tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977866885114536826.post8823594524532727095..comments2024-02-21T01:27:31.350-08:00Comments on Thoughts on Therafields: Lea's Children: Part 2Brenda M Doylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485211837092356266noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977866885114536826.post-36112631575106864342016-10-29T08:57:39.513-07:002016-10-29T08:57:39.513-07:00Siobhan, the "inklings" that I had came ...Siobhan, the "inklings" that I had came mainly from conversations in the seminar "parents' group" held at Josie's house about 1977-80. The sense that emerged from statements made was that Malcolm had asserted total control over the school and that the parents were uneasy with him and with the directions he seemed to be taking. Pressure was placed on me to enroll my daughter Elizabeth in the school. I opted instead to move to Capricorn with Maurice, Elizabeth, and Catherine in 1991 shortly after the latter was born. I had certainly no idea of Malcolm's sexual behaviour with the girls in his charge. I was uncomfortable with him and did not want my children in his care. I cannot at the same time exonerate myself of a collective responsibility that those of us in the seminar had for not openly challenging Malcolm's position.Brenda M Doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03485211837092356266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977866885114536826.post-34332179832056723642016-01-23T06:06:39.662-08:002016-01-23T06:06:39.662-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.siobhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17190723606074451446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977866885114536826.post-33055093091523776782016-01-23T06:05:53.455-08:002016-01-23T06:05:53.455-08:00Having just seen Spotlight - "It takes a vill...Having just seen Spotlight - "It takes a village to abuse a child" Brenda you say later that you had inklings of what was going you. You, and other adults, did nothing. I often wonder how the adults of this community live with the consequences of all the broken families & victimized children siobhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17190723606074451446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977866885114536826.post-37226458842118019462013-07-24T13:56:47.558-07:002013-07-24T13:56:47.558-07:00Many of us wanted to believe that the Therafields&...Many of us wanted to believe that the Therafields' School was a great opportunity for the children, but a statement to the effect that "parents were harmful for children and he (Malcolm) was the only one who understood how to care for children, should have made us speak out. I remember reading a similiar statement by Malcolm in the Therafield newsletter and having it said directly to me by Malcolm.I was shocked when I read in the papers about Malcolm molesting two of the young girls at the school. I couldn't believe it. Though the little time I spent with Malcom I would found usually comfortable, but...<br /><br />Yes, I agree, we were all complicit. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977866885114536826.post-8744360390991334372011-07-30T16:30:20.041-07:002011-07-30T16:30:20.041-07:00Malcolm, the Master Manipulator and sociopath. He ...Malcolm, the Master Manipulator and sociopath. He had no need for the norms that most of us understand since he was the architect of "true norms" and "more-perfect social processes" which we lesser beings were incapable of even understanding, much less appreciating.<br /><br />"Rather than leaving Malcolm alone in the shadow of evil, in all honesty we must look upon him as a fellow human and try to understand why he took and how he was allowed to take the path that he followed within Therafields."<br /><br />I don't know that I can agree with your analysis that precedes this statement, but I can look upon him as a fellow human being whose madness overtook him. We allowed him to take the path that he followed within Therafields. <br /><br />We, all of us, starting with Lea herself and including the therapists and learners, allowed this to happen. We turned deaf ears to those who questioned what was happening and ignored those who took desperate actions to save their kids. We participated in family groups were we were reassured that everything was alright even as the therapists leading the group were getting their kids to hell away from Malcolm.<br /><br />Like so many things, dissent was suffocated under the blanket of guilt and recrimination that awaited those who were so wrapped up in their own neurosis that they could not see the damage they were doing by even questioning the actions of Malcolm Hindley-Smith.<br /><br />Yeah, we were all complicit.<br /><br />We so wanted to be part of the wonder of Lea Hindley-Smith's Therafields vision; to be part of this "incredible journey"; and to not be singled out as troublemakers and doubters and further make the lives of our children in the school more unpleasant. We all bloody well went along with it.owld_gemininoreply@blogger.com