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 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.
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