Mace-Kingsley Ranch School

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Mace-Kingsley Ranch School
Location
Palmdale, California[1][better source needed]
Tahoe, California[1]
Agua Dulce, California[1]
Gila Wilderness, New Mexico
United States
Information
Religious affiliation(s) Scientology
Opened 1987
Closed 2002
Director Wally Hanks[2][3]
Molly Baxter
Staff Miles Decker, admissions
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.,[4] and the New Mexico Ranch School[5]) was a Church of Scientology-affiliated private ranch school for teenagers in a rural ranch environment. The school first opened for students in 1987; it later closed in 2002.

History

The school was opened in 1987.[6] At one point the school had a Reserve, New Mexico post office box,[7] while at a later point it had a Carrizozo, New Mexico post office box.[4] It was located in the Gila Wilderness, New Mexico,[6] on 2,000 acres (8.1 km2; 3.1 sq mi).[8] It catered to children ages 12 to 17.[7] School tuition was approximately US$30,000 per year.[8] In 2000 the school's director was Molly Baxter.[9] The Church of Scientology publication Freewinds listed Molly Baxter as having completed the highest level of Scientology, Operating Thetan VIII, in 1989.[10] Miles Decker worked in admissions at the school in 2000.[11] The Church of Scientology publication Source listed Miles Decker as having completed Scientology courses in 2001 and 2002.[12][13] The school closed in 2002.[8]

Scientology methodology

Upon entering the school, students were first administered an IQ test, and then subjected to the Purification Rundown.[8] Students were then given the Oxford Capacity Analysis, a Scientology test written in 1953.[8] The Scientology device called an E-meter was regularly used in school processes,[8][14] and students underwent counseling through use of the Scientology process known as Auditing.[11] The school utilized the "Study Technology" methodology developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.[11]

Staff

Wally Hanks, Directory Palmdale Mace Kingsley Ranch[2][3][15]

Notable students

  • 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."[14]

Accusations

Wally Hanks was accused of child molestation, child abuse and providing alcohol to minors involving children at the ranch.[3][15]

Scientology

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.[16] 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.[16] 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.[16] The school was endorsed by Scientologist and actress, Kelly Preston.[17]

Analysis

Lon Woodbury of Woodbury Reports visited the school site in 2000, and evaluated it on his website in 2001.[11] 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."[11]

Rolling Stone magazine investigated the school before it closed.[8] The article by Janet Reitman, "Inside Scientology", was critical of the school's practices.[8] 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."[8] This Rolling Stone article was selected for inclusion in The Best American Magazine Writing 2007, published by Columbia University Press.[18]

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".[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Critical sites

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