| Author | Message | ||
     tomrossini New member Username: tomrossini Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 71.238.3.231 |
The school has been fighting to survive from the late 90's. I strongly feel that it was the teachings of FF and philosophy of the school that caused its demise. The Alumni was not involved with the school as you would see in other schools. There was no support and their biggest fundraiser Oktoberfest overtime became a failure. But after ailienating most of the Alumni, they realized they had lost the support / foundation that the school so desperately needed. I remember Murray Hall back in the 80's ( i had to help Mr Rawson with some maintenance there once on discipline) and it needed some serious help back then. The school did waste alot of money as well. They did not need such an expensive gym, or chapel or track field. There was no community support for this place. A handful of people would show up for sunday service. The administration needed to market this place, and this was not done well if at all. Instead of the huge gym or the chapel, they should have rebuild Murray Hall, or remodelled the staff homes for the ladies as most of the staff were moving out anyways. I remember in 1988 the wonderful common area and how nice the guys residence was, but was all of this really necessary. The priorities were not thought out properly. The school was placed before the students. It was forgotten that the students are the key to survival.....not the school. | ||
| tabby1979 New member Username: tabby1979 Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 70.69.121.31 |
I think the reason they didn't market it because they knew they couldn't bully the public and people in general would not put up with that kind of abusive environment and they would be found out. Also, if there was outside help any smart business person would ask for an audit of the school's books...probably something FF didn't want to happen either. | ||
| bonnieb New member Username: bonnieb Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 136.160.250.253 |
Having been a part of the C of J for several years but never experiencing GCC, I was curious about what kind of financial support the CoJ gave to GCC, if any. Does anyone know? I was also wondering how many of you understood the relationship between GCC and the CoJ while you were there. Did your families have experience with the Mothers? Did you know about the CoJ? Did people from the CoJ conduct retreats for the students? Did you feel that you were some sort of offshoot of the CoJ or did you not understand the connection? Just curious. I'm so glad that so many of you found this site and have connected with each other and found the support to deal with the trauma of what you lived through at GCC. This site was a lifesaver for me in dealing with my trauma from the CoJ. My best wishes go out to everyone. | ||
| nomadic New member Username: nomadic Post Number: 1 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 66.78.123.227 |
I am a recent former staff and am glad that it is closed. This school was a place of shame for many students and staff. The abuse and mind control that went on there is wrong. I pray that someday those with certain last names will be made to account for their wrongs. C of J is a cult. They are a seriously whacked group of people. I dont know that we will ever know the real reason gcc closed- finances had a huge part but I also believe that God was done. He has no desire to be a part of something so hurtful and devious. There were still several staff there (MJB and JC) who are really unstable and unfortunately still in leadership. I know the facts but am under legal constraints regarding sharing what I know and have experienced. My hope is that justice will prevail- call me niave. I also do not feel sorry for those who still live on site. They are not unaware-please do not make the mistake of giving them false sympathy. They chose to live there. They chose to become part of this warped legacy. I believe that they need to get in the real world for them to actually begin to heal. They are not victims. The current headmaster is a young person, lacking maturity and integrity. He has been trained well by the mother ship (C of J). My interactions with him have shown him for what he really is. He and SF are a devious pair. There is no doubt that they have and will be taken care of financially. Interesting. | ||
| tmw New member Username: tmw Post Number: 18 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 70.48.52.87 |
bonnieb My understanding as a student was that GCC was created in order to spread the CoJ "teachings". We were very aware of who MC and MJ were, and it seems to me they came for a visit to the school once while I was there. I can remember FF running around and alot of cleaning and fixing up. You'd have thought the queen was coming. Funny though, I don't remember actually seeing them. I remember when MC passed away, we were called from classes to the dining room and told. As for the financial aspect, I can remember FF speaking about the community and making reference to them as supporters/benefactors of GCC, but that's about all I can remember. nomadic I can honestly say that I was not surprised when I saw who the headmaster currently is. Knowing and remembering how the politics work in that school and understanding the relationships there, I am not surprised at all to hear what you have to say. As a matter of fact, there have been some alumni (non staff/staff kids) which have expressed your opinion directly to some board members. None of this has gone unnoticed. | ||
| bluesman New member Username: bluesman Post Number: 11 Registered: 5-2006 Posted From: 68.83.79.247 |
The school was started in 1969 by a group from a missionary body in Texas called Berean. The affiliation with the cofj did not start until 1973, when the school, foundering financially, invited Cay and Judy to visit. During a retreat, they delivered a new way of living to the staff and were credited with turning the school around and making it financially viable. This "new way of living" was their interpretation of Christianity, and included "speaking the truth in love" (brutal honesty) and group accountability ("light groups"). Much of that came out of various pop psychologies in the 60's and 70's, including the "tough love" movement. You can read more about it on other threads here on Factnet. Accordingly, the staff drank very deeply of the Kool-aid of this teaching, and its influence persists to this day. There is more that can be said, but this is a Reader's Digest version. If I got anything wrong, there are people here who can "correct" me! | ||
| tabby1979 New member Username: tabby1979 Post Number: 12 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 207.216.241.43 |
Bluesman - I believe this is the correct way it did start. My brother attended Berean Christian Schools in 1972 and I still have his year book (as he passed away). I was looking at it last night and it referred to AH and FF as Mr. Haig and Mr. Farnsworth. They were not Reverends at that time. Also, some people might remember the Snures - they were also there heading up the school as well...but they left I think after a year I was there. My brother only lasted a year I believe at the school. I would assume that my parents sent me there thinking they were sending me to the same type of school, but in fact it had changed since my brother's leaving. I started in 1976 and it had changed by then. | ||
| oneflewover New member Username: oneflewover Post Number: 6 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 216.191.155.82 |
hi tabby1979- i believe we have exchanged missives before on the old gcc alumni website if your brother is TG. I was a staff kid from '70-'75. Bluesman has it more or less right, I seem to remember A&MH going to CofJ and coming back saying they'd seen the future or words to that effect. It was after that that C&J came up and started spreading their poison to the rest of us. I'm not sure the school was in financial trouble then other than it was always a struggle in those early years. C&J let us all know that it would always be like this unless we let them help us help the students. I believe this is close to an exact quote: "How can you possibly think you're going to bring these poor kids to Christ when you're so full of sin yourselves. The haughtiness!!!!" It was after this that the focus of the school shifted from missionary training to brain washing. | ||
| tabby1979 New member Username: tabby1979 Post Number: 14 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 207.216.241.43 |
Hi Oneflewover...yes my brother was TG, God rest his soul. I think I know who you are lol, but if you can email me a private message at tabbytabby2000@hotmail.com I will take a wild stab at who you are. Talk later. Tab | ||
| dream_truth New member Username: dream_truth Post Number: 13 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 72.45.165.10 |
I hope this forum had something to do with their closing. All I can say from my experience as far as the relationship between GCC and CoJ is that Cay and Judy had such a strong influence over the school at the time I was sent there. I had caused some problems on the cape and they were concerned that I would cause some bad exposure for the CoJ (which I would have if they didnt send me to GCC) I believe the mothers wanted the staff at GCC to break me. And F squared did anything they told him to. Check out the links questiongirl posted on another thread to see how much GCC and CoJ fit into the criteria of a cult. | ||
| madeitanyway New member Username: madeitanyway Post Number: 2 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 24.141.149.191 |
The school closed mostly due to a lack of business skills and support. The past haunted them as someone above stated. THere was so little support from Alumni - either from money donated or sending their kids there. It was the fundamental problem of the school . For most of us, the school today (or rather last month) had little resemblance to the school we went to in the 70s and 80s. It was just a school. No light sessions, no kitchen duties, no six inch rule. No confessions or emotional beatings. The reason it closed is because of squandered money when they had it (the Chappel makes me sick) and lack of any concept of how to market and run a business. It was simply a case of everyone trying to pretend it was a mission, and missing the point that it was a school like so many others. The support from the CofJ in recent years was nominal, if at all. Even in the past, my understanding was that it was mostly through students being sent there rather than financial. But i don't really know about that. | ||
| phlebas New member Username: phlebas Post Number: 7 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 74.107.178.195 |
Madeitanyway, I like your statement about 'lack of business skills and support', but I would put a quite a different spin on it. ;) "Little support from Alumni"?! In my case (and two brothers who followed after me), it was zero to negative support (heck, call it sabotage if you want) of their reputation. I told parents of potential students (and the kids themselves) the truth about what the living conditions were really like, my experiences, and how I felt about the school and staff, especially Farnsworth, after I graduated. After graduation, or years later, when married with kids and talking to other parents, how many of GCC's Alumni really said anything positive of their experiences or recommend that anyone else send their kids into GCC's atmosphere. The best, positive marketing of a business will never overcome the negative testimonials of a lot of unhappy customers (students). Ironically, what you said (unintentionally?) is that discontinuing the practices that made GCC 'unique' (light sessions, confessions, etc...) was what did it in and made it just another school? No, alumni contribute to their alma mater (financially, spiritually, with their personal time, and by word of mouth advertising) because they feel grateful that it was a positive formative influence on their life, and they'll want their children to experience this too. My mother went to a girl's private (boarding) school in Toronto over 50 years ago. She loved her school experience and still tries to attend every Alumni gathering. (She was very disappointed she never had any daughters to send to her old school.) I won't argue that the school may have had a lot of facilities to maintain, but so do many other well-established private schools (UCC, Branksome, Havergal, etc.). Quality facilities attract students, and project an image of success. A school with a vibrant, supportive Alumni is the best advertising of all for a private (and even public) school and will ensure that prospective parents and students will consider the school in the first place. GCC instead abused and hurt many of its future alumni. As far as I'm concerned, in doing so, GCC ensured its eventual demise. (Message edited by Phlebas on September 07, 2007) (Message edited by Phlebas on September 07, 2007) | ||
| dan_grant New member Username: dan_grant Post Number: 14 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 142.59.68.139 |
Why is the school closing? I would like to think it is partly because the students who attended are now grown up and have families of their own. I don't know about you all but there isnt a hope in all of heaven I would have sent my children to GCC. Regardles of the cost, knowing what I know about the school first hand. So this begs the question...would you send your kids to GCC if it had not closed. Admins if you want to move this to a new thread please do. Later Dan | ||
| phlebas New member Username: phlebas Post Number: 20 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 207.236.90.177 |
Dan, I had heard that there were many changes in the school in the 'post-FF', including their approach to discipline and even who was made prefect. (I can't attest to its accuracy, though...) If the old administration was still running the show, not a chance in hell would I ever send my children to GCC. Although the point is moot now, were I to seriously consider sending my children to GCC, I would want to ask some of the more recent boarding students, say, in the last 5-7 years, how they felt about the school. I would also want to know the level of involvement of the COJ with GCC (0% would be appropriate!). And, I would be much more careful than my parents were about signing any legal agreement giving GCC carte blanche disciplinary rights without any later recourse. Since I don't really know about Mintz, I'm conditionally prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe he inherited the mess left behind by Farnsworth, but, on the other hand, I can't forget that there may still be some ties with the old administration. DK. | ||
| menla New member Username: menla Post Number: 8 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 24.226.29.124 |
For the time being I accept the story that they had financial woes, and I further speculate that they may have engaged in wreckless deficit-financing (e.g. mortaging school property) during the chapel-building years, which would fit with the general picture of then mismanagement. This is just pure speculation on my part. | ||
| tiny New member Username: tiny Post Number: 2 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 70.50.215.250 |
Hi Dan, we were at GCC at the same time. As for your question, NO WAY!! And if I heard anyone talk about sending their kids there, I would have done whatever I could to talk them out of it. A leopard cannot change its spots. As long as the COJ and FF were involved, and those hand picked replacements, things would not have changed much. | ||
| breaker_19_girl Intermediate Member Username: breaker_19_girl Post Number: 222 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 64.187.48.1 |
Hi tiny, I agree.... LOL You must have been there too when I was there.... Liane Ross lianeross@porchlight.ca | ||
| wagener84 Member Username: wagener84 Post Number: 82 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 199.214.192.50 |
"Tiny" Angus Janes. Hows it going big guy? |
