New Village Academy

Infobox School
name = New Village Academy


imagesize =
caption =
motto = Spiral Up!
established =
type = Private
district =
grades = Pre-kindergarten - Grade 6
principal =
faculty =
staff =
students =
enrollment =
colors =
mascot =
campus type =
campus size =
free_label = Head of School
free_text = Jacqueline Olivier
free_label2 =
free_text2 =
free_label3 =
free_text3 =
location = 23679 Calabasas Road, Suite 414
Calabasas, California
country = USA
information =
website = [http://newvillageacademy.org/ NewVillageAcademy.org]

New Village Academy is a private elementary school located in Calabasas, California, USA. Indian Hills High School previously used the campus, and in 2008 actor Will Smith funded New Village Academy and leased the Calabasas facilities for three years. Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith selected the management for the school. Educational methodologies used by the school include "Study Technology" developed by Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, Montessori, Gardner, and Bruner methods.

Funding from Will Smith

The school's campus was formerly used by Indian Hills High School,cite news | last =Bien | first =Joan Trossman | title =Indian Hills seniors have hot time at graduation | work =Ventura County Star | publisher =Scripps Newspaper Group | date =2008-06-19 | url =http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jun/19/class-of-2008-better-than-real-high-school-hills/ | accessdate = 2008-06-25 ] which relocated to Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, California to save money. [cite news | last =Bertholdo | first =Stephanie | title =Schools relocated | work =The Acorn | publisher =www.theacorn.com | date =2008-05-29 | url =http://www.theacorn.com/news/2008/0529/front_page/005.html | accessdate = 2008-06-25 ] In 2008, actor Will Smith paid US$889,000 to lease the Calabasas campus for three years, restructuring it from a high school to a private elementary school called New Village Academy. The school is located close to Will Smith's home in Calabasas. [cite news | last =Aspen | first =Nelson | title =Will's Scientology School | work =Sunrise | publisher =Seven Network | date =2008-05-18 ] In 2004 Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith gave $20,000 to the Scientology home-schooling organization Hollywood Education and Literacy Program (HELP), which is licensed by the non-profit corporation Applied Scholastics. [cite news | last =Friedman | first =Roger | title =Jacko Single Raising Funds for Scientology | work =FOX News | publisher =FOX News Network, LLC | date =2003-10-27 | url =http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,101280,00.html | accessdate = 2008-06-25] Prior to New Village Academy, Smith and Pinkett-Smith's two children were home schooled by their mother. The school was originally founded by the Smiths, who say they are not Scientologists, about three years ago as a homeschool for their younger children and those of several other families. Smith and his wife installed their current director of philanthropy, Jana Babatunde-Bey, as the executive director of the school and Jacqueline Olivier as Head of School.

In an appearance on "Live with Regis and Kelly" Will Smith commented on the educational methodologies used by the school: "There are just very powerful educational concepts that we believe in, and we feel like we want to design the system that revolutionizes public education." [cite news | last =Staff | title =Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Open a Private School | work =Essence | publisher = Essence Communications Inc | date =May 2008 | url =http://www.essence.com/essence/themix/entertainment/0,16109,1809861,00.html | accessdate =2008-06-29 ] "New Village Academy was born of a simple question, 'Is it possible to create an educational environment in which children have fun learning?' Jada and I believe the answer is 'Yes.'", said Smith in a released statement. A spokesperson for Will Smith told "The Guardian": "Will is leasing the campus for three years, plus he'll cover all costs such as utilities. The academy will be run privately, and will include pre-kindergarten through grade six."cite news | last =Dawar | first =Anil | title =Will Smith funds school teaching Scientology creator's study method | work =The Guardian | publisher =Guardian News and Media Limited | date =2008-05-19 | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/19/usa.filmnews | accessdate =2008-06-26 ] New Village Academy's Calabasas facilities are set to open September 3, 2008. [cite news | last =Kimball | first =Joshua | title =Will Smith-Funded School Raises Flags Over Scientology Ties | work =The Christian Post | date =2008-07-03 | url =http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080703/will-smith-funded-school-raises-flags-over-scientology-ties.htm | accessdate = 2008-07-12 ] [cite news | last =Staff | title =Scientology sect claim just science fiction: Will Smith | work =The Australian | date =2008-07-02 | url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23954123-26397,00.html | accessdate = 2008-07-12]

Methodology

Educational methodologies used by the school include Montessori, Gardner, Bruner, and Study Technology. Subjects included in the school's curriculum include Mathematics, literacy, Spanish, karate, yoga, robotics, technology, etiquette, art, and living skills.cite news | last =Staff | title =Will's school 'not Scientology centre' | work =Metro UK | publisher =Associated Newspapers Limited | date =2008-07-01 | url =http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=199102&in_page_id=7&in_a_source= | accessdate = 2008-07-12 ]

New Village Academy will serve organic meals to students, and laptops will be made available to all students.cite news | last =Winter | first =Jana | title =Will Smith Funds Private Scientology School | work =FOX News | publisher =FOX News Network, LLC | date =2008-05-30 | url =http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,360642,00.html | accessdate = 2008-06-25 ] The school encourages parental involvement and restricted access to television. Tuition is approximately $12,000 per year to attend the school,cite news | last =Staff | title =Will Smith founds new 'Scientology school' | work =Scopical News | publisher =Scopical Pty Ltd | date =2008-05-20 | url =http://www.scopical.com.au/articles/Tech_Media/5798/Will-Smith-founds-new-%27Scientology-school%27 | accessdate =2008-06-26 ] and 80% of the students will receive financial assistance.cite news | last =Lee | first =Chris | title =Will Smith tries to stay in front of the Scientology curve | work =Los Angeles Times | date =2008-07-03 | url =http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/la-etw-smith3-2008jul03,0,3451808.story | accessdate = 2008-07-12]

cientology

The staff selected by Smith and his wife include a number of Scientologists, including the Director of Learning, Director of Qualifications and Artistic Director, as well as some of the school's teachers. [cite news | last =Staff | title =Actor Smith In Scientology Row: The head of Will Smith's new school has denied claims that it is a centre for Scientology | work =Sky News | date =2008-07-01 | url =http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/Will-Smith-Head-Of-Actors-New-School-Denies-It-Is-Scientology-Facility/Article/200807115018446?lpos=Showbiz%2BNews_2&lid=ARTICLE_15018446_Will%2BSmith%253A%2BHead%2BOf%2BActor%2527s%2BNew%2BSchool%2BDenies%2BIt%2BIs%2BScientology%2BFacility
accessdate = 2008-07-12 ] New Village Academy's Director of Learning, formerly the director of HELP in Boston, graduated from the Scientology Delphi School in Milton, Massachusetts. The school's website lists "Study Technology", a form of education developed by Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, [cite news | last =Tobin | first =Thomas C. | title =New school to use ideas of Scientology founder | work =St. Petersburg Times | date =1998-09-09 | url =http://www.sptimes.com/NorthPinellas/90998/New_school_to_use_ide.html | accessdate = 2008-06-25 ] as one of its methodologies. The website utilizes Scientology terminology including "spiraling" and "gradient" in order to illustrate how students learn in the school's programs. The school's motto "Spiral Up" has been compared to Scientology's term "dwindling spiral", when "one commits overt acts unwittingly". [cite news | last =Friedman | first =Roger | title =Will Smith: Getting His $100 Goat | work =FOX News | publisher =FOX News Network, LLC | date =2008-07-01 | url =http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,374861,00.html | accessdate = 2008-07-12] When a student needs to be disciplined they are taken to the "ethics teacher".

Jacqueline Olivier, New Village Academy's head administrator, denied that the school had a religious affiliation, and told the "Los Angeles Times": "People tend to think study technology is a subject, but it is really just the way the subject is taught. They then come to the conclusion that we are teaching Scientology when actually a methodology doesn't have anything to do with content."cite news | last =Rivera | first =Carla | title =Scientology is focus of flap over Will Smith's new school: Some teachers at New Village Academy in Calabasas are church members, and instructional methods developed by the religion's founder will be used. But an official says the religion will not be taught | work =Los Angeles Times | date =June 29, 2008 | url =http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-newvillage29-2008jun29,0,4115051.story | accessdate = 2008-06-29 ] Olivier was appointed administrator at the school in 2007, and her duties have included hiring all teachers since that time. [cite news | last =Eisinger | first =Amy | title =Report: Will Smith's New Village Academy a Scientology front | work =New York Daily News | date =2008-06-30 | url =http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/06/30/2008-06-30_report_will_smiths_new_village_academy_a.html | accessdate = 2008-07-12 ] She said that in addition to Scientologists the school also has Muslim, Christian and Jewish staff members, and said: "We are a secular school." [cite news | last =Staff | title =Scientology isn't in curriculum, chief of Will Smith school says | work =The Dallas Morning News | date =2008-07-01 | url =http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-peo_0701gl.ART.State.Edition1.4d998de.html | accessdate = 2008-07-12 ] "Faculty and staff do not promote their own religions at school," said Olivier. [cite news | last =Ayres | first =Chris | title =Will Smith's school deserves to avoid cult status - LA Notebook: The actor must prove there is no Scientology link to his pet project | work =The Times | publisher =Times Newspapers Ltd | date =2008-07-01 | url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/chris_ayres/article4244531.ece | accessdate = 2008-07-12 ] Children from all religious backgrounds will be accepted at the school.cite news | last =Baclayon | first =Jovie | title =Will and Jada Fund a New Elementary School | work =E! Online | publisher =E! Entertainment Television, Inc | date =June 29, 2008 | url =http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b144656_will_jada_fund_new_elementary_school.html | accessdate = 2008-06-29 ]

Professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and Scientology critic David S. Touretzky was critical of the school's use of study technology, and told the "Los Angeles Times": "There is no reputable educator anywhere who endorses [study technology] . What happens is that children are inculcated with Scientology jargon and are led to regard L.R. Hubbard as an authority figure. They are laying the groundwork for later bringing people into Scientology." Touretzky maintains a website critical of Study Technology, and told the "Los Angeles Times" that the terms "Director of Qualifications" and the school's "Qual" department refer to those tested by a Church of Scientology qualifications teacher in a Scientology Auditing session. Karin Pouw, Scientology spokeswoman and director of public affairs for Church of Scientology International, [cite web|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3083673,00.html?maca=en-domschule-en-germany-1204-rdf|title=German Historian Compares Tom Cruise Speech to Nazi Minister | work=Deutsche Welle |date=2008-01-22|publisher=www.dw-world.de|accessdate=2008-06-02|last=Staff] disputed Touretzky's statements and asserted to the "Los Angeles Times" that Study Tech is not a religious methodology and is used in schools internationally.

In early September 2008 members of the anti-Scientology group Project Chanology protested outside of New Village Academy and criticized the use of L. Ron Hubbard techniques in the school.cite news | last =Staff | title =Anti-Scientologists target Will Smith | work =The West Australian | publisher =West Australian Newspapers Limited | date =2008-09-04 | url =http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=5&ContentID=96151 | accessdate = 2008-09-04 ] Though most members of the protest group wore Guy Fawkes masks, representative Gareth Cales did not. Cales stated: "Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, an admitted Scientologist, have opened this private school as a front for teaching the L. Ron Hubbard principles of 'Study Technology, his creation, and the school employs Scientologists. Our goal is to ultimately have the tax exemption status of the Scientology cult end, and the criminal deeds of Church leader David Miscaviage sic be exposed and prosecuted."

ee also

*Delphi Schools
*Greenfields School
*Mace-Kingsley Ranch School
*Toronto Ability School
*World Literacy Crusade

References

External links

* [http://newvillageacademy.org/ New Village Academy] , official website
*cite web
last =Church of Scientology International
title =L. Ron Hubbard: Study Technology
url =http://www.studytechnology.org/
*cite web
last =Touretzky, David S
title =Scientology v. Education
url =http://www.studytech.org/home.php