When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I decided to put the children in charge.
I hesitate to call an idea stupid (OK, I really don’t), but in the history of stupid ideas, this gets top billing right next to getting involved in a land war in Asia and “Flock of Seagulls” haircuts.
The idea? Schools entirely run by kids. Little kids.
What could go wrong?
December 28, 2010 at 4:52 pm
I don't know whether to laugh, scream or hurl the monitor across the room.
December 28, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Oh, c'mon. Sudbury schools have been around for a long time; they produce interesting kids. Read the literature on them before you take a video clip as the definitive view of the process or the product.
December 28, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Um…..this is why America is falling apart at the seams.
December 28, 2010 at 8:32 pm
This is not why America is falling apart at the seams. For crying out loud, the problem started before the 60's when these schools were started.
Your logic would only make sense if most schools were run this way. If schools are failing it's because the adults in charge are failing them not because kids are learning how to make choices. It would be wise to really visit these schools rather than rely on a puff piece designed to create sensationalism.
December 28, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Did anyone else catch the remark about "homeschooling" (connected with anarchy)from the enlightened critic?
I think "unschooling" in any form is risky, but I know several homeschooling families that carry it off very well, and have children with grad-school degrees.
Not really my cup of tea, but I have to respect a parent's choice, as long as the kids are physically safe, and making progress.
I agree with "Ladybug", there is a lot missing from this story.
December 28, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Over the past 40 years, 80% of Sudbury school alumni have been successful in college. More than 40% are entrepreneurs. There might just be more to this educational model than meets the eye.
Isn't it a bit ironic that a site that calls itself "creative minority report" generally takes the American mainstream approach on education, parenting and birth 😉 ?
December 29, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Agree with Barefoot Mommy. What is being missed here is that the schools are not anarchistic. Not even close to Lord of the Flies. They are democratic. The entire school – all ages, from kindergarten up through adulthood – has to work together to run the school. They are not allowed to do things until they learn how. For example, they have to become licensed in the kitchen before they are allowed to use it. It is all very civilized. And it is not a new idea, as a previous commenter said, the schools have been around since the 60s.
December 29, 2010 at 8:15 pm
I posted a more detailed response over at Mr. Madrid's site (as Joseph) – but, just to reinforce what Rachel and Barefoot Mommy mention above – a bunch of hard-headed New England Yankees (not hippies) founded the original Sudbury Valley school back in '60s largely in response to the abject failure of the current schools to produce *citizens* worthy of a free society. You can't turn responsibility on and off like a spigot – either you let kids be responsible, and suffer the consequences, OR you end up micro managing their lives. The first way stands a chance of producing responsible adults who will be patriotic in the sense that George Washington was patriotic – he acted as a father *to* his country. The second produces what we've got – easily managed cattle who can't think their way out of wet paper bag, even to the point of taking the side of the NEA and the Teacher's Unions in a debate about how to educate children.
December 29, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Ms Archibold's site, I mean – too many tabs open at once!
December 29, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Yes. Exactly what Joseph said.