Mace-Kingsley Ranch School

Mace-Kingsley Ranch School
Mace-Kingsley Ranch School
Location
Gila Wilderness
New Mexico, United States
Information
Religious affiliation(s) Scientology
Opened 1987
Closed 2002
Director Molly Baxter
Staff Miles Decker, admissions
Age 12 to 17
Age range 12-17
Language English
Tuition US$30,000
Affiliation Applied Scholastics, Association for Better Living and Education, Religious Technology Center, Church of Scientology
Website Mace-Kingsley Ranch School

Mace-Kingsley Ranch School (later called The Ranch School, Inc.,[1] and the New Mexico Ranch School[2]) was a Church of Scientology-affiliated private school for teenagers in a rural ranch environment. The school first opened for students in 1987; it later closed in 2002.

Contents

History

The school was opened in 1987.[3] At one point the school had a Reserve, New Mexico post office box,[4] while at a later point it had a Carrizozo, New Mexico post office box.[1] It was located in the Gila Wilderness, New Mexico,[3] on 2,000 acres (8.1 km2; 3.1 sq mi).[5] It catered to children ages 12 to 17.[4] School tuition was approximately US$30,000 per year.[5] In 2000 the school's director was Molly Baxter.[6] The Church of Scientology publication Freewinds listed Molly Baxter as having completed the highest level of Scientology, Operating Thetan VIII, in 1989.[7] Miles Decker worked in admissions at the school in 2000.[8] The Church of Scientology publication Source listed Miles Decker as having completed Scientology courses in 2001 and 2002.[9][10] The school closed in 2002.[5]

Scientology methodology

Upon entering the school, students were first administered an IQ test, and then subjected to the Purification Rundown.[5] Students were then given the Oxford Capacity Analysis, a Scientology test written in 1953.[5] The Scientology device called an E-meter was regularly used in school processes,[5][11] and students underwent counseling through use of the Scientology process known as Auditing.[8] The school utilized the "Study Technology" methodology developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.[8]

A copyright notice on the school's website gave "grateful acknowledgment" to the L. Ron Hubard library for usage of works of the Scientology founder.[12] The website acknowledged that the school was "licensed" to use educational methodology from Applied Scholastics, a "service mark" owned by Association for Better Living and Education.[12] The school's website also noted that terms including Dianetics, Scientology, Purification Rundown, and Oxford Capacity Analysis "are trademarks and service marks" of the Religious Technology Center.[12] The school was endorsed by Scientologist and actress, Kelly Preston.[13]

Analysis

Lon Woodbury of Woodbury Reports visited the school site in 2000, and evaluated it on his website in 2001.[8] He noted that many of the classes were based on techniques developed by L. Ron Hubbard, and commented: "For a parent considering Mace-Kingsley Ranch School for their child, I would recommend obtaining at least a basic knowledge of Scientology. Since that is so central to the school’s program, it would be vital for the parents to be comfortable with its major tenets."[8]

Rolling Stone magazine investigated the school before it closed.[5] The article by Janet Reitman, "Inside Scientology", was critical of the school's practices.[5] The article noted: "The school enforced a rigid Scientology focus that many former students now say served as both a mechanism of control and a form of religious indoctrination."[5] This Rolling Stone article was selected for inclusion in The Best American Magazine Writing 2007, published by Columbia University Press.[14]

The Phoenix New Times characterized the school as "a Scientology-run youth camp", and "an infamous New Mexico boot-camp-like institution run by Scientologists".[11] Charlie Brand of the Phoenix, Arizona band Miniature Tigers attended the school, and noted that his parents mistakenly initially thought it was a youth camp for troubled teens when they sent him there: "It was bizarre because my family's not Scientologists. My parents thought it was for troubled teens. [The camp] forced Scientology on you, and you had to go through the steps before you could leave. You had to use an E-Meter and study guides about all their beliefs."[11]

References

  1. ^ a b The Ranch School, Inc. (September 25, 2002). "Main". www.mkranch.com. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 2002-09-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20020925072528/http://mkranch.com/. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  2. ^ New Perspectives (December 18, 2002). "New Mexico Ranch School". www.strugglingteens.com. Woodbury Reports, Inc.. http://www.strugglingteens.com/archives/2002/12/np02.html. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  3. ^ a b MK Ranch School (February 8, 2001). "The Ranch". www.mkranch.com. Archived from the original on 2001-02-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20010209014926/http://www.mkranch.com/ranch.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  4. ^ a b Porter Sargent staff; Daniel P. McKeever (2001). The Directory for Exceptional Children, 14th Edition. Porter Sargent Publishers. p. 262. ISBN 0875581412. Edition: 14 - Item notes: v. 5. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Reitman, Janet (February 23, 2006). "Inside Scientology: Unlocking the complex code of America's most mysterious religion". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9363363/inside_scientology/print. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  6. ^ MK Ranch School (December 4, 2000). "From the Director". www.mkranch.com. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 2000-12-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20001204164700/http://www.mkranch.com/. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  7. ^ Church of Scientology (December 1989). "New OT VIII". Freewinds Magazine (1). 
  8. ^ a b c d e Woodbury, Lon (February 2001). "Mace-Kingsley Ranch School". Schools & Program Visits (Woodbury Reports Archives) (78). http://www.strugglingteens.com/archives/2001/2/visit03.html. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  9. ^ Church of Scientology (September 2001). "Hubbard Key to Life Course". Source Magazine (135). 
  10. ^ Church of Scientology (November 2002). "Hubbard Life Orientation Course". Source Magazine (140). 
  11. ^ a b c Leatherman, Benjamin (March 10, 2009). "Miniature Tigers: Almost Everyone Loves Charlie Brand". Phoenix New Times (Village Voice Media). http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2009-03-12/music/miniature-tigers-almost-everyone-loves-charlie-brand/. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  12. ^ a b c MK Ranch School (August 22, 2000). "Adventure at its Best!". www.mkranch.com. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 2000-08-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20000822110900/http://www.mkranch.com/. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  13. ^ MK Ranch School (January 23, 2002). "Endorsements". www.mkranch.com. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 2002-01-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20020123143608/http://mkranch.com/. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  14. ^ American Society of Magazine Editors (2007). The Best American Magazine Writing 2007. Columbia University Press. p. 339. ISBN 0231143915. 

External links

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