I feel sorry for the girls who are suing Hyde School. They needed character education and obviously missed their chance for it.

Our son, Drew, attended Hyde School in the 1990s. We chose Hyde over other private high schools for its policy of family involvement and also because it did not intend to break down a child in order to “reform” him. We liked its guiding principles and felt that they were very much in line with our own character development goals. As a mom, teacher, writer and psychologist, Hyde’s philosophy was — and still is — healthy and beneficial to the whole family if the parents are willing to be in discovery mode, not defensive mode.

I understand from the girls’ own words that they were suffering from sexual abuse, depression and alcohol abuse. Those are issues for therapists and doctors. Hyde School promises and delivers character education, scholastic excellence and new experiences in performance, athletics, academics, nature, and especially self-awareness. Hyde parents get to challenge themselves in these areas, too.

The real story about Hyde is a positive one, an inspirational one.

Ellen Peterson
Lafayette, Calif.