When considering the controversies linked to Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, it\u2019s easy to recall Jada\u2019s candid revelations on \u201cRed Table Talk\u201d and the unforgettable 2022 Oscars incident. However, in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the couple found themselves at the centre of a different controversy \u2013 their now-shuttered school, New Village Leadership Academy.<\/p>\n
Jada Pinkett Smith shared that the inspiration for the school came after parents expressed interest in the homeschooling lessons she provided for her own children, Jaden and Willow Smith. In 2008, with Will\u2019s support, they turned this vision into reality, opening New Village Leadership Academy. The institution aimed to offer students daily nutritious meals, essential resources like laptops, and a commitment to fostering diversity, presenting an attractive alternative to mainstream education. However, controversy arose due to a significant portion of the curriculum being rooted in \u201cstudy technology,\u201d a method developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.<\/p>\n
Despite the couple\u2019s repeated assurances that the school was not affiliated with Scientology, it became labeled as such in headlines. This association proved difficult to dispel, leading to ongoing misconceptions even after the school\u2019s closure. However, the actual reason behind the controversial school\u2019s closure was far less scandalous.<\/p>\n
The school\u2019s curriculum, based on L. Ron Hubbard\u2019s study technology, emphasized hands-on learning, comprehensive understanding of each topic, and a concept known as \u201cmisunderstood word.\u201d Some educators involved with the school expressed reservations about this approach. Jacqueline Olivier, the former head of school, highlighted that the \u201cmisunderstood word\u201d method hindered progress, as students were required to fully grasp every word before proceeding. Another educator, Mariappan Jawaharlal, criticized the lack of structured curriculum, stating that children were often left to their own devices. Although controversial, this unconventional approach aligned with the educational philosophy Pinkett Smith applied in homeschooling her own children.<\/p>\n
However, the school ultimately closed in 2013 due to financial reasons. The couple\u2019s commitment to offering free education, along with generous salaries for teachers, played a significant role in the school\u2019s financial strain. Despite these challenges, Will and Jada did their utmost to sustain the institution, evident in the fundraising efforts showcased on the school\u2019s Facebook page, where memorabilia like shoes worn by Pinkett Smith in an interview with Oprah Winfrey were auctioned off. The reasons behind the school\u2019s closure have never been directly addressed by the couple.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When considering the controversies linked to Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, it\u2019s easy to recall Jada\u2019s candid revelations on\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":294,"featured_media":3820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[957,1019],"class_list":["post-3819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-news","tag-jada-smith","tag-will-smith"],"reading_time":"2 min read","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/294"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}