Applied Scholastics

Infobox Organization


size =
caption =
name = Applied Scholastics
formation = 1972
type = Religious
status = Non-profit
purpose =
headquarters = Florida, USA
leader_title = Chairman of Religious Technology Center
leader_name = David Miscavige
num_staff =
num_volunteers =
budget =
website = [http://www.appliedscholastics.org/ appliedscholastics.org]
remarks =

Applied Scholastics is a non-profit corporation founded in 1972 to promote the use of study techniques created by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction author and the founder of the Church of Scientology. Hubbard called his theories on learning and education "study technology." Applied Scholastics runs the "Hollywood Education and Literacy Project" (HELP) [ [http://www.helplearn.org/index-flash.html Hollywood Education and Literacy Project ] ] , the World Literacy Crusade, "Education Alive", and the "Literacy, Education and Abilities Program" (LEAP).

Applied Scholastics' declared mission is: "to promote and develop programs of effective education for educators, business trainers, tutors, parents, children and people in all walks of life who need improved study skills to enhance their scholastic, business and personal activities."

It has often been accused by critics as being an avenue for recruitment into the controversial Church of Scientology. [cite web| url = http://www.studytech.org/asi.php| title = Scientology's Education Fronts - Applied Scholastics International| date = 2007| publisher = "studytech.org"]

Criticism and Controversy

When, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Applied Scholastics convinced the principal of Prescott Middle School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to implement a program of Study Tech, critics, according to an article in the St. Petersburg Times, worried that what was really being fostered was not help for the troubled school but "an insidious plan ultimately aimed at promoting Scientology." However Prescott's principal and two education experts that reviewed the program for the Saint Petersburg Times saw no hidden Scientology agenda or proselytizing in the text. The Times' experts felt that gains were due to a very low student-teacher ratio or the quality of the instructor while one described the concepts as overly simplistic and called the activities "moronic." The school's principal felt that the program was worthwhile and was impressed with a pilot program that got fast results with the school's most challenging students. In October 2005, St. Louis Public Schools superintendent Creg Williams discovered the group's Scientology connections and immediately put out the word to area principals to cease working with Applied Scholastics. Additionally, St. Louis' Hazelwood School District superintendent Chris Wright discovered that CEO Bennetta Slaughter had been falsely claiming a "partnership" with Hazelwood. She admonished Mrs.Slaughter to cease and desist doing so. [cite news | first = Kristen | last = Hinman | title = L Is for L. Ron - The state approves a tutoring program linked to Scientology, and everybody cries foul | url = http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2005-10-26/news/l-is-for-l-ron/full | work = Riverfront Times | publisher = Village Voice Media | date = 2005-10-26 | accessdate = 2007-07-25]

Some parents were upset when Applied Scholastics methods were introduced in September 2008 at Bambolino Montessori Academy, a private school in Toronto. The owner/principal and dean of the school are both Scientologists but they say that Applied Scholastics is secular and that they do not teach Scientology. [cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/09/18/bambolino-school.html|title=Scientology link at Montessori school alarms parents|date=2009-09=18|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2008-09-19]

Hubbard's Study Tech system

Study Technology is billed as an exact system which teaches a person how to learn effectively. It includes the identification of the specific barriers to study, the tools to help a student grasp the material being studied, and the means to organize the basic learning environment toward the attainment of better results for both the student and teacher. The system specifies three barriers to study and spells out how to handle them.

* "Misunderstood words" are words not understood by the student. According to Hubbard, "The only reason a person gives up a study or becomes confused or unable to learn is because he has gone past a word that was not understood." This concept is so important to study technology that the preceding sentence occurs in the beginning of nearly every book published by the Church of Scientology. To remedy this, students are taught to use dictionaries extensively.

* The idea of "Gradients" is taken from the idea of a gentle slope compared to a steep one. Just as one should not attempt algebra until one has mastered arithmetic, Hubbard claims that students should not go on to a more advanced subject until the preceding one is mastered.

* "An absence of mass" means actual, physical universe mass. A rock has a lot of mass while a feather has a little mass. "An absence of mass is hard on a student," Hubbard said. He once used the example of a student learning arithmetic and suggested giving the student some apples to use so the student could demonstrate the idea of addition for himself.

While traditional educational theory recognizes that misunderstood words can hamper comprehension of material, it does not assign it the same importance as Hubbard does. Hubbard claimed that a single misunderstood word on a page can make a student unable to use the information on the page after the misunderstood word.

Applied Scholastics licenses their "study technology" to a small number of Scientologist-run schools throughout the world. In return, these schools pay 4% of their gross income to Applied Scholastics and "promote and protect the Hubbard Philosophy and Technology under and in connection with the Marks and the name of LRH." [http://web.archive.org/web/20040715154510/www.able.org/pages/grp_forms/aps_lic_agr.pdf ABLE license contract for the use of Applied Scholastics trademarks] (PDF format. Archived March 18, 2005)]

It has been observed that Hubbard's study tech concepts are hardly revolutionary, as educators have long known the value of hands-on learning, the need to build new concepts on the foundation of prior knowledge, and that it is important to understand the meanings of words. Proponents of Study Tech stress Hubbard's methodology of using specific physiological responses to determine exactly which "barrier to study" is impeding the student's progress as being new, different, and effective.cite news | first = Robert | last = Farley | title = Scientology makes it in classroom door | url = http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/20/Worldandnation/Scientology_makes_it_.shtml | publisher = St. Petersburg Times | date = 2007-05-20 | accessdate = 2007-05-24]

ee also

*Delphi Schools
*Greenfields School
*Toronto Ability School
*World Literacy Crusade

Notes

*cite web | first = Robert W. | last = Welkos | coauthors = Sappell, Joel | title = Church Seeks Influence in Schools, Business, Science | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-scientology062790,0,884315,full.story | work = | publisher = Los Angeles Times | date = 1990-06-27 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Richard | last = Behar | title = The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865,00.html | work = Cover story | publisher = TIME Magazine | date = 1991-05-06 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Jeff | last = Walsh | title = A broader look at the organization | url = http://www.apologeticsindex.org/Sciorg.pdf | work = Inside the Church of Scientology | publisher = Boston Herald | date = 1998-03-01 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Joseph | last = Mallia | title = Scientology Unmasked - Milton school shades ties to Scientology | url = http://www.apologeticsindex.org/s04a05.html | publisher = Boston Herald | date = 1998-03-02 | accessdate = 2007-07-25
*
*cite web | first = Jamie | last = Doward | title = Lure of the celebrity sect | url = http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1217884,00.html | work = Special reports | publisher = The Observer | date = 2004-05-16 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Robin | last = Jacobs | title = Is Scientology in Your Schools? | url = http://www.thehumanist.org/humanist/articles/JacobsSeptOct04.pdf | work = | publisher = The Humanist | date = 2004-09-01 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Kristen | last = Hinman | title = Applied Pressure - Should St. Louis County grant tax breaks to Scientology-linked tutoring programs? | url = http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2005-12-07/news/applied-pressure/ | work = Riverfront Times | publisher = Village Voice Media | date = 2005-12-07 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Janet | last = Reitman | title = Inside Scientology | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9363363/inside_scientology/print | work = | publisher = Rolling Stone | date = 2006-02-23 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Guido | last = Kleinhubbert | title = Scientology in Germany: Suspicious Tutoring | url = http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,422970,00.html | work = Spiegel Online | publisher = Der Spiegel | date = 2006-06-22 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Kevin | last = Murphy | title = Odenwald Critical Of Campisi's 3 Absences | url = http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/1editorialbody.lasso?-token.folder=2006-12-15&-token.story=65584.113117&-token.subpub= | work = | publisher = Webster-Kirkwood Times | date = 2006-12-15 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Barry | last = Didcock | title = Hubbard Love | url = http://www.sundayherald.com/search/display.var.1200747.0.hubbard_love.php | work = | publisher = Sunday Herald | date = 2007-02-17 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Holger | last = Stark | coauthors = Rosenbach, Marcel | title = Scientology's New European Offensive: The March of the 'Orgs' | url = http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,473896,00.html | work = | publisher = Der Spiegel | date = 2007-03-27 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Steve | last = Eighinger | title = Quincy to be Literacy Center's main office | url = http://www.whig.com/315345759616283.php | work = | publisher = Quincy Herald Whig | date = 2007-06-02 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Matt | last = Sedensky | title = Scientologists find unlikely allies in other faiths | url = http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/080807/D8QT4MK00.shtml | work = Associated Press | publisher = Florida Times-Union | date = 2007-08-11 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Frank | last = Schultz | title = School to use Hubbard theories | url = http://www.gazetteextra.com/sequoiaacademy082907.asp | work = | publisher = Janesville Gazette | date = 2007-08-29 | accessdate = 2007-10-04
*cite web | first = Chloe | last = Hilliard | title = Xenu Goes Uptown - Scientology Makes a Major Move into Harlem. But why? | url = http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0737,hilliard,77778,2.html | work = Runnin' Scared | publisher = Village Voice | date = 2007-09-11 | accessdate = 2007-10-04

External links

* cite web
title = Applied Scholastics - Study Technology to Overcome Any Barrier
publisher = Applied Scholastics International
url = http://www.appliedscholastics.org/
* cite web
title = Scientology v. Education - The Scam of Study Technology
publisher = David S. Touretzky and Chris Owen
url = http://StudyTech.org/
* cite web
title = What is Applied Scholastics?
work = The President of the Church of Scientology Answers Your Questions
publisher = Church of Scientology
url = http://faq.scientology.org/as.htm
* cite web
title = Applied Scholastics: Effective Education and Study Technology
work = A description of Applied Scholastics
publisher = Church of Scientology
url = http://www.scientology.org/en_US/world/betterment/applied-scholastics/index.html
* cite web
title = Applied Scholastics International
work = An overview of Applied Scholastics International
publisher = Church of Scientology
url = http://www.effective-education.org/pg008.html
* cite web
title = Applied Scientology In Public Schools?
work = A critical article that highlights Scientology's role in Education
publisher = The Watchman Expositor
url = http://www.watchman.org/sci/appliedscientology.htm