New Village Academy, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and Scientology

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are opening a new private elementary school, the New Village Academy in Calabasas, California. The New Village Academy is scheduled to open in September of 2008, according to the New Village Academy. While some are applauding Hollywood power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, others are wondering if there is a deeper, hidden Scientology link behind the New Village Academy. The New Village Academy is employing teaching methods similar to those developed by Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Not Scientologists

According to Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, they have claimed on more than one occasion that they they are not Scientiologists according to the New York Daily News. Although they do not claim to be Scientologists, the New Village School will be employing teachers who are members of the Church of Scientology according to the LA Times.

New Village Academy and L. Ron Hubbard's Study Technology

A comparison of the New Village Academy teaching philosophy with the teaching philosophy put forth by L. Ron Hubbard's Study Technology teaching method reveal some similarities.

For example, in Study Technology, three main barriers, or obstacles to learning are identified on the Study Technology web site. The first obstacle is the lack of "mass" in traditional teaching. The Study Technology method encourages use of hands-on study, and using physical objects (hence the term mass) and photos when objects are not available. While this sounds like it could be a technical high school philosophy, it's also at the heart of L. Ron Hubbards' Study Technology.

Similarly, at the New Village Academy, they will teach children "concepts whenever possible with the actual object - right there to see and touch. If this is not possible we use other visuals." (New Village Academy)

The other barrier to learning according to L. Ron Hubbard's study technology is the "skipped gradient." This happens, according to the Study Technology web site when students move to the next step without understanding and completing the previous step.