My experience of going to the "I AM" School which was then in Santa Fe, New Mexico was one of the amazing experiences of my life. It allowed me to see (by being away from my parents from October 1965 until May 1966) that my parents were really good people and it bonded me to my parents in a whole new way that was useful to us the rest of our lives as son and parents. It also was wonderful because I didn't have to defend myself against knife or chain attacks or have to be ALWAYS on guard to defend myself or anyone else at any time while I was in public School in Glendale, California. It was a relief to be the biggest and the strongest and the oldest kid in a school I was attending there almost 1 thousand miles away from my home in the Los Angeles area. It ushered me into adulthood and helped me become the very kind and benevolent and yet strong person that I have become in all ways. Though I was only there during most of one school year (my senior year in high school) I have never regretted going to this private school almost 1000 miles away from home. Though the school has moved several times since then and is now in Mt. Shasta, California I'm sure the students who have gone to and graduated from it all are grateful for the safety and lack of physical and mental intimidation and being worried for their lives that going to the "I AM" school would most be remembered for in most people. It also always is a prep school that ushers one quickly into college if that is their wish. The biggest problem for me when I went to the school is that at that time the idea of evolution was not a part of the curriculum and likely still isn't. So, when I tried to go to a college the next year I took a Social Science Course where evolution was taught and it took me until I was 21 until I could reconcile evolution into my world awareness so it interfaced perfectly into my being as a part of my ongoing reality. So, for me this was the only negative in going to the "I AM" School. I suppose if you were only going to be an "I AM" lay minister this wouldn't matter. But for me, living in Los Angeles (in the world) and not in a seminary environment this was one of the hardest things psychologically for me to deal with as a young person. Though the "I AM" movement and I separated when I was 21 years of age when I found that any one religion was too small a world view for me, I have never forgotten all the kindnesses that people showed me while I was attending the "I AM" school and I see how many could still benefit from this kind of "non-violent" education. Home schooling is good but to have people sharing your ideas and being helpful as a group as in a school like this I found very helpful at the time.
They just sent me a flyer regarding their 75th Anniversary as a school, here is a quote from the flyer, "Beloved Saint Germain's "I AM" School is well into the beginning of its 2011/2012 school year. This is a special year for us on many fronts; first this marks our 75th Anniversary. The inception of the "I AM" School came in 1936, from the impelling, inner urge of seven children and three instructors. The children refused to return to public school; it was their desire that began the foundation for what the "I AM" School is today."
"The first graduating class was in 1937."
If you wish to donate or to go to this school it is at:
118 Siskiyou Avenue
Mt. Shasta, California 96067
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