the rest of the faculty to behave in a similar manner. This brings some real problems, the main one being that the kids see this duplicity- absolutely, for sure. Many, many of them told me so during my time at the school. As a result, some of the positive lessons that are being taught, often by caring but inexperienced personnel- but also by some nut cases who have worked their way into the system- are lost.
With regard to the school's finacial situation, I have no information on the state of their funding, or financial health.
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Your account of your Hyde experience is very illuminating. Is your Hyde experience typical, from what you can tell? My family and I have considered Hyde. What you have to say is very troubling.
Given what you have to say, would you advise parents to stay away from Hyde?
I also wonder whether the controversy related to Hyde threatens its future. Are they now having enrollment problems?
----
Did you read my report? Where did you see it?
I would not advise parents to eliminate Hyde from consideration, but would recommend caution. Without question there are students and families who have grown in this environment. Generally, these are students without serious emotional or medical problems who need some guidance and are not particularly rebellious.
Fundamentally, my Hyde experience mirrors the stories of many students regarding the hypocrisy that is practiced there. That Mr. Gauld is allowed to behave in the most startling manner and repeatedly break the most fundamental "principles"of Hyde- and the mandates of common decency- without being challenged by any staff member, encourages the rest of the faculty to behave in a similar manner. This brings some real problems, the main one being that the kids see this duplicity- absolutely, for sure. Many, many of them told me so during my time at the school. As a result, some of the positive lessons that are being taught, often by caring but inexperienced personnel- but also by some nut cases who have worked their way into the system- are lost.
With regard to the school's finacial situation, I have no information on the state of their funding, or financial health.
What you say makes sense to me, that the basic concept behind Hyde is admirable. But from everything I've heard, Hyde's implementation leaves a lot to be desired. I've spoken to lots of people who know about Hyde from personal experience. There's a clear pattern in their comments: The model sounds good but there are too many Hyde staff who are emotionally immature, power control freaks, and insensitive to many students' serious emotional problems. Also, Joe Gauld's name keeps coming up as a sad example of someone who is so caught up in his own consuming needs that he ends up serving as a terrible and hypocritical role model for students.
You asked where I read your account of Hyde. A friend told me about it after she saw it on a web site called the Isac Corp. (which monitors schools and programs for troubled teens where there apparently have been problems):
Here is your account on that web site: http://www.isaccorp.org/hyde/eskowstatement.pdf (http://www.isaccorp.org/hyde/eskowstatement.pdf)
This web site includes a lot of information that is very critical of Hyde: http://www.isaccorp.org/documentsam.asp#hyde (http://www.isaccorp.org/documentsam.asp#hyde)
What do you know about this web site?
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"What you say makes sense to me, that the basic concept behind Hyde is admirable. But from everything I've heard, Hyde's implementation leaves a lot to be desired. I've spoken to lots of people who know about Hyde from personal experience. There's a clear pattern in their comments: The model sounds good but there are too many Hyde staff who are emotionally immature, power control freaks, and insensitive to many students' serious emotional problems. Also, Joe Gauld's name keeps coming up as a sad example of someone who is so caught up in his own consuming needs that he ends up serving as a terrible and hypocritical role model for students.
You asked where I read your account of Hyde. A friend told me about it after she saw it on a web site called the Isac Corp. (which monitors schools and programs for troubled teens where there apparently have been problems)"
I would agree completely with the information about Hyde you've heard from others. In all fairness, families in crisis don't always have the time (or energy) to research these schools fully- and let's be honest, there might not be a perfect place for some kids. But without question Joe Gauld is a deeply disturbed guy who was once booted from Hyde himself by the school board. Sadly, the school would have been better off if he had never been allowed to return.
I was contacted by Isac, had a good chat with the site's leader, and allowed my account to be posted there. That's all I know about them.
If you are considering sending your child to a boarding school, I certainly hope that you all are doing well and are comfortable with the advice you are being given.
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Also needs repeating...no one has an exclusive right to judgement...
Since you've been there and I haven't, what are your thoughts on daedalus' experience?
First of all, Daedalus said he just graduated in 2006. In 10-15 years, his views may change from those of a young, angry kid, who obviously still has some issues. He may come to appreciate some of the things he learned (or resisted learning) at Hyde. Second, he misrepresents and distorts some of the things he says (of which I know firsthand) which causes me to question the rest of what he says that I don't know firsthand. Always question someone who has an agenda, as I'm sure you will question what I say Bonney... my thoughts on this subject.
i am challanging you and what you posted about my experience at hyde.
please elaborate SPECIFICALLY about what i distorted or exaggerated.
your assumption is that because i recently graduated and left with a dissenting openion i am still struggling with misguided anger and what you call 'issues', although you cant say what. your narrow mindedness and inability to consider alternatives to what you believe in is disgusting and traagically typical. i have problems. and so do you. we might handle them in different ways, but you dont know me, and trying to project a complete strangers feelings 15 years into the future is beyond stupid. you dont know shit about my perspecive, and i dont care where youve been. i will not change my openion, for one simple reason: i dont need a moral authority to help me be my best.
if you are a parent considering hyde, read this persons comment and sit quietly for a few minutes and think about this method of reasoning. now imagine it being implemented on an institutional level in some very formative years of your childs life. frightening.
oh yeah. guest, if you are reading this: please, sterilize yourself. in saying this i get that much closer to everything i am protesting, but screw it. you should not be allowed to raise hamsters let alone a human being
if you are considering hyde
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dis regard that last little snippet at the end. its a typo
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Some interesting thoughts here, balanced and without rancor. Our family was at Hyde for a year and several months, until I was thrown out of the program and the rest of the family decided, given that fact, that it didn't make any sense for them to continue.
I wrote up an account of my experience. Anyone interested in reading "The Jekyll Side Of Hyde," can e-mail me.
Gary Eskow
www.garyeskow.com (http://www.garyeskow.com)
Gary, your experience at Hyde is typical. It is amazing how the Gaulds and the rest of their crew bully certain parents who question their authority. I've actually seen worse than your description of what happened to you. The funniest thing at Hyde is when there is a "concern" meeting for a parent. A bunch of fools decide that you aren't conforming and thinking the way they want you to think, so they call the troops together and have a "concern meeting" for you. You sit in the hot seat while the rest of these totally messed up people crucify you and tell you all the things you are not doing right. The funny part of it is that the ones who are telling you how messed up you are, are the same very ones who have completely screwed up lives, live in the past, haven't dealt with their own issues after being at Hyde for 30 years and can't get it right no matter how many thousands of seminars they have been in. I watched the same pervert people talk about on this board trying to lead a group of parents and students. They had him in charge of a group meeting when the guy should be locked up for sex crimes.
Gary, don't be so shocked at your treatment at Hyde. This is the way they operate. The best part is that they usually kick people out and keep their money for the rest of the year.
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Do the people who post on this site, specifically those who have disturbing experiences at Hyde either as students or parents, feel an obligation to share those experiences with families in crisis who are considering joining the Hyde community?
If so, let me know. I do believe there are committed people at Hyde who are dedicated to helping families. But they have veered off path, in my judgment. I'm a professional journalist and would be willing to write a piece- no longer than 7,500 words, probably less, that would weave together some of the stories that folks have to tell. This piece would then be submitted to educational consultants and various media outlets. Hyde would, of course, be given the opportunity to be quoted as well.
People would have to be open and reveal their identities...
If you are interested in checking out examples of my writing before contacting me you may do so at www.garyeskow.com (http://www.garyeskow.com)
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Gary, your experience at Hyde is typical. It is amazing how the Gaulds and the rest of their crew bully certain parents who question their authority. I've actually seen worse than your description of what happened to you. The funniest thing at Hyde is when there is a "concern" meeting for a parent. A bunch of fools decide that you aren't conforming and thinking the way they want you to think, so they call the troops together and have a "concern meeting" for you. You sit in the hot seat while the rest of these totally messed up people crucify you and tell you all the things you are not doing right. The funny part of it is that the ones who are telling you how messed up you are, are the same very ones who have completely screwed up lives, live in the past, haven't dealt with their own issues after being at Hyde for 30 years and can't get it right no matter how many thousands of seminars they have been in. I watched the same pervert people talk about on this board trying to lead a group of parents and students. They had him in charge of a group meeting when the guy should be locked up for sex crimes.
Gary, don't be so shocked at your treatment at Hyde. This is the way they operate. The best part is that they usually kick people out and keep their money for the rest of the year.[/quote]
Please see the post I submitted while you were submitting yours!
I am sure you are right about everything you wrote- the concern meeting that I was subjected to was quite poorly handled- but do people simply want to complain to each other on this site while retaining their anonymity, or are there a sufficient number of people who have passed through Hyde- particularly the kids, those who have suffered sexual misconduct at staff hands, for example- who are willing to go public? Why do so many hang onto their anonymity, even after their ties with the school have been severed?
Please explain this one to me--- I don't get it!
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Damn Gary! You think Joe is sorry he pissed you off yet?
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Damn Gary! You think Joe is sorry he pissed you off yet?
That's funny... revenge is not my motive, although I will share a plan I had with you: if Hyde had not reached an acceptable financial settlement with me that included the protection of my first amendment right to speak about my experience freely (they initially insisted that, despite the "truth before harmony" bit, I refrain from doing so), I was going to actively move into the news community I'm so familiar working with and let the truth do its thing on them. However, I was satisfied with what we worked out (I would strongly recommend the Hartford attorney, John Williams, we used) and went on to other things. Now, a year later, feeling relaxed, I'm here to help others who may wish to have their stories heard by the public.
By the way, if you're uncomfortable posting your names or the details of your experiences here, you can contact me via e mail ([email protected]). Your privacy will be respected.
Peace,
G
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Damn Gary! You think Joe is sorry he pissed you off yet?
That's funny... revenge is not my motive, although I will share a plan I had with you: if Hyde had not reached an acceptable financial settlement with me that included the protection of my first amendment right to speak about my experience freely (they initially insisted that, despite the "truth before harmony" bit, I refrain from doing so), I was going to actively move into the news community I'm so familiar working with and let the truth do its thing on them. However, I was satisfied with what we worked out (I would strongly recommend the Hartford attorney, John Williams, we used) and went on to other things. Now, a year later, feeling relaxed, I'm here to help others who may wish to have their stories heard by the public.
By the way, if you're uncomfortable posting your names or the details of your experiences here, you can contact me via e mail ([email protected]). Your privacy will be respected.
Peace,
G
I find this very hypocritical. Why would Hyde ask someone to keep silent about something when they pride themselves on "the truth?" It shows me even more how they are full of s-it. Based on this how do we know what to believe about Hyde and what other things they are not truthful about. I see lots of distortions on their publicity materials too. I would not be so critical about this if it were another type of institution, but Hyde specifically teaches the TRUTH and they are telling you to hide the truth??? Hmmmm.....just don't get them!!
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Damn Gary! You think Joe is sorry he pissed you off yet?
That's funny... revenge is not my motive, although I will share a plan I had with you: if Hyde had not reached an acceptable financial settlement with me that included the protection of my first amendment right to speak about my experience freely (they initially insisted that, despite the "truth before harmony" bit, I refrain from doing so), I was going to actively move into the news community I'm so familiar working with and let the truth do its thing on them. However, I was satisfied with what we worked out (I would strongly recommend the Hartford attorney, John Williams, we used) and went on to other things. Now, a year later, feeling relaxed, I'm here to help others who may wish to have their stories heard by the public.
By the way, if you're uncomfortable posting your names or the details of your experiences here, you can contact me via e mail ([email protected]). Your privacy will be respected.
Peace,
G
I find this very hypocritical. Why would Hyde ask someone to keep silent about something when they pride themselves on "the truth?" It shows me even more how they are full of s-it. Based on this how do we know what to believe about Hyde and what other things they are not truthful about. I see lots of distortions on their publicity materials too. I would not be so critical about this if it were another type of institution, but Hyde specifically teaches the TRUTH and they are telling you to hide the truth??? Hmmmm.....just don't get them!!
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Of course it's hypocritical, but they may feel that Joe's divinity precludes any base behavior on his part from being as it seems. That's one of the definitions of a cult.
Still don't understand why so few on this site give their names, though!
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Of course it's hypocritical, but they may feel that Joe's divinity precludes any base behavior on his part from being as it seems. That's one of the definitions of a cult.
Still don't understand why so few on this site give their names, though!
I am going to tell you why I don't give my name on this site. Hyde is a Cult. At Hyde they prod and manipulate you into telling your inner dark secrets in a way that is humiliating and degrading. Therefore Hyde knows a lot of very personal information about all who go there.
Many of us are people in good standing in the community and do not want the whole world to know our life stories. It is disturbing to think that Hyde might take some kind of revenge, but the idea would not surprise me. Although I can't speak for the other posters, this is why I personally do not give my name. Ya see, Hyde still has the power over us!!
I commend you for having more courage than me. You weren't there for that long according to your posts. I was, and therefore Hyde has a lot more "dirt" on me. Unfortunately I saw many times where "what goes on in the room, stays in the room" did not apply when it relates to Hyde, Joe Gauld, Duncan, Ken, Malcolm, Laura and any of the staff/cult members.
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I was just coming in here to say what you just did Anon. From everything I've been able to gather from reading the Hyde site, the postings here and on ISAC, Hyde is no different than any of the other mindrape mills. They all sprung from the same seed....Synanon/Seed/Straight/WWASPS....all of them. They use the same 'therapeutic community' approach to 'treatment', confrontational methods, the divulging of secrets and above all, the "trust the process" mentality. It all serves to break a person down in order to be rebuilt in Hyde's image and keep secret what's done behind closed doors. They all seem to think that they have "the" answer and it would be oh so difficult for 'outsiders' to understand. They might 'misinterperet' some of the methods used. :roll: These places do not tolerate dissent......at all. Those that have been in operation for many years seem to have a far reach in the LE/court and media community. People have been harassed and virtually stalked for speaking out about other programs on this site so it's understandable that people are reluctant to use any identifying names.
You guys are doing a great thing though. It seems that Hyde has flown under the radar for a long time. It's good to see some light shine on them for a while.
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Why don't I tender my name? Legal reasons. I was younger and very traumatized, and I signed what you refused to sign, Gary. I have also experienced postal "stalking" by the Hyde community. I have seen with my own eyes, in print, in official Hyde literature, words attributed to me that I never said, actions attributed to me that I never did, words that resulted in a bombardment of mail from former classmates. I do not trust these people one bit.
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I am going to tell you why I don't give my name on this site. Hyde is a Cult. At Hyde they prod and manipulate you into telling your inner dark secrets in a way that is humiliating and degrading. Therefore Hyde knows a lot of very personal information about all who go there.
Many of us are people in good standing in the community and do not want the whole world to know our life stories. It is disturbing to think that Hyde might take some kind of revenge, but the idea would not surprise me. Although I can't speak for the other posters, this is why I personally do not give my name. Ya see, Hyde still has the power over us!!
I commend you for having more courage than me. You weren't there for that long according to your posts. I was, and therefore Hyde has a lot more "dirt" on me. Unfortunately I saw many times where "what goes on in the room, stays in the room" did not apply when it relates to Hyde, Joe Gauld, Duncan, Ken, Malcolm, Laura and any of the staff/cult members.
Boy, do I get it. My wife is uncomfortable as well, although she's fine with me doing my thing. I certainly understand, although I don't believe Hyde would ever divulge info given privately, within their confines, to the public. That would be very risky for them to do from a legal perspective. But you make a great deal of sense, and it's really a shame.
Thank you.
G
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Why don't I tender my name? Legal reasons. I was younger and very traumatized, and I signed what you refused to sign, Gary. I have also experienced postal "stalking" by the Hyde community. I have seen with my own eyes, in print, in official Hyde literature, words attributed to me that I never said, actions attributed to me that I never did, words that resulted in a bombardment of mail from former classmates. I do not trust these people one bit.
IBID... what a drag, but you must protect yourself.
G
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MindRape Mill is a good word for them, Anne. I also want to elaborate a bit more for my fellow Hyders. In the last few weeks I have been perusing some of the other forums, trying to understand the connection and put things a bit more in perspective, also elsewhere on the internet. I haven't checked out Elan yet, and that may well be illuminating (aren't they both in Maine?). From what I've read so far, The Seed seems eerily similar. Regardless whether any unassailable connection can be made, an irrefutable core of Alcoholics Anonymous is clearly at the base of much of Hyde's ideology and practice. AA, as some of you will recall, was also at the heart of Synanom (aka "Sin Anon").
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...although I don't believe Hyde would ever divulge info given privately, within their confines, to the public. That would be very risky for them to do from a legal perspective.
Risky, my foot.
In practical terms, there is no way my paltry unemployed status could possibly compete with the deep pockets of their insurance company. Even my slightly less paltry pockets when I was still employed can't match up.
Hyde has clearly demonstrated, again and again, a flagrant disregard for "legal prudence", even in very recent history. Look at how they handled the LD problem. Same way as in years gone by!
Moreover, it has been my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE that they will LIE THROUGH THEIR TEETH when cornered with illegalities on their part. If they can get away with it, they will. They absolutely do not want to pay any piper.
"TRUTH": only when convenient, or at someone's else's expense.
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...although I don't believe Hyde would ever divulge info given privately, within their confines, to the public. That would be very risky for them to do from a legal perspective.
Risky, my foot.
In practical terms, there is no way my paltry unemployed status could possibly compete with the deep pockets of their insurance company. Even my slightly less paltry pockets when I was still employed can't match up.
Hyde has clearly demonstrated, again and again, a flagrant disregard for "legal prudence", even in very recent history. Look at how they handled the LD problem. Same way as in years gone by!
Moreover, it has been my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE that they will LIE THROUGH THEIR TEETH when cornered with illegalities on their part. If they can get away with it, they will. They absolutely do not want to pay any piper.
"TRUTH": only when convenient, or at someone's else's expense.
Wow, I couldn't have said it any better. I feel so vindicated by reading about Hyde on this site. Whoever started this, thank you. I think that when former students and families look at this site they will have the courage to come forward and post their experiences too. The word seems to be getting out slowly and as it does I think we will be hearing from a lot more people. I am sure that the school districts who have approved Hyde Charter Schools do not know about the "real Hyde."
Thanks to everyone who is posting. It is almost like group therapy, but in a positive way vs the intimidation we felt at Hyde.
One last thing. In talking to many other students seems as though who stick with Hyde after leaving are those who have deep problems. One friends mom is still involved and she admits that her mom is one of those types that would join a cult if she could. I also remember another family who is deep into Hyde. The father is a trust fund baby. I remember him saying that he had no purpose in life as he was very spoiled and didn't work even as a dad. He didn't know how to put his money to good use. Seems like Hyde grabbed onto this opportunity and my guess is that he now knows what to do with all his money.....give it to Hyde. They put him on the board of directors. How sad for this family!
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One friends mom is still involved and she admits that her mom is one of those types that would join a cult if she could.
It does seem that some students that are successful at Hyde but who do not chose to continue their careers at Hyde are vulnerable to transferring their community of choice over to a cult. I know of a former classmate, considered successful by Hyde standards, who for several years now has been involved with a bonafide RickRoss-recognized cult as their, or one of their, public relations people. Recently I learned that his sister has also moved there and, if I'm not mistaken, his mother as well (although I am not all that sure about this last one).
I think one of the many reasons we get sucked into Hyde (as opposed to another institution) is that many of us are idealistic people, and Hyde strokes that part of our egos. Comments, anyone?
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One friends mom is still involved and she admits that her mom is one of those types that would join a cult if she could.
It does seem that some students that are successful at Hyde but who do not chose to continue their careers at Hyde are vulnerable to transferring their community of choice over to a cult. I know of a former classmate, considered successful by Hyde standards, who for several years now has been involved with a bonafide RickRoss-recognized cult as their, or one of their, public relations people. Recently I learned that his sister has also moved there and, if I'm not mistaken, his mother as well (although I am not all that sure about this last one).
I think one of the many reasons we get sucked into Hyde (as opposed to another institution) is that many of us are idealistic people, and Hyde strokes that part of our egos. Comments, anyone?
Ursus,
I am sympathetic to the idealism of incoming parents. Desperate enough people are ready to believe anything. The Hyde pitch must be music to their ears.
But what about the idealism of faculty and students? One would think that their idealism would forsake them at the sight of someone being led around campus on a dog leash. (Cf. the thread "Requesting Parents' Assessment of Hyde School," p. 7, posted Mon Jan. 29, 2007, an informative post that describes the collapse of one student's idealism.) And indeed, what degree of idealism can justify the degradation of humans to animals? If members of the Hyde community, be they faculty, students, or informed parents, remain idealistic after learning of or taking part in something like that, then I find this hard to understand.
Admittedly, the dog collar is an extreme case, and by the summer of 1975 the practice had been abolished. All the same, Hyde provides other opportunities to disabuse us of our idealism. I can certainly think of a few. This is why I have always questioned the emotional well-being of those who remain loyal to Hyde.
Mike
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One friends mom is still involved and she admits that her mom is one of those types that would join a cult if she could.
It does seem that some students that are successful at Hyde but who do not chose to continue their careers at Hyde are vulnerable to transferring their community of choice over to a cult. I know of a former classmate, considered successful by Hyde standards, who for several years now has been involved with a bonafide RickRoss-recognized cult as their, or one of their, public relations people. Recently I learned that his sister has also moved there and, if I'm not mistaken, his mother as well (although I am not all that sure about this last one).
I think one of the many reasons we get sucked into Hyde (as opposed to another institution) is that many of us are idealistic people, and Hyde strokes that part of our egos. Comments, anyone?
Ursus,
I am sympathetic to the idealism of incoming parents. Desperate enough people are ready to believe anything. The Hyde pitch must be music to their ears.
But what about the idealism of faculty and students? One would think that their idealism would forsake them at the sight of someone being led around campus on a dog leash. (Cf. the thread "Requesting Parents' Assessment of Hyde School," p. 7, posted Mon Jan. 29, 2007, an informative post that describes the collapse of one student's idealism.) And indeed, what degree of idealism can justify the degradation of humans to animals? If members of the Hyde community, be they faculty, students, or informed parents, remain idealistic after learning of or taking part in something like that, then I find this hard to understand.
Admittedly, the dog collar is an extreme case, and by the summer of 1975 the practice had been abolished. All the same, Hyde provides other opportunities to disabuse us of our idealism. I can certainly think of a few. This is why I have always questioned the emotional well-being of those who remain loyal to Hyde.
Mike
Your comment about how Hyde's pitch is music to some parents' ears is quite accurate. Hyde thrives on the fact that many parents who enroll there are truly desperate. Everything else they've tried has not succeeded, failed, or fallen apart. I have talked to many Hyde parents who felt like they were at the end of their rope. So, it's absolutely understandable that Hyde's fancy website, print materials, and public relations pitch sounds great.
Then, for many, reality sets in. They arrive on campus and discover that Hyde is a very different kind of place than they were led to believe. Some of the faculty and staff are cruel, ill prepared, struggling with their own major issues, unethical, abusive, and classroom instructors with lousy academic records and skills themselves. Our family was stunned to discover how many inept, inexperienced staff were responsible for our child's well being. And then there are the seminars and FLCs. There were some decent moments with kind, concerned parents, and there were also breathtakingly frightening moments with students and parents who fell apart, screamed and yelled, and "lost it." I was amazed at the stories of kids' (and some parents') psychiatric problems, and I was amazed to discover that Hyde is less than prepared to deal with these issues. That seems downright criminal to me. Why does Hyde accept kids with such serious psychiatric issues? These kids deserve help as much as anyone else, but they should be enrolled in schools designed to deal with their unique issues.
The feeling I get is that too often Hyde accepts people to fill beds, even though the school is absolutely the wrong place for many of these kids.
And don't get me started on Joe Gauld. He's the worst public relations nightmare I think I've ever encountered.Y
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One friends mom is still involved and she admits that her mom is one of those types that would join a cult if she could.
It does seem that some students that are successful at Hyde but who do not chose to continue their careers at Hyde are vulnerable to transferring their community of choice over to a cult. I know of a former classmate, considered successful by Hyde standards, who for several years now has been involved with a bonafide RickRoss-recognized cult as their, or one of their, public relations people. Recently I learned that his sister has also moved there and, if I'm not mistaken, his mother as well (although I am not all that sure about this last one).
I think one of the many reasons we get sucked into Hyde (as opposed to another institution) is that many of us are idealistic people, and Hyde strokes that part of our egos. Comments, anyone?
Ursus,
I am sympathetic to the idealism of incoming parents. Desperate enough people are ready to believe anything. The Hyde pitch must be music to their ears.
But what about the idealism of faculty and students? One would think that their idealism would forsake them at the sight of someone being led around campus on a dog leash. (Cf. the thread "Requesting Parents' Assessment of Hyde School," p. 7, posted Mon Jan. 29, 2007, an informative post that describes the collapse of one student's idealism.) And indeed, what degree of idealism can justify the degradation of humans to animals? If members of the Hyde community, be they faculty, students, or informed parents, remain idealistic after learning of or taking part in something like that, then I find this hard to understand.
Admittedly, the dog collar is an extreme case, and by the summer of 1975 the practice had been abolished. All the same, Hyde provides other opportunities to disabuse us of our idealism. I can certainly think of a few. This is why I have always questioned the emotional well-being of those who remain loyal to Hyde.
Mike
Your comment about how Hyde's pitch is music to some parents' ears is quite accurate. Hyde thrives on the fact that many parents who enroll there are truly desperate. Everything else they've tried has not succeeded, failed, or fallen apart. I have talked to many Hyde parents who felt like they were at the end of their rope. So, it's absolutely understandable that Hyde's fancy website, print materials, and public relations pitch sounds great.
Then, for many, reality sets in. They arrive on campus and discover that Hyde is a very different kind of place than they were led to believe. Some of the faculty and staff are cruel, ill prepared, struggling with their own major issues, unethical, abusive, and classroom instructors with lousy academic records and skills themselves. Our family was stunned to discover how many inept, inexperienced staff were responsible for our child's well being. And then there are the seminars and FLCs. There were some decent moments with kind, concerned parents, and there were also breathtakingly frightening moments with students and parents who fell apart, screamed and yelled, and "lost it." I was amazed at the stories of kids' (and some parents') psychiatric problems, and I was amazed to discover that Hyde is less than prepared to deal with these issues. That seems downright criminal to me. Why does Hyde accept kids with such serious psychiatric issues? These kids deserve help as much as anyone else, but they should be enrolled in schools designed to deal with their unique issues.
The feeling I get is that too often Hyde accepts people to fill beds, even though the school is absolutely the wrong place for many of these kids.
And don't get me started on Joe Gauld. He's the worst public relations nightmare I think I've ever encountered.Y
Well said. The problem is that unless people like you alert places like the NY School Board, Hyde will continue to thrive. If you feel strongly that Hyde is a danger, then why not spread the word, especially to potential donors and potential charter schools. I am sure they would be interested in knowing about this site which tells so much about Hyde.
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Well said. The problem is that unless people like you alert places like the NY School Board, Hyde will continue to thrive. If you feel strongly that Hyde is a danger, then why not spread the word, especially to potential donors and potential charter schools. I am sure they would be interested in knowing about this site which tells so much about Hyde.
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I'll say it again: Anyone interested in participting in the article I'm writing at Hyde- anonymously, if necessary- can contact me at:
www.garyeskow.com (http://www.garyeskow.com)
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I'll say it again: Anyone interested in participting in the article I'm writing at Hyde
Sorry, about Hyde...
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One friends mom is still involved and she admits that her mom is one of those types that would join a cult if she could.
It does seem that some students that are successful at Hyde but who do not chose to continue their careers at Hyde are vulnerable to transferring their community of choice over to a cult. I know of a former classmate, considered successful by Hyde standards, who for several years now has been involved with a bonafide RickRoss-recognized cult as their, or one of their, public relations people. Recently I learned that his sister has also moved there and, if I'm not mistaken, his mother as well (although I am not all that sure about this last one).
I think one of the many reasons we get sucked into Hyde (as opposed to another institution) is that many of us are idealistic people, and Hyde strokes that part of our egos. Comments, anyone?
Ursus,
I am sympathetic to the idealism of incoming parents. Desperate enough people are ready to believe anything. The Hyde pitch must be music to their ears.
But what about the idealism of faculty and students? One would think that their idealism would forsake them at the sight of someone being led around campus on a dog leash. (Cf. the thread "Requesting Parents' Assessment of Hyde School," p. 7, posted Mon Jan. 29, 2007, an informative post that describes the collapse of one student's idealism.) And indeed, what degree of idealism can justify the degradation of humans to animals? If members of the Hyde community, be they faculty, students, or informed parents, remain idealistic after learning of or taking part in something like that, then I find this hard to understand.
Admittedly, the dog collar is an extreme case, and by the summer of 1975 the practice had been abolished. All the same, Hyde provides other opportunities to disabuse us of our idealism. I can certainly think of a few. This is why I have always questioned the emotional well-being of those who remain loyal to Hyde.
Mike
Your comment about how Hyde's pitch is music to some parents' ears is quite accurate. Hyde thrives on the fact that many parents who enroll there are truly desperate. Everything else they've tried has not succeeded, failed, or fallen apart. I have talked to many Hyde parents who felt like they were at the end of their rope. So, it's absolutely understandable that Hyde's fancy website, print materials, and public relations pitch sounds great.
Then, for many, reality sets in. They arrive on campus and discover that Hyde is a very different kind of place than they were led to believe. Some of the faculty and staff are cruel, ill prepared, struggling with their own major issues, unethical, abusive, and classroom instructors with lousy academic records and skills themselves. Our family was stunned to discover how many inept, inexperienced staff were responsible for our child's well being. And then there are the seminars and FLCs. There were some decent moments with kind, concerned parents, and there were also breathtakingly frightening moments with students and parents who fell apart, screamed and yelled, and "lost it." I was amazed at the stories of kids' (and some parents') psychiatric problems, and I was amazed to discover that Hyde is less than prepared to deal with these issues. That seems downright criminal to me. Why does Hyde accept kids with such serious psychiatric issues? These kids deserve help as much as anyone else, but they should be enrolled in schools designed to deal with their unique issues.
The feeling I get is that too often Hyde accepts people to fill beds, even though the school is absolutely the wrong place for many of these kids.
And don't get me started on Joe Gauld. He's the worst public relations nightmare I think I've ever encountered.Y
Well said. The problem is that unless people like you alert places like the NY School Board, Hyde will continue to thrive. If you feel strongly that Hyde is a danger, then why not spread the word, especially to potential donors and potential charter schools. I am sure they would be interested in knowing about this site which tells so much about Hyde.
And, you not only need to tell the NY School Board (and any other school board where Hyde is spreading its aggressive tentacles), you need to describe your Hyde experiences to:
1. New England Association of Schools and Colleges: http://www.neasc.org/cis/complaints.PDF (http://www.neasc.org/cis/complaints.PDF)
2. Woodbury Reports and the struggling teens website: http://www.strugglingteens.com/news/let ... index.html (http://www.strugglingteens.com/news/lettertoeditor/index.html)
3. Isac Corp: http://www.isaccorp.org/documentsam.asp#hyde (http://www.isaccorp.org/documentsam.asp#hyde)
These are very important outlets and very effective ways to let others know about the Hyde School
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One friends mom is still involved and she admits that her mom is one of those types that would join a cult if she could.
It does seem that some students that are successful at Hyde but who do not chose to continue their careers at Hyde are vulnerable to transferring their community of choice over to a cult. I know of a former classmate, considered successful by Hyde standards, who for several years now has been involved with a bonafide RickRoss-recognized cult as their, or one of their, public relations people. Recently I learned that his sister has also moved there and, if I'm not mistaken, his mother as well (although I am not all that sure about this last one).
I think one of the many reasons we get sucked into Hyde (as opposed to another institution) is that many of us are idealistic people, and Hyde strokes that part of our egos. Comments, anyone?
Ursus,
I am sympathetic to the idealism of incoming parents. Desperate enough people are ready to believe anything. The Hyde pitch must be music to their ears.
But what about the idealism of faculty and students? One would think that their idealism would forsake them at the sight of someone being led around campus on a dog leash. (Cf. the thread "Requesting Parents' Assessment of Hyde School," p. 7, posted Mon Jan. 29, 2007, an informative post that describes the collapse of one student's idealism.) And indeed, what degree of idealism can justify the degradation of humans to animals? If members of the Hyde community, be they faculty, students, or informed parents, remain idealistic after learning of or taking part in something like that, then I find this hard to understand.
Admittedly, the dog collar is an extreme case, and by the summer of 1975 the practice had been abolished. All the same, Hyde provides other opportunities to disabuse us of our idealism. I can certainly think of a few. This is why I have always questioned the emotional well-being of those who remain loyal to Hyde.
Mike
Your comment about how Hyde's pitch is music to some parents' ears is quite accurate. Hyde thrives on the fact that many parents who enroll there are truly desperate. Everything else they've tried has not succeeded, failed, or fallen apart. I have talked to many Hyde parents who felt like they were at the end of their rope. So, it's absolutely understandable that Hyde's fancy website, print materials, and public relations pitch sounds great.
Then, for many, reality sets in. They arrive on campus and discover that Hyde is a very different kind of place than they were led to believe. Some of the faculty and staff are cruel, ill prepared, struggling with their own major issues, unethical, abusive, and classroom instructors with lousy academic records and skills themselves. Our family was stunned to discover how many inept, inexperienced staff were responsible for our child's well being. And then there are the seminars and FLCs. There were some decent moments with kind, concerned parents, and there were also breathtakingly frightening moments with students and parents who fell apart, screamed and yelled, and "lost it." I was amazed at the stories of kids' (and some parents') psychiatric problems, and I was amazed to discover that Hyde is less than prepared to deal with these issues. That seems downright criminal to me. Why does Hyde accept kids with such serious psychiatric issues? These kids deserve help as much as anyone else, but they should be enrolled in schools designed to deal with their unique issues.
The feeling I get is that too often Hyde accepts people to fill beds, even though the school is absolutely the wrong place for many of these kids.
And don't get me started on Joe Gauld. He's the worst public relations nightmare I think I've ever encountered.Y
Well said. The problem is that unless people like you alert places like the NY School Board, Hyde will continue to thrive. If you feel strongly that Hyde is a danger, then why not spread the word, especially to potential donors and potential charter schools. I am sure they would be interested in knowing about this site which tells so much about Hyde.
And, you not only need to tell the NY School Board (and any other school board where Hyde is spreading its aggressive tentacles), I want you to describe your Hyde experiences to:
1. New England Association of Schools and Colleges: http://www.neasc.org/cis/complaints.PDF (http://www.neasc.org/cis/complaints.PDF)
2. Woodbury Reports and the struggling teens website: http://www.strugglingteens.com/news/let ... index.html (http://www.strugglingteens.com/news/lettertoeditor/index.html)
3. Isac Corp: http://www.isaccorp.org/documentsam.asp#hyde (http://www.isaccorp.org/documentsam.asp#hyde)
These are very important outlets and very effective ways to let others know about the Hyde School
And don't forget Gary Eskow's generous offer to write up a piece about Hyde. I'd also recommend contacting the child welfare licensing authorities in Maine and Connecticut
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I was amazed at the stories of kids' (and some parents') psychiatric problems, and I was amazed to discover that Hyde is less than prepared to deal with these issues. That seems downright criminal to me. Why does Hyde accept kids with such serious psychiatric issues? These kids deserve help as much as anyone else, but they should be enrolled in schools designed to deal with their unique issues.
There have been many identities that Hyde has taken on to market itself, oft times within the same time frame. Some of these identities could be construed to be at odds with one another.
Ones that I know of:
In the late 1960's, when Joe was just starting out, he told people to "give me the kids you have the most problems with, the ones you can not teach," as he couldn't get anyone else, being a less than tried commodity (my paraphrase of his quote, which I can't find at the moment). The school was all boys then, and primarily troublemakers, JuVies, and like-minded malcontents of the rebellious sort.
In the early 70's I think it was, the school went co-ed, and it worked hard to attract the more typical prep school crowd, all the while still enrolling the rebellious trouble makers... At some point just before this period, or perhaps a little earlier, they started really banging the character education gong. I think that may have always been part of the big-sell, but now it really came to the fore. (I don't actually truly know this for a fact, but this is the impression I glean from many things overheard plus allusions to said picture from administrator speeches et al in school meetings.).
In the mid to late 1970's, they started calling themselves a "leadership school", and there began a push to "change the face of American education"... Cliche's such as "America's Spirit" and "national commitment" stem from this time period.
There is a gap in my understanding of how they marketed themselves from the late 1970's to the late 1980's.
In 1989/1990 they started including themselves on Lon Woodbury's Struggling Teens site. This is an "educational consultant" site aimed primarily at parents at a loss for what to do with their errant offspring. The first phrase you encounter on the home page is: "Have the terms At Risk Youth, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Private Military Boarding Schools, Juvenile Boot Camps, Special Education, Teen Help for Depression, Lying and Stealing, Tough Love, Alternative Schools, Troubled Teens, Wilderness Camps, Residential Treatment, Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Educational Consultants or Struggling Teens been used regarding parenting your boy or girl?" Hyde actively participated in this advertising, as they sent in many an update of information or news, even minutia such as the number of graduates they had for certain years. The avowed focus of this website "is on residential Emotional Growth (Character) schools and programs that work. This includes short and long term wilderness and outdoor programs, home style programs, highly structured boarding schools, therapy boarding schools, RTCs and psychiatric hospitals for children with behavior and emotional problems." Basically the gamit of everything on the fornits website, but from a different viewpoint.
There is a gap in my understanding of how they marketed themselves from the late 1990's to the present.
Please note that it is my understanding that they presented themselves differently depending on who they were dealing with. For example, to one parent they would wear the emotional growth/therapy school hat, to another they would depict themselves as the leadership school with a character ed twist, and both in the same recruiting season.
This dichotomous marketing strategy ends up creating a fractured and confused parent/student community with widely varied goals and needs. The only entity that does not appear confused in all of this is Hyde, and if you fall in line right behind their footsteps, the Truth will become apparent soon enough.
I think it is important that both students and parents compare notes. The above historical sequence is incomplete, both as to gaps in certain time periods, as well as in the variety of hues that Hyde has painted itself in per any given time period. I think it would be great if we all could chip in with our own versions/impressions/understandings of how Hyde sold itself to us or others.
Urs
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I was amazed at the stories of kids' (and some parents') psychiatric problems, and I was amazed to discover that Hyde is less than prepared to deal with these issues. That seems downright criminal to me. Why does Hyde accept kids with such serious psychiatric issues? These kids deserve help as much as anyone else, but they should be enrolled in schools designed to deal with their unique issues.
There have been many identities that Hyde has taken on to market itself, oft times within the same time frame. Some of these identities could be construed to be at odds with one another.
Ones that I know of:
In the late 1960's, when Joe was just starting out, he told people to "give me the kids you have the most problems with, the ones you can not teach," as he couldn't get anyone else, being a less than tried commodity (my paraphrase of his quote, which I can't find at the moment). The school was all boys then, and primarily troublemakers, JuVies, and like-minded malcontents of the rebellious sort.
In the early 70's I think it was, the school went co-ed, and it worked hard to attract the more typical prep school crowd, all the while still enrolling the rebellious trouble makers... At some point just before this period, or perhaps a little earlier, they started really banging the character education gong. I think that may have always been part of the big-sell, but now it really came to the fore. (I don't actually truly know this for a fact, but this is the impression I glean from many things overheard plus allusions to said picture from administrator speeches et al in school meetings.).
In the mid to late 1970's, they started calling themselves a "leadership school", and there began a push to "change the face of American education"... Cliche's such as "America's Spirit" and "national commitment" stem from this time period.
There is a gap in my understanding of how they marketed themselves from the late 1970's to the late 1980's.
In 1989/1990 they started including themselves on Lon Woodbury's Struggling Teens site. This is an "educational consultant" site aimed primarily at parents at a loss for what to do with their errant offspring. The first phrase you encounter on the home page is: "Have the terms At Risk Youth, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Private Military Boarding Schools, Juvenile Boot Camps, Special Education, Teen Help for Depression, Lying and Stealing, Tough Love, Alternative Schools, Troubled Teens, Wilderness Camps, Residential Treatment, Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Educational Consultants or Struggling Teens been used regarding parenting your boy or girl?" Hyde actively participated in this advertising, as they sent in many an update of information or news, even minutia such as the number of graduates they had for certain years. The avowed focus of this website "is on residential Emotional Growth (Character) schools and programs that work. This includes short and long term wilderness and outdoor programs, home style programs, highly structured boarding schools, therapy boarding schools, RTCs and psychiatric hospitals for children with behavior and emotional problems." Basically the gamit of everything on the fornits website, but from a different viewpoint.
There is a gap in my understanding of how they marketed themselves from the late 1990's to the present.
Please note that it is my understanding that they presented themselves differently depending on who they were dealing with. For example, to one parent they would wear the emotional growth/therapy school hat, to another they would depict themselves as the leadership school with a character ed twist, and both in the same recruiting season.
This dichotomous marketing strategy ends up creating a fractured and confused parent/student community with widely varied goals and needs. The only entity that does not appear confused in all of this is Hyde, and if you fall in line right behind their footsteps, the Truth will become apparent soon enough.
I think it is important that both students and parents compare notes. The above historical sequence is incomplete, both as to gaps in certain time periods, as well as in the variety of hues that Hyde has painted itself in per any given time period. I think it would be great if we all could chip in with our own versions/impressions/understandings of how Hyde sold itself to us or others.
Urs
Thanks for the helpful and informative historical journey through Hyde's meandering marketing ploys. Hyde's history is that of a chamelion. Hyde is very good at singing the tune that prospective and desperate parents want or need to hear. As important as what Hyde tells parents is what they DON'T tell parents. We were given the usual character education speech. Hyde neglected to tell us a few details: They didn't tell us that they admit lots of kids with mental health issues but don't have any staff trained to deal with these kids. They didn't tell us that a bunch of their teachers were mediocre or poor students themselves and don't know how to teach, use poor grammar, and barely know their subject matter. They didn't tell us that academics often tack a back seat, WAY in the back, to things like 2-4 and other counterproductive disciplinary techniques. They didn't tell us that staff sometimes ridicule and demean students and parents. They didn't tell us that Joe Gauld sometimes screams at students and parents and tries to humiliate them. The list continues, and it's long..
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Admittedly, the dog collar is an extreme case, and by the summer of 1975 the practice had been abolished. All the same, Hyde provides other opportunities to disabuse us of our idealism. I can certainly think of a few. This is why I have always questioned the emotional well-being of those who remain loyal to Hyde.
Mike
Anyone else remember the signs? I.e., having to wear a big sign hung around your neck emblazoned with your "sin"? If I remember correctly, you were not allowed to speak to anyone...
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Joe is an abusive, narcissistic, mediocre cult leader. I don’t get why people think he’s so amazing. He’s 120% full of absolute crap and rage and predation.