L.A. Schools Bar Scientology Anti-Drug Program

A little while ago I wrote about the growing controversy surrounding the introduction of the Narconon anti-drug program to public schools because Narconon is based on Scientology and involves a great deal of Scientology beliefs and concepts. Now, schools in Los Angeles are being told not to use Narconon.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

In a memo sent to schools last week, Los Angeles Unified School District Assistant Supt. Maria Reza said the Narconon presentations are "not based on science" and warned schools to use only drug prevention materials that are "research validated" and approved by the district. L.A. Unified's chief operating officer, Tim Buresh, said in an interview Wednesday that the district would conduct a review of the program and decide soon whether to issue a more forceful statement against Narconon. "If we become aware of a program that has questionable content, we will advise people against that," Buresh said.

San Francisco officials sent Narconon Drug Prevention and Education Inc., a Narconon affiliate, a letter in February asking the Los Angeles-based group to clarify several aspects of its classroom presentations, including a statement that "all drugs are basically poisons." In a written response, the group's director, Tony Bylsma, insisted that the statement was accurate based on "recognized and professional sources."

Perhaps those “recognized and professional sources” are merely other Scientologists? It’s a ridiculous statement, but sadly it’s not the only pseudoscience that Scientology promotes to its members. If a group is making statements that are supposed to be empirical truths, they should be required to provide proof and validation of those statements before they can come into schools and make presentations to children.

Read More:

• What is Scientology?
• Scientology News
• Scientology: Critiques
• Scientology: Spoofs & Books
• Scientology vs. the Internet
• Scientology: Court Cases
• Scientology: L. Ron Hubbard