A "prototype" child?
Sometimes the word "bizarre" doesn't cover it. From a TU story by James Odato about NXIVM, the org based in Colonie and Clifton Park:
The boy is 3 years old. He lives with a 40-year-old woman who is not his biological mother. And he is the first-ever enrollee in a unique educational project.
He is Gaelen, and he is being raised by Kristin Keeffe, a devotee of the secretive enterprise called NXIVM. It isn't clear where the child came from.
The boy has become part of a unique program begun by self-improvement organization NXIVM founder Keith Raniere called the "Rainbow Cultural Garden" aimed at helping youngsters master several languages. As a result, the child has been under the care of a number of different nannies, some from foreign nations, each using one of five different languages.
You'll want to read the whole article, which reports "the boy doesn't seem harmed."
The New York Post picks up on the story today:
The little boy has become the real-life "prototype" for what Raniere has publicly touted as a "revolutionary educational protocol" for children, the sources said.
On Raniere's orders, the child is kept away from other kids -- and much of the outside world -- so he doesn't pick up the bad habits of "parasites" and "subversives," according to the sources.
A local blog, Saratoga in Decline, has been following the NXIVM story closely, which doesn't seem to have gone over well with the org.
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Comments
oh please, oh please, oh please, let someone from OCFS read this....
... said komradebob on Jul 26, 2010 at 6:15 PM | link
Well, I'm officially frightened now.
... said Kevin Marshall on Jul 26, 2010 at 6:54 PM | link
Ah, Keith finally found a child to be "the one". I think his ex-girlfriend made some claim about him fathering a child who would have super intelligence and lead the world.
I feel really bad for this kid and what will happen to him.
... said Luciferian on Jul 26, 2010 at 7:57 PM | link
Thanks for the link.New info will be coming out in the future.You just can't make this stuff up.
... said John on Jul 26, 2010 at 9:15 PM | link
I know someone who associates with the girls from this group, and boy did he NOT see what they were trying to do to him and he is a grown, educated man. Let's hope someone stops this.
... said CommonSense on Jul 26, 2010 at 11:22 PM | link
So this child will be really bright, socially thwarted with attachment issues! Where is Children's Protective Services when you need them. Better yet, find his parents because they need their heads examined.
... said Cathy on Jul 27, 2010 at 12:10 AM | link
This seems like a fantastic idea. I can't see any circumstances where this could be seen as anything other than brilliant. It will probably work out really well for this kid.
... said Kerosena on Jul 27, 2010 at 9:50 AM | link
Let me premise my comment by saying that this is the first time I have read anything about NXIVM. I had no idea something like this existed in the Capital Region.
I just ask that anyone who reads this article saying, "Where is Child Protective Services and how come they're not doing anything?" take a step back and evaluate the big picture. My guess is that Gaelen is well-fed, well-clothed, and has a warm bed to call his own every night. Check out any one of the multiple urban elementary schools in the area. When CPS ignores or is unable to provide assistance, despite several school professionals making calls, for an 8-year-old coming into school unable to stay awake the entire day because she was up all night caring for her baby brother. And when that same 8-year-old doesn't have a bed in her bedroom, while mom is glued to the giant flatscreen TV in the living room, we have a real problem.
Please don't read this post as evidence of someone wanting to share horror stories or passive aggressively saying, "anything you can do I can do better..."
The NXIVM/Gaelen/Raniere story? Weird. Bizarre. No doubt. Based on the information provided through the TU story, Saratoga Blog, and NYP -- of course we're left with more questions. But let's be realistic here.
... said Jason on Jul 27, 2010 at 1:45 PM | link
I find it odd that none of these media outlets have been able to dig up easily obtained video of this kid demonstrating his powers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXKFTzlBziI
Journalists, Hmph!
... said daleyplanit on Jul 27, 2010 at 2:43 PM | link