bonsai wrote:Basically what I found was very little that was out to describe the SES in any way that represents my experience of being in it, both as a foundation group member or as a pupil of St James. As an aside it is my experience of St James that the philosophy was so prevelant during my school life as to be unable to distinguish it as being different to the SES and when I did join a foundation group I found nothing different that I wasn't already exposed to in philosophy lessons or assemblies at school.
Finally three months into my search I acquired a copy of the Secret Cult and read it. I read it hoping to find a description of the SES that no longer applied but sadly here was the first description of the SES that came close to the experiences that I had. This book may have been written in 1985 but it described the organisation that I was a part of and that I left in 1993.
The Secret Cult asks the question about what is the purpose of the SES and comes up with an answer that it is a self serving organisation seeking its own power.
To be honest I am still left with this question and the more and more that I look the less I understand its purpose.
When I looked this morning at the Charity Commissions website to find the aims or constitution of the SES, I was alarmed to find the phrase "AND IN PARTICULAR BY ESTABLISHING OR MAINTAINING OR ASSISTING ONE OR MORE SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN."
In the recent statements from the governors following the Townend inquiry and in the Channel 4 news report St James and the SES ask us to disassociate the two organisations and that whilst staff at St James may bring their beliefs to the job they do there is no control exercised by one organisation on the other. Yet here in the purpose of the SES is its obligation to maintain schools such as St James.
The more I look at the SES, the more purposeless it appears. As an organisation it seems to fail to be able to define, in language that is understandable to the wider public, what it is.
There are people I know where SES beliefs have supplanted the beliefs of the religious traditions in which they were brought up, yet the SES is not a religion (so it says) There are those who attend SES to search for truth and that the SES is an ongoing inquiry for truth. There are people who attend because they have found friends there and they feel socially accepted. Then there are people who's whole life is absorbed in the SES and who work entirely under its influence.
I can not judge whether or not the SES lives up to its aims because I don't know what the aims are.
Bonsai
Bonsai
I have stubmled on this thread during one of my sporadic visits to this forum and congratulate you for raising a fascinating issue that seems to encompass so much that is problematic with St James and the SES.
The purpose of the SES throughout its history appears to have shifted focus many times. Initially a group of intelligent people wishing to study the economics and social politics of their time (1930's post Depression). When the eastern mysticism was introduced in the 1960's the study of economics, land ownership etc.. was gradually devalued by the then leader Leon 'Big Mac' MacLaren. The next big event came in the mid 1970's with the formation of St James and later St Vedast - against the wishes of Big Mac it should be noted. Insistent parents created the schools and pestered Big Mac for guidance although his heart was never in it - cue 'The Secret Cult' of 1983 and Big Mac reacted with an "I told you so attitude". result: St Vedast closes but St James expands and grows.
In the meantime the SES remains devoted to the development of a complex esoteric knowledge hierarchy - although strangely those with knowledge AND money rise faster up the hierarchy. Philosophy material is rewritten by Raz and becomes the basis of Part 1 and St James classroom tuition. Study of economics now relegated to small obscure cliques.
1992 sees Big Mac resigned to his role as 'Governor' of St James and passing judgement on a case of sexual antics between 2 pupils in Sixth form. Liaison had occurred outside school hours and outside shcool premisis yet the meddling hand of the unelected 'shadow governance' passed judgement despite objections from 'real' governors.
1995 Miss Caldwell's successor is appointed by the 'shadow governor', now Lambie, without consultation, let alone sanction, of the full elected governing body.
1996 Imminent move of Boys' school to Twickenham - predominantly a white middle-class suburb. Report commissioned by Lambie and governors to assess the perception of St James by the public and its operating structure. The conclusions of its author were not what Lambie wanted to hear and it was supressed.
Obviously there are some minor changes to the facade of the schools but there remains a dependence on the incestuous relationship between St James and the SES. Governors are still all committed SES members and Lambie is still the 'shadow governor'.
Are we going to see any significant change in the structure of the school governance in the proposed 'reshuffle' at the end of this term? - I doubt it.
Will any non-SES members/sympathisers be appointed as governors? - I doubt it.
Will we see the establishment of a PTA? - I doubt it
If my doubts are confirmed - what then? Will St James and the SES continue its usual practice of struthious arrogance or is there a genuine desire to address the problems that it currently faces? I would be delighted if they took the correct and honourable course of action, I am however extremely doubtful that they have the courage to admit their mistakes or the vision to embrace the necessary changes for the benefit of all.
The (in)action of the SES speaks volumes to me about its purpose - to remain insular without engaging with the real world. Although the real world to them is something entirely different and in fact the world is only an illusion that distracts us from the real world. If that sounds confusing - it is meant to and to find out the Truth of it you will have to join the SES, I'm afraid.
The SES is an EXTREMELY wealthy organisation that could be conducting research of the highest level into genuine issues and problems that face society. The social economics of LLoyd George were an inspiration in the 1930's and are still relevant (maybe more so) today. Rather than engage in this kind of activity the SES continues to massage its own ego with self-satisfying events such as AinA.