SECTION VI ------------ CHAPTER 12 CHILDREN IN SCIENTOLOGY. 12.1. Scientology does not conceal its interest in children. Mr. Hubbard envisages that a child as young as 8 may beneficially be subjected to processing,* and has written that "Children are a specialized subject with Scientology processing ..."^1 Indeed the book _Child_ _Dianetics_ first published during August, 1951, is devoted in its entirety to the processing of children. The introduction is written by Mr. Hubbard. The work outlines the principles of Dianetics and _inter alia_ advocates the running of the child in reverie from the age of 8 and processing from the age of 12 by use of the standard procedures as outlined in the book _Science_ _of Survival_. The Sea Org., which caters for South African citizens, accepts children of 12 years and older as members.** 12.2. In the Republiek [sic] of South Africa too, the movement has shown its interest in children. The first issue of _The Auditor_ reports - "_Joe van Staden_, HAA Class V, is returning to South Africa after a very successful completion of the Saint Hill Course, to build up a practice and concentrate on developing a large group of active teenage Scientologists."^2 12.3. The following caption appears underneath a photograph of Darin Sacker: "One of the brightest stars on the Cape Town Org's famous Children's Course. Aged 6, Darin says: 'I loved it when we learned Duplication and Those Things. I liked Bull-Baiting and I passed that on the very first day. I did not like clay modelling so much'."^3a Further the claim is made that "With Scientology training you can ... handle children, ... 12.4. Mrs. Alison Parkhouse, a prominent and ardent scientologist, told the Commission that Scientology regards a child as a spiritual being and that it devotes great care to its upbringing. 12.5. Advertisement is one of the methods resorted to in arousing infant interest in Scientology. A children's course is advertised as follows: "SEND YOUR CHILD ALONG ... AND PRESERVER YOUR SANITY! Held every Saturday morning from 10 to 11.45 a.m. Full details: ring the REGISTRAR on 24741."^3b ________ ^1Secretary: W.W. H.C.O. Information Letter. Hubbard Communications Office. East Grinstead, Sussex, England. (6.3.1964). ^2Hare, Fred: Editor: The Auditor No. 1. The Saint Hill Journal of Auditors Division. Printed in England. (May 1964), p. 9. ^3Staff: Cape Town Scientology Magazine. ARC, Issue XIV Cape Town (1968), a) p. 3; b) p. 7. ^4Hubbard L. Ron: Editor: Understanding. Minor Issue No. 94. Official periodical of Scientology in South Africa, Johannesburg. (1968), p. 3. *Hubbard L. Ron: Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, p. 133. **Auditor No. 42 World Wide and No. 4 [?] World Wide. 181 ------------ 12.6 An undated roneo [?] handbill which advertises a Scientology Children's Group being run at Cape Town, Republic of South Africa, reads as follows: "A Scientology children's group is being run at the moment at the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International on Saturday mornings from 10.30 a.m. until 12.00 noon. The children's ages are from 6 to 12 years. The Supervisor is a trained and experienced teacher. The children are taught, through the medium of games and exercises. (1) Observation (2) The ability to listen (3) How to learn (4) Physical control (5) Self confidence (6) Leadership Here are some results reported by parents:- (1) Improved school reports. (2) Improved health. (3) Tremendous surge of confidence. (4) More willing and helpful at home. (5) Increased responsibility. One ten year old boy reported. 'I loved my soccer on Saturday morning, but this is much better'. Most children can obtain results like this and at a cost of only a few shillings weekly. If you have children within the above mentioned age group, or know of friends with children who would be interested in this group - Telephone the Registrar at 24741."^1 12.7. Another handbill reads: "CHILDRENS [sic] COURSE MERRILYN DALLAS is running a childrens [sic] Communication Course from the 29th of March to the 2nd of April. On this course Merrilyn clears up misunderstoods which the children have at school (Merrilyn is a school teacher) and the children do communication drills to raise their level of communication and understanding. This course is packed _______ ^1Staff: Hubbard Association of Scientologists International. Scientology Childrens Group. Cape Town (no date). 182 ------------ with fun and valuable knowledge. Help your child - enrol [sic] him or her on this course and see that he or she is here on the 29th of March. 12.8. Another method resorted to in arousing infant interest in Scientology is to offer free I.Q. and Personality Testing. A typical example of the type of offer made appears underneath the material relating to Darin Sacker referred to in paragraph 12.3 above. The offer reads: "COME IN TODAY for FREE I.Q. and Personality Testing Discover your latent potential. Trained personnel are available to test and evaluate your intelligence and personality. Know your capabilities. Come in for these valuable tests today and obtain a guide for your future development. The Test Centre is open Scientology House, 2 Darter's Road, Cape Town."^2 12.9. The following is the wording of a card distributed with Scientology publicity material: "COME IN FOR _FREE_ PERSONALITY AND IQ TESTING Discover what you are really like. Find out how smart you are. GET TESTED. The tests are quick. They are easy. Just WALK IN at any time between 9.00 am. and 10.00 pm to your nearest Hubbard Scientology Organisation: 23 Hancock Street, Joubert Park, Johannesburg. Scientology House, 2 Darter's Road, Cape Town. 114 Park Drive, Port Elizabeth. 2nd Floor, Essex House, 409 Smith Street, Durban." _________ ^1Handbill. No particulars or date available. ^2Staff: Cape Town Scientology Magazine: _Op_._cit_., p. 3. 183 ------------ 12.10. The pattern of conduct probably resorted to after acceptance of the offer to receive the free test is revealed by the case of Master Stuart John Dickerson in respect of when the Commission received evidence.* At the age of 12, Stuart visited a Scientology stand at a fair held in Durban, Republic of South Africa, on 10th July, 1967, where he did undergo an I.Q. test at the same time furnishing his permanent address is Johannesburg. During August, 1967, two follow-up letters were sent reading: (a) "Dear Stuart, I was so pleased to see that you visited the Scientology stand at the International Fare whilst down in Durban. I understand that you did an I.Q. test and did very well too. I am enclosing an invitation for you to attend the Introductory Course - you and your parents will be most welcome to attend at the local Scientology Organisation. The Letter Registrar in Johannesburg will write to you and let you know the address to go and course starting times. Please take the enclosed selection slip to the first lecture and give it to the Receptionist on duty. Yours sincerely, Barbara Parvin (Mrs.) LETTER REGISTRAR."^1 (b) "Dear Stuart, Brian O'Donohue selected you for Scientology training and I'm very pleased to hear this. You will certainly find it extremely valuable and I'd like you to start as soon as possible. I'm sending you full details of the free PERSONAL EFFICIENCY COURSE. Please come in on Monday evening (14th August) at 7.30 to start this. Sincerely, Rita Kenworthy. LETTER REGISTRAR."^2 ________ ^1Parvin, Barbara: Letter Registrar. The Hubbard Scientology Organisations in Durban. (17.8.1967). ^2Kenworthy, Rita: Letter Registrar. The Hubbard Scientology Organization in South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Johannesburg. (8.8.1967). *Record of Evidence, Vol. 6, pp. 75-82 - Mrs. C.E. Dickerson. 184 ------------ 12.11. During the same month a further letter was addressed to Stuart. It reads: "Hey Stu, When are you writing to me to tell me when you are having your training? Come on. Love, Gordon Cook. ADVANCED SCHEDULING REGISTRAR."^1 Further reference to this specific case will be made in paragraphs 12.16 and 12.17 infra. 12.12. It is noteworthy that advertisements have as recently as July, 1971, been placed by the Johannesburg and Pretoria organizations offering free intelligence and personality tests. 12.13. A Security Check for Children, originally issued at St. Hill, East Grinstead, Sussex, England, was applied to the Republic of South Africa through the medium of the Hubbard Communications Office, 23, Hancock St., Joubert Park, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. The Bulletin states: "The following is a processing check for use on children. Be sure the child can understand the question. Rephrase it so he or she can understand it. The first question is the most potent. _Children's Security Check_ _Ages 6 - 12_ What has somebody told you not to tell? Have you ever decided you do not like some member of your family? Have you ever taken something belonging to somebody else and never given it back? Have you ever pretended to be sick (ill)? Have you ever made yourself sick (ill), or hurt yourself to make somebody sorry? Have you ever wanted something very much, but never told anybody about it? Have you ever gotten yourself dirty on purpose? Have you ever refused to eat just to worry someone? Have you ever remembered something about yourself and not told anybody, because you thought they wouldn't believe you or be angry at you? Have you ever refused to obey an order from someone you should obey? Have you ever told another child something that wasn't true, just to frighten _______ ^1Cook, Gordon: Advanced Scheduling Registrar. The Hubbard Scientology Organization in South Africa (Pty.) Ltd. (22.8.1967). 185 ------------ or upset them? Have you ever bullied a smaller child? Have you ever deliberately got another child, or a grown-up, into trouble? Have you ever pestered other children or grown people who were trying to work? Have you ever been mean, or cruel, to an animal, bird or fish? Have you ever forgotten to give food or water to a pet entrusted to your care? Have you ever broken something belonging to someone else? Have you ever deliberately spoiled clothes of yours because you didn't like it? Do you have a secret? Have you ever noticed something wrong with your body that you were afraid to tell anybody about? Have you ever done anything that you were very much ashamed of? Is there anything about you your parents could not understand, even if you told them? Have you ever failed to finish your school work in time? Have you ever flunked an examination at school? Have you ever deliberately given a teacher trouble? Have you ever tried to make others dislike some teacher? Have you ever tried to make another child unpopular? Have you ever broken, damaged, or taken any school property? Have you ever lied to a teacher? Have you ever been late to school, or late to a class? have you ever stayed away from school, when you could have gone? Have you ever cheated by copying someone else's work, taking notes into an examination, or looking up answers in a book when you weren't supposed to? Have you ever spoiled things for somebody? Who have you made guilty? Have you ever done something you shouldn't when you were supposed to be in bed or asleep? Have you ever told others bad stories about someone? Have you ever tried to make others believe that your parents, or teachers were cruel to you? Have you ever offered as an excuse for something you have done wrong that you are only a child, or that you haven't grown up yet? Have you ever felt that your parents and home were too good for you? Have you ever felt that your parents and home weren't good enough for you? 186 ------------ Is there anything you should tell your parents, and never have? Have you ever done something to your body that you shouldn't have? Have you ever done anything to someone else's body that you shouldn't have? Have you ever told someone that you did something, when you hadn't really done it? Have you ever told anyone that you hadn't done something that you really had done? Have you ever ganged up on another child and made fun of him because he was different from the rest of you? Have you ever made fun of another because of the way he looked? Have you ever decided never to talk to someone again? Have you ever made your parents or teachers work harder than they should? Have you ever decided that you were too bright or too smart for the other kids? Have you ever annoyed an adult by something you did or said? Have you ever hurt a child? Have you ever made a child cry? Have you ever made a child sulk? Have you ever kept another child from having something that really belonged to him? Have you ever found anything and failed to return it to its owner? Have you ever told stories about someone behind their back? Have you ever lied to escape blame? Have you ever not told the truth about something so as to protect someone? Have you ever felt ashamed of your parents? Have you ever felt ashamed of your friends? Have you ever disappointed your parents? Have you ever run away when you should have stayed? Have you ever felt sure your parents wouldn't understand something that had happened in school, so you didn't tell them? Have you ever not told teachers something about your family because they wouldn't understand it? Have you ever failed to keep another child's secret? Have you ever felt it was just no good talking to someone? Have you ever hurt someone you didn't mean to? Have you ever been sloppy about your clothes or possessions? Have you ever cried when you shouldn't have? Have you ever been a coward? Have you ever made too much fuss over a little hurt? Have you ever tried to make your parents believe you were making better [?] in school than you were? 187 ------------ Have you ever told on anyone? Have you ever teased younger children? Have you ever made a mess and not helped clean it up? Have you ever broken or damaged something and never told anybody it was you who did it? Have you ever let someone else get punished for something you did? Have you ever cried till you got your own way? Have you ever decided 'Someday, when I'm grown up, I'll get even'. If so, with whom? Have you ever picked up someone smaller than yourself? Have you ever upset anyone by throwing a temper tantrum? Have you ever hurt anyone by telling them you didn't love them anymore? Have you ever made out that you were more badly damaged than you were in order to make someone stop picking on you? Have you ever pretended to like someone that you didn't like in order to satisfy your parents? Have you ever done anything wrong according to your own religion? Have you ever not understood why someone was angry with you? Have you ever pretended not to understood what you had done wrong? Have you ever pretended not to understand what someone wanted you to do? Have you ever been in places where your parents didn't want you to go? Have you ever spied on anyone? Have you ever made friends with people your parents didn't approve of? Have you ever thought someone was crazy? Have you ever broken up a friendship? have you ever let your team, or school, or club down? have you ever tried to keep someone from making friends with another child? Have you ever pretended not to hear your parents or teacher? Have you ever made a fuss about doing something that your parents or teacher wanted you to do? Have you ever done something to someone that you'd hate to have done to you?"^1 12.14. A copy of a letter allegedly written by Mr. Hubbard to a correspondent who requested information on how best to process children reads: ________ ^1Hubbard L. Ron: H.C.O. Bulletin. Security check for Children. H.C.O. W.W. Security Form 8. St. Hill, East Grinstead, Sussex, England. (21.9.1961). 188 ------------ "Thank your [sic] for your letter of the 10th. Children are a specialized subject with Scientology processing, but CCHs* have not been all that successful running on them. One cannot do standard CCHs on a child, one has to short session them making it more like a drill than anything else. You _could_ still run them on a child, with the above in mind, but lower level processes are the best. The main thing to do with children, until they have become trained, is to keep them destimulated as much as possible by making the environment safe and with itsa,* and assists.* Locational processes are always excellent."^1 12.15. The Commission heard evidence in regard to several cases where persons under the age of 16 years were influenced to some extent or other by the Scientology Organization or where attempts so to influence such persons were made. These cases are discussed briefly in paragraphs 12.16 to 12.21 hereunder. 12.16. The case of Master Dickerson is referred to in paragraphs 12.10 and 12.11 above. Subsequent to the three letters referred to in the said paragraphs further letters and publicity literature were despatched from Durban, Republic of South Africa, England and especially Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa. Stuart's mother became dissatisfied and in a letter addressed to the organization requested that the despatch of literature to her son be dis- continued. The desired effect was not achieved and the request was repeated telephonically. It is not disputed that a member of the Organization's office staff replied to Mrs. Dickerson saying: "We will continue writing to Stuart for as long as we like." Certain other steps to achieve a cessation failed and on 10th September, 1968, Mrs. C.E. Dickerson in a letter pointed out that her son "is not mature enough to understand what this is all about"^2 and, again requested that the organization refrain from sending literature to _______ ^1Secretary: W.W. H.C.O. Information Letter: _Op_._cit_. ^2Dickerson C.E.: Letter. Johannesburg. (10.9.1968). *The Scientology Abridged Dictionary contains the following definitions: "CCH's : Four associated processes which bring a person into better control of his body and surroundings, put him into better communication with his surroundings and other people, and increase his ability to have things for himself. They bring him into the present, away from his past problems. ITSA : A coined word, taken from the phrase, 'It is a ...', meaning a statement which positively identifies something; especially refers to anything a preclear says to an auditor if he is saying with certainty, 'It is'. ASSIST : Simple, easily done processes that can be applied to anyone to help them recover more rapidly from accidents, mild illness or upsets." 189 ------------ her son. Even then post emanating from Scientology sources continued to reach Stuart for some time. Innumerable advertising pamphlets, six copies of the publication _Understanding_, two copies of the journal _The Auditor_, questionnaires, invitations to meetings and many other documents which reached Stuart through the post were handed in as exhibits by Mrs. Dickerson. Neither Stuart's father no his mother consented to Stuart being associate with Scientology in any way. 12.17. The failure to heed the request not to forward further literature serves to under- line the fact that the following injunction contained in a HCO Policy Letter: "... that large quantities of mail have been incorrectly sent to ... 1) People who have asked to be removed from mailing lists ... This must CEASE."^1 was disregarded or not regarded seriously. 12.18. Mr. Michael McAll is the son of a man who was formerly a senior South African public servant and who is presently a full-time scientologist attached to one of the overseas organizations. Michael described in evidence* how, at the age of thirteen or fourteen he received processing at the hands of his father and one Mr. Bester. First he was subjected to questioning with the aid of an E-Meter for about three quarters of an hour to an hour. There- after in a locked room he was forcibly subjected to the CCH process referred to in paragraph 12.14 above for a period of five and a quarter hours. A command "Give me that hand" is given by the auditor. The subject is then expected to lift his hand to the auditor who takes the hand saying "Thank you". This process continues. Michael stated that, during part of the time, he resisted. Eventually a fight supervened, Mr. Bester received bodily injury, Michael's resistance was overcome and the process was resumed. Notwithstanding complaints by neighbours and threats to call the police the treatment did not cease. That in the words of Michael happened only "when I was on the point of collapse". Mr. McAll's former wife is Michael's step-mother. She, having found HCO Information Letter of March 6, 1964 (referred to in paragraph 12.14 above) among her former husband's possessions whilst divorce proceedings were pending, stated the following in evidence in regard to the processing administered to Michael: "It certainly had an effect on the boy, because I gather Bester ended up sitting on his stomach and he was forced to continue giving that hand, and this command was repeated over and over and over again. The boy became so upset that my brother, who lives next door, threatened to call the Police, _______ ^1Hubbard L. Ron: HCO Policy Letter. Mailines and Public. East Grinstead, Sussex, England, (20.8.1968). *Record of Evidence, Vol. 30(b), pp. 80-108 - Mr. M. McAll. 190 ------------ and certainly, he bit his father and the bite mark lasted for a period of about two or three months - in order to extricate himself from this mental torture, I would put it. As I say, the tragedy of the situation is that I am quite certain that my husband did it in good faith and this is what he had been taught to do and this is the danger of Scientology, that these unqualified people are permitted and encouraged, indeed, to do this sort of thing to people."^1 12.19. In an unsworn statement* handed in to the Commission, the father states that the process was run at Michael's request, that it lasted about two hours and that he (the father) was not present when questioning with the aid of an E-meter took place. The evidence of Michael's stepmother, quoted above, is not contradicted. In the circumstances the Commission concludes that at a very youthful age a distressing form of Scientology process was applied to Michael by his father and Mr. Bester. Although this was probably done in good faith and although Michael might have exaggerated the incident there is no denial of the allegation of mental torture, that he resisted the process physically in a manner which caused injury to his father and Mr. Bester and that Mrs. McAll's brother contemplated the summoning of police assistance. The Commission observed that at the data of his evidence Michael clearly remained resentful of the experience and, paying due regard to all the circumstances, concludes that he was subjected to an experience which left him with an abiding unpleasant recollection and which, in all probability, caused him serious psychological harm. 12.20. A witness, whose identity the Chairman on his application ordered not to be disclosed and who testified _in camera_, divorced his former wife, an ardent scientologist. The custody of the only child of the marriage (aged five years at the time of the Commission's sitting) as entrusted to the mother who, so the evidence suggests, applied to the child some of the principles outlined in the book _Child Dianetics_. The witness observed during periods of access that - (a) the child believes that its deceased grandfather is still alive and sometimes visits the home "to have a drink with us", and (b) the child finds the need to close eyes during the saying of grace strange and bewildering. ________ ^1Record of Evidence, Vol. 30(a), p. 31 - Mrs. M.R. McAll. *Statement: Mr. F.M. McAll, Edinburgh. (2.2.1970). 191 ------------ [12.]21. Mr. A.S. Roos, a qualified Scientology auditor, testified ^athat [sic] he never audited [chi]ldren but that he frequently subjected them to security checks. They were usually over the [age] of sixteen but in a few cases he administered the check to children aged 12 or 13. [12.]22. The Commission is satisfied, in the light of evidence tendered to it _inter alia_ [by] Professor W.P. Radloff, Professor of Psychology at the University of Cape Town, Republic of [Sout]h Africa, Dr. A.B. Daneel, a psychiatrist and the Superintended of the Alexandra Institution, [?]land, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa and Dr. A.M. Lamont, Commissioner for Mental Health [?] the Republic of South Africa, that the methods, processes, practices and techniques of [Scie]ntology are potentially harmful to young children. Some of the dangers are outlined in [para]graphs 12.23 to 12.26 hereunder. [12.2]3. Scientology processing tends to be stereotyped and fails to recognise that a variety [of d]ifferent approaches might be desirable in the case of different children. The treatment of [dist]urbed children, for instance requires special training and should essentially be the concern [of c]hild psychologists or other specialised persons. Theories in regard to the formation of [eng]rams trespass on to and contain elements relative to psycho-analysis, hypnosis, condition [refl]exes - all very important in the field of psychiatry. The same is the case in regard to [Dian]etic reverie. [12.2]4. The imparting of any form of mysterious information to young children which they [are] unable to appreciate holds undoubted dangers for them. [12.2]5. Security checking, envisaging as it does, extended questioning in regard to [inti]mate personal matters serves to engender feelings of guilt and to generate depression. Mrs. [M.J.] Nicholson in evidence*^b told the Commission that the object of security checking of children [? t]o achieve movement in every case. If one maintained secrets under auditing it would prevent [?] case from moving. She also said that everything emerging during security checking is [reco]rded and filed and might be used for purposes of blackmail. The Commission places on [reco]rd, however, that not a single case of threatened exposure or disclosure based on [info]rmation gathered during a security check of either a youthful or adult person has been [brou]ght to its notice. However, once any person, and particularly a young child, has imparted [inti]mate and personal secrets which are recorded and preserved he is in a particularly [vuln]erable position and very much at the mercy of those armed with intimate details of his [priv]ate life. [12.26]. Clinical psychologists and psycho-technicians are professionally trained to [admin]ister intelligence and personality tests. The Commission is satisfied that in Scientology [prac]tice these tests are frequently administered by auditors untrained in this highly [?]alised field. Such auditors are not qualified to administer or interpret intelligence ________ [^1Reco]rd of Evidence, a) Vol. 7, pp. 43-44 - Mr. A.S. Roos. b) Vol. 5, pp. 33-36 - Mrs. M.J. Nicholson. 192 ------------ test and serious abuse may flow from the best-willed intentions of an inadequately trained auditor. 12.27. It is necessary briefly to discuss the legal position in regard to minor children in the Republic of South Africa. (a) A person under the age of twenty-one is a minor unless: (i) He has been emancipated from guardianship; or (ii) he is a man who has contracted a valid marriage; or (iii) she is a woman who has contracted a valid marriage with exclusion of community of property and the marital power; or (iv) she is a woman whose marriage is dissolved by death or divorce before she reaches the age of twenty-one. (b)(i) A contract entered into by a minor is generally speaking invalid as against such minor and cannot be enforced unless the contract was concluded with the assistance of the minor's guardian. (ii) The rule referred to in the preceding sub-paragraph applies to any contract including a contract to undergo Scientology training. (c) Quite apart from considerations of contractual capacity, existing law invests the Supreme Court of South Africa as upper guardian of all minors with wide powers to interfere with the exercise of the parental power by parents living together or the exercise of power by a custodian parent where the parents are divorced, separated or living apart if such power is exercised in a manner which constitutes a danger to the life, health or morals of minor children. 12.28. In practice the Supreme Court of South Africa exercises its aforementioned powers on application made to it - usually by one of the parents. In cases where both parents approve of Scientology processing or one parent so approves and the attitude of the remaining parent is sufficiently indifferent or neutral not to stir him or her to action, the Court will have no occasion to exercise any of its powers. To this extent existing law falls short of providing protection against potential harm to minor children occasioned by Scientology processing or the administration or application of intelligence or personality tests. 12.29. The Commission is, for the reasons set out above, of the view that legislation should be enacted to provide for the control of the activities referred to in paragraphs 12.23 to 12.26 supra. The activities referred to in paragraphs 12.23, 12.24 and 12.25 are adequately covered by the recommendations made in paragraphs 5.34, 5.46, 5.47, 5.48, 5.49, 5.50 and 5.51 of Chapter 5. Insofar as the administration and application of intelligence, personality and 193 ------------ aptitude tests to minor children are concerned the Commission recommends that legislation should be enacted which prohibits the administration and application of such tests by persons other than those specially trained and registered in terms of such legislation. There is no need to exclude from such activity any scientologist who is so trained and registered. 194 ------------