Fornits

Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora
An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

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

FULLER V HYDE SCHOOL ET AL

Just copying stuff from Reddit mostly

Federal Lawsuit filed against Hyde School and 5 members of the Gauld family several weeks ago (Laura Gauld, Malcolm Gauld, Laurie [Gauld] Hurd, Georgia ?Gigi? [Gauld] Macmillan, Donald Macmillan)

A federal lawsuit filed Friday details allegations of forced labor and emotional abuse at the nearly 60-year-old private boarding school in Bath that advertises a character-based education.

Updated lawsuit complaint (7-31-25): https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.med.68497/gov.uscourts.med.68497.6.0.pdf

Original lawsuit complaint (7-11-25): https://drive.proton.me/urls/N9TQ8ZHXJ0#ipOMVHbwOFbc

More info: https://www.reddit.com/r/troubledteens/s/vKA4Kjfcw1

From Reddit also, to join lawsuit see this post; https://www.reddit.com/r/troubledteens/s/PyNzQAfzzm


Track status of class action lawsuit against Hyde School - Fuller v Hyde School (and Gauld family)

You can track the status and download documents (for fees or subscription) on the case Fuller v Hyde School here: https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/58974468/FULLER_v_HYDE_SCHOOL_et_al

You can also try looking up Fuller v Hyde School on  https://pacer.uscourts.gov/find-case but you may need to register an account.

As of right now I think the courts still have to certify it as a class action suit.

You can get almost all of the PACER documents for free (legally) with RECAP here: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70764936/fuller-v-hyde-school/

Edit: I think you might need to download the extension for it to work, but that's at the bottom of the page here: https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/


ARTICLES:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hyde-boarding-school-accused-abusing-035900937.html

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/07/11/hyde-boarding-school-accused-of-abusing-students-forcing-them-into-manual-labor/

https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/courts-news/hyde-school-bath-maine-lawsuit-abuse-allegations-hidden-curriculum/97-ca1c5caa-d075-4aad-919b-22fbaac7c335

Hyde?s lawyer?s response: https://www.reddit.com/r/troubledteens/s/pOuLfpkryI

Justice Law Collaborative press release on the lawsuit: https://www.justicelawcollaborative.com/newsandupdates/justice-law-collaborative-and-island-justice-law-file-class-action-lawsuit-against-hyde-school-maine

YouTube: https://youtu.be/IazSTucGqQc?

https://youtu.be/4xlSZ6JmtBw?

https://youtu.be/0dxXQ6_u7GY?

https://youtu.be/9Dgahh4mfVc?

Hyde school reviews  https://yelp.to/4K4PGbtVIZ

Justice Law Collaborative is helping Hyde Students who have complaints.

https://www.justicelawcollaborative.com/schools-boarding-schools-colleges-and-universities

The Hyde Boarding Schools of Woodstock, CT and Bath, ME

JLC is currently representing a group of brave survivors who attended the Hyde School (both the Woodstock, CT location and the Bath, ME location). Since its founding in 1966, the school has been marketed as a behavioral modification program for teenagers (ages 14-18) with emotional or behavioral problems.


The Hyde School case stands as a notable instance within the sphere of education and parental rights. This case, which garnered widespread attention, unfolded in the late 1990s, shedding light on the intricate balance between a school's disciplinary measures and the rights of parents to advocate for their children. At its core, the Hyde School revolved around the expulsion of two students from the prestigious Hyde boarding school. The school, renowned for its character-based education and emphasis on personal growth, faced scrutiny when it expelled the students for alleged drug-related infractions.

The dispute escalated when the students' parents, dissatisfied with the school's decision, pursued legal action. They contended that the expulsion was unjust and that the school had overstepped its boundaries. This case quickly evolved beyond a mere disciplinary matter, becoming a focal point for discussions surrounding parental rights, school authority, and the responsibility of educational institutions in shaping students' characters.

The legal battle ensued, with arguments centering on whether the school had the right to set its own disciplinary standards and whether the parents had a legitimate claim in challenging the institution's decision-making process. The case drew attention from educators, legal experts, and parents across the nation, sparking debates on the delicate balance between a school's autonomy in disciplining its students and the role of parents in advocating for their children's best interests.

Ultimately, the Hyde School case concluded with a settlement that involved both parties, but its impact reverberated throughout the education sector. It highlighted the need for clear communication between schools and parents, the importance of transparent disciplinary policies, and the significance of finding common ground in fostering students' growth while respecting parental concerns.

Accounts of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, medical neglect and corporal punishment were rampant at Hyde, as corroborated by the courageous survivors who have shared their truth with JLC. JLC is working diligently to ensure that Hyde survivors obtain the justice they deserve.

We at JLC understand that the fight for justice is never-ending, regardless of the verdict. If you or someone you know is in need of legal assistance regarding this case, please call our office at 508-230-2700 or email us at survivorsupport@justicelc.com

Overview:

Schools, Boarding Schools, Colleges and University Lawsuits
If you or a loved one was harmed as a result of a school?s misconduct, you should know your rights and consult with attorneys with a proven track record in helping survivors. We have extensive experience representing students harmed as a result of misconduct at a school involving neglect, abuse, violations of Title IX, breach of contract, and claims of wrongful death of students by suicide.


Justice Law Collaborative advocates those who suffer harm as a result of a school?s misconduct. We fight for justice on your terms. At Justice Law Collaborative, our trauma-informed perspective to legal representation ensures you and your family are heard at every stage of a case and empowers you to regain your power. We have extensive experience representing students harmed as a result of misconduct at a school involving neglect, abuse, violations of Title IX, breach of contract, and claims of wrongful death of students by suicide.

The legal process is an effective and therapeutic tool to facilitate the healing process for many individuals and families that we represent. We present those harmed an opportunity to regain their power by holding the responsible parties accountable and through obtaining important change to protect others in the future. Justice Law Collaborative puts our clients? well-being first and ensures that you have the support you need around you to fight for justice.

The lawyers at Justice Law Collaborative have extensive experience in obtaining substantial financial results that our clients deserve. But our lawyers do not stop there, we also have fought and obtained important changes in law that provide access to justice, and we also force these institutions to implement procedures and protocols that address their misconduct and prevent future harm.

IF YOU HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE AT A SCHOOL, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of students at educational institutions is a recognized and foreseeable risk from which schools have an obligation to proactively protect their students. Schools can be liable if they do not adequately screen candidates prior to hiring them or if they fail to adequately supervise them once they are hired. They can also be liable for their actions or inactions following allegations of abuse, as well as for failing to implement and enforce safeguards to prevent abuse by school employees, staff members, volunteers and student peers. Often times, school administrators will intentionally cover up incidents of abuse and harassment to protect their reputation, fostering a culture of abuse and allowing it to continue unchecked for decades.

Abuse at schools can take many forms:
Sexual Abuse and grooming by staff, teachers, coaches, administrators, or other students

Physical Abuse

Hazing, Bullying and Cyberbullying

Emotional Abuse

Unnecessary and Embarrassing Punishments

Failure by the School to Report Abuse, Mistreatment, and Serious Mental Health Issues

Retaliation for Reporting Abuse or Assault


_________________________

[size=8pt]Hyde School abuse
Hyde School reviews
Hyde School complaints
Joe Gauld
Hyde School Bath Maine
Hyde Boarding School
Troubled Teen survivors
[/size]

Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20230506042222/https://www.lieffcabraser.com/survivors/hyde-school/

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP:
For some reason the original link that was up a couple weeks ago is down, but you can still contact them via their phone number or the contact form (https://www.lieffcabraser.com/contact/), just put in the comment section that it's about Hyde School.

Hyde School Abuse Investigation
Lieff Cabraser is currently investigating claims of abuse and neglect at Hyde School, a behavior-modification boarding school in Bath, Maine. Founded in 1966, the school seeks to serve teenagers with emotional, familial, and/or behavioral problems. Unfortunately, Hyde School has faced numerous allegations of mistreatment over the years. When taken as a whole, these allegations create a frightening portrait of Hyde School as an unsafe institution where some of the country's most vulnerable children have been suffering horrific abuses for decades.

Survivors have shared disturbing reports of various forms of abuse, including emotional abuse, medical neglect, sexual abuse, forced manual labor, and punitive punishments. In some cases, former students have developed PTSD as a result of their time at Hyde.

In 1988, 14-year-old James Roman tragically died of a brain aneurysm on campus. Survivors have since questioned the treatment he may have received prior to his death, given Hyde's alleged culture of dismissing student complaints about physical ailments. In 2002, the parents of a former Hyde School student filed a lawsuit after their daughter was allegedly sexually assaulted by the then-Dean of Students, Larry Dubinsky. The case was settled for an undisclosed sum in 2003. According to messages posted on the online message board Fornits (a community website dedicated to exposing abuse in the "troubled teen" industry) through 2023, at least 160 former residents of Hyde have passed away since attending the program, with causes including drug overdoses, suicides, accidents, and more.

The Growing Rights of Abuse Survivors
Abuse survivors have the right to seek justice in civil court. The attorneys in our firm's Survivors' Rights practice group represent individuals nationwide in sexual abuse lawsuits against the institutions - schools, churches, hospitals, youth organizations, etc. - that harbored predators and failed to prevent or properly respond to incidents of sexual abuse. We have won multiple significant settlements over cases of sexual abuse including against the University of Southern California and at the University of Michigan. We have active cases of alleged sexual abuse on behalf of athletes in the NCAA, students at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, and children at Devereux Healthcare nationwide.

Abuse Survivor Lawyers at Lieff Cabraser
Lieff Cabraser represents survivors across the U.S. who have been victimized by sexual violence and sexual and other abuse. We treat every client with care, respect, and compassion as we bring our comprehensive legal skills forward on each case. We have a dedicated team of lawyers, nurse consultants, and paralegals experienced in working with and listening to survivors who work individually with every client in every case to see that justice is won.

If you were the victim of abuse unrelated to a larger institution, representation by our firm may not be the best option for your situation. We encourage you to consider representation by other attorneys, as well as support from resources like UnSilenced.org, RAINN.org, WomensLaw.org, MaleSurvivor.org, 1in6.org (another resource for male survivors), iSurvive.org, and AfterSilence.org.

Talk to us now - we can help you
If you or a loved one experienced abuse or neglect at Hyde School, we urge you to contact a lawyer at Lieff Cabraser today about your legal rights and potential recovery. You can call us toll-free at 1 800 541-7358 or use the secure form on this page. There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case, and any information you provide will be held in the strictest confidence.

https://www.lieffcabraser.com/

Listen to this podcast where Hyde Woodstock survivor Rachel talks about her time at the school with the host of On the Emmis podcast.

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/on-the-emmis/hyde-school-survivor-part-1a5geNqbTkS/

On the Emmis Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ontheemmispod

Podcast interview of a Hyde School Woodstock Survivor #breakingcodesilence #weareunsilenced #unsilenced #troubledteenindustry #hydeschoolcomplaints #hydeschoolreviews #hydeschoolabuse #hydebath #hydeboardingschool #hydewoodstock

CONDITIONS FOR MIND CONTROL
DR. MARGARET SINGER

(Margaret T. Singer, Ph.D., Emeritus Prof. of Psychology, Univ. of CA,
Berkeley)

THOUGHT REFORM = LANGUAGE + SOCIAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

In a thought reform program:
     the self concept is destabilized
     the group/leaders attack one's evaluation of self

SELF:     2 Elements in one's self-concept

     Peripheral Sense:  adequacy of public &  judgmental aspects, social
       status, role performance, conformity to social norms

     Central Sense of Self:  adequacy of intimate life, confidence in
       perception of reality, relations w/family, goals, sexual
       experiences, traumatic life events, religious beliefs, basic
       consciousness and emotional control

     When you attack a person's self-concept, aversive emotional
     arousal is created

6 CONDITIONS THAT NEED TO BE PRESENT IN ORDER TO CONSTITUTE MIND
CONTROL:

1.   CONTROL OVER TIME
     Especially thinking time
     Use techniques to get a person to think about:
          . the group
          . beliefs of the group
     as much of their waking time as possible

2.   CREATE A SENSE OF POWERLESSNESS
     Get people away from normal support systems for a period of time
     Provide models of behavior (cult members)
     Use in-group language
     Use of songs, games, stories the person is unfamiliar with or they are
       modified so that they're unfamiliar
     New people tend to want to be like others (acceptance, feeling part
       of a group)

3.   MANIPULATE REWARDS, PUNISHMENTS, EXPERIENCES IN ORDER TO
     SUPPRESS OLD SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
     Manipulate:  social rewards
                  intellectual rewards
     REWARDS: support positive self-concept for conformity to new
              thought system
     PUNISHMENTS:   attack person's self-concept  for non-conformity

     Effects of behavioral modification (reward/punishment):
          DEPLOYABLE AGENT:
     1.   accept a particular world view
          2.   procedures for peer monitoring w/feedback to group
          3.   psychological, social & material sanctions to influence the
               target's behavior

          When there is control of external feedback, the group becomes the
          only source
     -- there are no reality checks

          BEHAVIORS REWARDED:  participation, conformity to ideas/behavior,
            zeal, personal changes

     BEHAVIORS PUNISHED:    criticalness, independent thinking,
       non-conformity to ideas/behavior

     PUNISHMENTS:   peer/group criticism, withdrawal of support/affection,
       isolation, negative feedback

          THE PERSON IS DEPENDENT UPON THE GROUP FOR EXTERNAL
          VALIDATION OF SOCIAL IDENTITY

          RESULTS:  confusion, disorientation, psychological disturbances

          Manipulate experience:
               altered states of consciousness (trance)
               hypnosis
          Hypnosis: (see Ericksonian hypnosis)
               speaking patterns
               guided imagery
               pacing of voice to breathing patterns
               parables, stories with imbedded messages
               repetition
               boredom
               stop paying attention to distractions, focus
                    inwardly to what's going on inside you
               the use of one's voice to get people's attention
                    focused
          Chanting, Meditation
          Teach thought-stopping techniques
          Work them up emotionally to a negative state:
               re-experience past painful events
               recall negative actions/sin in past life
          Then rescue them from negative emotion by giving them a new
               way to live

4.   MANIPULATE REWARDS, PUNISHMENTS, EXPERIENCES IN ORDER TO
     ELICIT NEW BEHAVIOR
     Models will demonstrate new behavior
     Conformity: dress, language, behavior
     Using group language will eventually still the thinking mind

5.   MUST BE A TIGHTLY CONTROLLED SYSTEM OF LOGIC
     No complaints from the floor
     Pyramid shaped operation with leader at the top
     Top leaders must maintain absolute control/authority
     Persons in charge must have verbal ways of never losing
     Anyone who questions is made to think there is something
          inherently wrong with them to even question
     Phobia induction:
          something bad will happen if you leave the group
          if you leave this group, you're leaving God
     Guilt manipulation

6.   PERSONS BEING THOUGHT REFORMED MUST BE UNAWARE THAT THEY
     ARE BEING MOVED THROUGH A PROGRAM TO MAKE THEM DEPLOYABLE
     AGENTS, TO BUY MORE COURSES, SIGN UP FOR THE DURATION, ETC.

     You can't be thought reformed with full capacity, informed
          consent
     You don't know the agenda of the group at the beginning or the
          full content of the ideology

THOUGHT REFORM SYSTEM:
     Coordinated programs of coercive influence and behavior
               control
     Use of pop psychology techniques found in sensitivity training
          and encounters groups

2nd Generation Thought Reform Systems  (attacks on central elements of
                                        self):
     1.   enlist recruit's cooperation, offer something they want (personal
          growth, salvation, etc.)
     2.   obtain psychological dominace by making the target's continuing
          relations contingent upon continuing membership
     3.   use seduction by developing bonds and encouraging targets to
          believe the group can provide something
     4.   develop dependency by direct social pressure to influence a
          decision that the group has special power or knowledge or
          can solve a problem; the people in the group are made to seem
          interested in what is best for the target -- then they "up
          the commitment level"
     5.   shift the target's social and emotional attachments to individuals
          who have already accepted high commitment and are conforming to
          the behavior

WHILE

          decreasing the target's outside relationships
     6.   increase the CHANGES in the target's:
          income
          employment
          personal friends/social life
          finances
          sexuality
          THIS INCREASES THE THREAT TO THE PERSON IF THEY WANT TO
          LEAVE
          THREATS:  ARE TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S
                    stability of identity
                    emotional well-being

     7.   the community standards become the ONLY standards available for
          self-evaluation

CULTS AND CULTIC RELATIONSHIPS

CULT -  the political and power STRUCTURE of a group
CULTIC RELATIONSHIP - those relationships in which a person intentionally
induces others to become totally or nearly  totally dependent on him/her for
almost all major life decisions and inculcates in these followers a belief
that he has some special talent, gift or knowledge

PRIMARY IN OUR DISCUSSION OF CULTS IS THE PRACTICE AND CONDUCT OF
THE GROUP, NOT ITS BELIEFS

Further references:
Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism.  Robert J. Lifton, M.D.,
University of N.C., Chapel Hill, 1989  Chapter 22

"Attacks on Peripheral versus Central Elements of Self and the Impact of
Thought Reforming Techniques" Richard Ofshe and Margaret T. Singer, The Cultic
Studies Journal, Vol. 3 #1, Spring/Summer 1986; American Family Foundation, P.O. Box
1232, Gracie Station, New York, NY 10028  (212) 533-0538

"The Utilization of Hypnotic Techniques in Religious Conversion" Jesse S.
Miller, The Cultic Studies Journal,Vol. 3 #2, Fall/Winter 1986

Recovery from Cults.  ed. Michael Langone, Ph.D., W.W. Norton, 1994


http://www.ex-cult.org/General/singer-conditions

The Last Stop, on YouTube. Also on Amazon Prime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWLc1_sb4JA

Hyde School Survivors released 69 police reports from Hyde Bath from 2017-2021. There's a kid begging police to be taken to jail, various assaults, and rape. Apparently 11 cases were not included because they still have open investigations.

It's the first link in the link tree: https://linktr.ee/hydesurvivors