Ham

Yeah.. well, the comment I remember was.. "why can't we just take care of the people in the fellowships.." and that was it. The goon and goons were on him faster than a texan on a pork chop.. Honestly.. I hope he ran like hell from new knoxville and it's vile cretans..

After one week of assistantship training.. it isn't so much.. "let's not pick on the poor kids self esteem". It's more like.. how can we build a positive self esteem. So many studies seem to prove kids will perform as well as we can tell them they can. Give me a few months or years of real experience.. and maybe I can say more.. :) Tutoring.. I can tell the difference. I've told people they are as smart as anyone else, they have the capacity to learn.. and it really is true. The same portion of the brain that can do language also does math. Is one "wired" to be able to understand math? Yes. Doesn't make everything wonderful and easy though..

I agree. But the question was in terms of dollars and cents.. I would view loss of professional development as more personal. Though it might have a large bearing on the money. I think the money itself is a symptom of the larger problem.. just because the money issue is a symptom.. I don't think it's entirely irrelevant.. maybe its more like a twisted family of sorts.. they never wanted the "kids" to really grow up.. I know some of those who went for a degree.. especially after receiving the *wonder training* and graduated from the corps, were sharply criticized.. "they" were VERY disappointed, working corps assignments around something as "trivial" as a college education..

and they didn't have the foresight to think ahead ten, fifteen, twenty years.. so instead of really developing the organization.. these (insert your favourite non politically correct slur here).. hit us up for "spare change" and lunch money..

which makes me wonder.. why in god's name wouldn't an organization WANT someone to succeed in life along these lines.. if you think about it.. it cost THEM likely @200K in abs per individual, in the long run.. it cost the organization itself countless professional ties.. along the lines of thousands.. in the long run, it cost the organization credibility. In a big way. I have had to explain more than several times how affiliation with a "religious organization" crowded out time for professional development, college.. grad school.. etc etc.. there was a REMOTE possibility that the group would turn into something legitimate.. into what it purported to be.. but it never happened. at the entrance interview I had to the four year university they asked.. "how come you wait so long?" "ever hear of da way?" "why yes.. I have.." I know someone at this university whose remote form of "involvement" cost them more than me.. all I can say is, I think the person didn't see what was coming.. didn't have a clue.. nor should he have.. I think that's where they heard something about the organization..

about 1.5 million by conservative estimates..

Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoyed your special day.

I dunno.. seems back in "the day" unless one enjoyed the whack in the rear.. the "bad element" learned to be bad, more discretely. Just my impression here.. one generally had a close knit group where one could buy dope.. now its sold right out on the streets. Why? well..I think with lower standards, the sellers and users are still there.. but they just don't have a real need to hide.. we are educating dumbed down dealers and drug addicts.. now in Britain, it looks like they are just harvesting them..

You didn't go to my Junior High or High School.. I saw stuff that would make one's head spin.. and we were in a relatively "civilized" area at that..

cmon Groucho.. its been four days here. Are we storming the gates, or what?

Momentus.. heh.. Maybe its destructive testing.. weed out the sheep. hold harmless required. If you end up running off a cliff trying to prove you're a wolf with a parachute.. when you're not, its your fault or something.. they never considered me for a branch position.. no less "recommended" going into the corps.. maybe I'm a nice guy after all..

Teaching assistantship. I will be teaching intermediate algebra. anywhere from seventy to eighty freshmen, give or take a few.. The training program makes the prospect seem a little less.. what's the word.. terrifying.. Now I only experience brief moments of panic at the thought of what's to come.. Naw.. I know I'll do fine..

Now now. I plan on playing nice..

Yep.. these kids don't need a fat farm. But that appears to be what they are on.. Pudgy, overweight "staff" might benefit more from the program.. half a year manually pulling stumps and splitting firewood should just about do it..

Hmm. Could it also be, the scam has just run its course? The *wonderful* class was filmed in say, 1967.. and the students age today are in their fifties and sixties, and for the most part, they can't point to one solid substantial benefit, or positive difference it made. They enjoy no better health than the general populace.. no real difference in terms of prosperity. Maybe that's why they put the screws to the old timers.. hang around long enough, and you're just an embarrassment..

and the kid who apparently runs this thing.. I think he is just as inept and unprepared. I don't think he had a clue of what the "elders" were dragging him into.. so they want to know what kind of reception they will get in the "world".. I think they found out. There will be many, many questions. "Oh.. that's nice. Who is your group affiliated with.." Oh, nobody in particular.. "who did you say is on staff?" well, there's me.. "They were trained by who?" oh, just spent a few years in a work study program on a farm in Ohio..

You would think. and its supposed to be an "honors" program, at that.. the "best of the best" and all..high achievers.

I would not badger him either.. I'd start all over again, calmly with the original set of questions.. what are you doing that's any different from the old ministry? Are you aware of the abuse that occurred in a "send them home any time you feel like it for whatever reason" environment? Who is on "staff"? What exactly are their qualifications? What kind of safeguards are put in place to protect the "students" from the "teachers"? Then we can proceed to a few other questions.. there's quite a log jam.. what is the sleep schedule for the "participants".. how about food? Is the menu good, or is it near to way corps standards of starvation? Do you REALLY think you are a "great man of God"? If so, why? If not, why do you let your pledgelings refer to you in an inappropriate manner? Do you require the trainees to sign a hold-harmless statement? well.. I don't think the questions are really that hard.. and my questions are not directed to the new "graduate".. but to the ones that are supposedly running the thing..

That was the first post. About two months after I requested information. So that makes it going on about two years.. no real information. One guys shows up and says he'll answer questions, as long as they aren't too hard.. and then slips away into the night.

Maybe they are waiting for the right kind of offer. Some offshoots think every word in it drips gold. da way could retain ownership.. and just sell limited "publishing" rights of sorts.. I'm almost surprised they haven't advertised it on ebay.. but then about ninety five percent of those in offshoots are grads anyway. Legally, they could not be charged again.. maybe that's it. There's just no money in it any more.. there are probably enough illegal copies floating around, that those who wanted one bad enough probably already has one. But I'll admit, it is odd.. where else is the "greatest work" of the "founder" of a group buried like this? look at the scientologists.. it would be like boxing and locking up dianetics and all..

about 23 or so.. best I know at the moment.. not married.. no family, no kids to support.. at least that I know of..

so.. "fearless leader".. do you have any suggestions? do we do some kind of "hundred man" march on New Knoxville? I know.. I do what I can here.. as you.. so how do we REALLY put "the boots" to "them"? The offshoots are far more disturbing in my opinion.. well.. call it "job security"..

does this qualify?

and whoever anonymous member marked down the last post.. lets look at a few facts and reality here.. the numbnuts down south failed to "get a life".. perhaps one or more did..but what happened? Now their little camping "adventure" is cloaked in darkness.. why? It wouldn't survive the light of day.. feel free to disagree all you want..