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The School of Economic Science (SES) is an organisation based in Mandeville Place, London, founded by Leon MacLaren in 1937. Originally constituted to facilitate the study of economics, over time it came to focus on philosophy, particularly the Hindu tradition of Advaita Vedanta as propagated by Shri Shantananda Saraswati. In North America the SES is also known as the Practical Philosophy Foundation, or by other similar names. In Australia, it is known as the School of Philosophy.

It was founded to 'promote the study of natural laws governing human society'.

Originally set up to promote the study of economics, more fundamental questions arose. Coming in touch with a member of the old Ouspensky philosophical school the school adapted the Gurdjieff teaching (Ouspenskys style). That, coupled with Vedic religion.

The 1970's saw the founding of two new independent schools for children, known as the St James Independent Schools, with the object of 'restoring and revitalising the best educational traditions coupled with the philosophical principles taught by the School'.

1977 saw the founding of the annual Art in Action festival, a four day celebration of creativity and craftsmanship. This event continues to the present day and now attracts nearly 30,000 visitors over the four days it is held

There are currently also 19 branches of the School in Great Britain.

Contents 1 The Past 2 SES run children's schools 3 Related 4 External links

In 1986 the SES was the subject of the exposé book "Secret Cult" by Peter Hounam and Andrew Hogg, where they allege the SES is a cult created for the purpose of creating a hierarchy of leaders and followers. A term's course costs £75 (£20 full time students) none of the tutors are paid and none of the senior members exhibit signs of personal enrichment from the process. Apparently while the under cover journalists were on their 'stake outs' they were offered cups of tea by members of the school. The book was taglined as a A full expose of a strange and destructive organization that is penetrating the corridors of power. There were apparently links with key members of the Liberal party in Britain.

The book detailed how the school offers evening courses in 'philosophy' without mentioning that their inner-beliefs are based on the philosophy of Advaita. Nowadays the School is very open about what it teaches. Throughout the late 1960's and early 70's advertisements with the bold heading "PHILOSOPHY - a course of evening classes" could be seen throughout the London underground (tube) stations. Such classes have been held throughout Britain since. What is taught is a particular philosophy. After some time the student will be invited to a meditation initiation ceremony which is of vedantic inspiration.

Recently former pupils of the SES-run St James and St Vedast Schools in London have alleged mistreatment and excessive corporal punishment in the schools during the 1970s & 1980s.

In January 2006 a private independent inquiry, funded by the schools, published its report. Its chairman James Townend QC made findings that 'mental and physical mistreatment' of pupils had occurred, including 'criminal assaults' by teachers, over a ten year period between 1975 and 1985. Following internal disciplinary hearings which resulted in two of the teachers being given a formal warning, the school has stated that all three may remain in their teaching posts.

Mr Townend's report concluded with a number of reflections, including the fact that there has been 'a real change of ethos and conduct of the schools' since those early days.

In 2002 the Plato School in Amsterdam closed due to declining attendance following two Police investigations into illegal physical punishments. In 1996 the school, run by the Dutch SES branch, the School Voor Filosofie was subject to a joint investigation by the Dutch Police and Education Department, following multiple complaints of corporal punishment, which is illegal in Dutch schools. Three teachers escaped prosecution by paying fines. In 2000 The school Head was removed from his post and fined by the Police after an investigation into an assault on two pupils.

• School of Practical Philosophy
• Advaita Vedanta

• SES homepage
• Further information on the book 'Secret Cult'
• http://www.iirep.com/ Independent Inquiry Report
• newspaper articles on SES childrens schools - UK and Netherlands
• another critique of the school
• A message-board containing mostly negative and critical views of the school by ex-SES students
• The St James Report - an internal investigation into the St James School by School Governor Marco Goldshmied in 1996
• Channel 4 News UK video report on the St James Report