Is Will Smith's new school a front for Scientology?

New York, July 1 : Rumours that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith are scientologists have been fuelled after the couple funded a new school using Scientology teaching methods.

The "Hancock" star and his wife are funding a new school in Los Angeles that reportedly uses Scientology teaching methods, and even has many scientologists as teachers.

Called New Village Academy, the school will be open its doors to students on Sept. 3 and is part of the couple's pursuit to help support those involved with the arts and education. In an interview with the L.A. Times, Jacqueline Olivier, who was appointed administrator of the new school a year ago and has been responsible for hiring teachers since, claimed that the school bears no religious affiliation.

She also said that some in the staff are Scientologists, while others are Muslim, Christian and Jewish. But one of the school's teaching methods, called "study technology," has been developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

This method is believed to be a legitimate teaching method by many, while theer are those who argue that it's another tactic for Scientologists to recruit members.

Though both Will and Jada Pinkett are pals with Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and other celebu-Scientologists, they claim that they do not follow the controversial religion.

ANI