Anyone who doubts that SO kids might sometimes sell their favours, presumably for chocolate bar or packet of cigarettes is deluding themselves.
Children, abused, stressed, abandoned and neglected would surely do anything to get some attention.
By the way for a child to grow up under constant stress, hard work and insufficient rest can have dire consequences later on. Low self esteem of course, but also this can effect the hypothalamus. The stress means that hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are produced, these are natural. When you then rest after a stressful episode the hormones return to normal, when there is no rest the levels of hormones just increase, this makes the person prone to disease, it damages the immune system. It can also cause problems like MS, ME/CFS Fybromyalgia etc etc etc.
When you read Science of Survival at the importance of care in raising kids, and all the other stuff he wrote for the public, and compare that to what he organised for his staff's kids, well, words fail me.
While this "may" be true TODAY, I never saw anything close to this when I observed the Flag Cadet Org between 1984 until about 1997.
I had two children born and raised in the Sea Org (always at Flag). The Cadet staff were very much indoctrinated into the notion of "well fed and rested". The kids were heavily monitored and "put to bed" by a certain time that would ensure their rest. They were "handled" if they didn't eat well. They were indoctrinated into the notion that they should always be "well fed and rested". That idea and practice was "enforced".
Now, some might say that "the truth was hidden from you", and you "didn't really know what was going on". I routed out of the Sea Org in 1986. I lived in Clearwater and saw my kids twice every week, for all day and overnight visits. Many of their Cadet friends visited with them (from the age of 4 until 14).
I knew the Cadet staff very well, was in great communication with them, knew many of the Sea Org parents, because the parents let their kids visit to my home during the week and on days off. I OFTEN watched the kids in event evenings, so that the SO staff could attend the event. I was given lists of kids, in different age groups, with their EXACT schedules of WHEN they HAD to be in bed by. I was expected to enforce it just as they did.
The ONLY time it was not enforced was when there was a special occassion. The kids might have a "party" or have a "group movie" in the galley area. This was NOT uncommon. I watched over the Cadets at least a half dozen times when a movie was shown - again so the SO staff could attend some briefing or event.
The Cadets would OCCASSIONALLY go into the base to help on some project, but this was not very common. They were home by dinner. They did love the helping out when they had to work by the water with the "boats".
Yes, they had schedules and "posts" to attend at the Cadet Org. I remember when my daughter was about eleven years old and she was the afternoon "receptionist" for awhile. She sat at a desk, and answered phones. She would call me sometimes and we would shoot the breeze. Or one of her friends or one of my son's friends would call asking what movie we were going to watch at the party or at my home this week-end.
There was the occassional "lice" outbreak, and all the kids knew the drill - they would twin up and "nitpick" for hours. They would have an "all-hands" and wash all of the sheets and bedding.
I would see the Cadets heading out on week-ends to go to the Mall or movies. In little groups. I would see some at the local Taco Bell (around the corner). The older ones would take buses with friends to further away areas. Some of the parents bought their kids video games and playstations (Andrew Rabey, son of Clive Rabey, had a GREAT game setup, and many of his friends played it often)
I NEVER saw any of the kids "stressed" from "overwork" or "lack of sleep". Yes, SOME were in a sense "abandoned" by their partents, because some parents NEVER took libs or came home for "family time". But then MANY did. Also, some of the staff at ther Cadet Org WERE "very loving and caring" of the children. Theresa McNichols and Italia (last name?) were very kind and decent people, no matter what pressure might come down the lines. Rusty Hilton was the CO Cadet Org for quite awhile and he was a "nice guy" to and with the kids.
I kept close watch of MY KIDS, and I can assure you that they were NEVER "abused". I dropped in at the Cadet org a few times every week in addition to picking up my kids and their friends for visiting with me. I have direct REAL experience and observations. I NEVER saw any other kids "abused". Yes, once they were forced into the Sea Org at about age 14, then the insanity began in earnest. I knew MANY of the kids who were brought up in the Cadet Org over a great MANY years, up close and personal, and I NEVER saw any "abuse". They were for the most part "happy kids". Almost all the kids who visited with me spoke freely. Many of the parents had "hidden TVs" and let their kids watch movies, despite whatever nonsense was being pushed down the lines by the newest CMO mission.
I would get a talking to every once in awhile after some kid who had been visiting with my son complained about "violence" in Terminator 2 or some other "action movie". I would get shown some "reference" about how "movies key in engrams". But then, parents of kids would write notes to the Cadet staff telling them that it was entirely OKAY for their kids to watch whatever I wanted to show them (since their own parents let them see whatever they wanted to see in terms of movies).
Granted, right near the end the CMO missions really started pushing in "no fraternizing with the public" idea, and Sea Org staff and cadets were no longer allowed to visit with non-Sea Org people - even if Scientology public. But, the kids of my friends still SNUCK away and managed.
I was talking to my daughter (now age 30) last week about the Cadet Org. She lived there for most of her young life. I asked her honestly if ANYTHING bad ever happened to her, and how she feels about it in retrospect. Now understand that she HATES Scientology and the Sea Org due to other shit that happened when she was older and out of the Cadet Org. She said that she enjoyed it, had many friends, liked doing the "work" from a young age, and almost wished that there could be a similar
communal environment for her own 2 month old daughter - but WITHOUT all the indoctrination into crazy Scientology ideas.
They did have "school" five days every week. She studied math, read books, read science, and much more all in addition to the usual diet of Hubbard's nuttiness. Yeah they had musters, but it was "kids putting up with a small amount of necessary bullshit".
I NEVER saw or heard of ANY kid there "sell their favours, presumably for chocolate bar or packet of cigarettes". I think YOU are deluding YOURSELF. Many of the kids got a weekly allowance in the Cadet Org. They had enough to go out to Taco Bell on the week-end, go to a movie, or buy some candy. Also, obviously the parents of many of the kids who visited with my kids gave their kids additional money - because they often had money to spend when I took them to the movies or out to eat at restaurants. And I would pay if they didn't.
Granted, the QI NOW has a fence around it. Maybe all of the "going out on their own on libs" has been curtailed. It may be VERY DIFFERENT now. I am describing how it was when my kids grew up there between about 1984 and 1997.
I know that some people want EVERYTHING about Scientology to suck. There is enough really BAD about the Church of Scientology, just as it is, without having to embellish, exaggerate and misrepresent things that aren't so bad. :confused2:
I saw enough exaggeration and misrepresentation while involved with the Church of Scientology. Sometimes I would like to see less of it here on ESMB.
I am basing my ideas about the Cadet Org on what I personal saw over a great many years. Of course, I try to base my IDEAS on actual events and situations. I would change my ideas if I could read some actual stories of cadets who had entirely different experiences. I understand that my view is based on my own personal limited experiences in one Cadet Org during one specific time period.