This video disturbs me for several reasons. First of all, it is blatant propaganda. He rambles on and on about the virtues of this study technology without ever even telling his audience what study technology is or what it entails.

Second, I feel like this is an effort by Scientology (through Tom Cruise) to exploit a weak point in our society, education. As a teacher, I completely agree with several of the points he made: labels on children are damaging, medication is not the answer, we need a restructuring of our educational system. Lots of Americans would agree with these points and be reeled in with his personal story of dyslexia. However, study technology is not the answer to these issues. What Mr. Cruise fails to mention is that integrated into study technology is a lot of scientologist principles.

L. Ron Hubbard, inventor of scientology, called study technology "scientologist's primary bridge to society." I find that quote a little scary, as it kind of implies that it's going to be used as a way to slowly convert society to scientology, starting with children.

Study technology doesn't offer anything new. It's a back-to-basics type program that is shielding its true intent of religious conversion. It's 3 principles are: 1) use pictures/diagrams to illustrate concepts, 2) break down complex concepts so they can be mastered in simple steps, and 3) always seek definitions of unfamiliar terms. I do these things with my students every single day.

I feel sorry for people who have fallen into the grips of cults like scientology. I feel as if they are often drawn to such things because of a need for a family structure and belonging. However, I want them to stay away from children's minds.
Source(s):
http://www.studytech.org/study_tech1.php


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