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Yes. Rules governing the day-to-day life of the school are made at the weekly School Meeting which is open to all students and staff and where everyone, regardless of age, gets one vote. These rules ensure that the school maintains an environment that is comfortable and useful for those who spend their days there. The rules are enforced by the school's Judicial Committee, on which all students and staff must serve in turn. Back to TopHow does this school ensure that students learn the "basics"? Primarily, the school ensures that students learn the basic skills they need to get along in the world by staying out of their way. This sounds counter-intuitive, but this approach has been turning out competent graduates from similar schools for years. The school's philosophy is that, much more important than learning specific skills at certain ages, is learning how to learn. Students who are given the freedom to explore their own interests at their own pace gain a deep understanding of how they personally learn best, and how to acquire the resources to facilitate this learning. They are then able to apply these skills to any subject area with great success. Students at The Beach School are trusted to tap into their own learning skills in order to learn the basics, just as their parents trusted them to learn to walk and talk when they were young children. Of course, students at the school are always able to ask for guidance if they want it. We live in a culture
where certain fundamental skills such as reading, writing, and basic math
are extremely important. Students who are given the freedom to explore all
aspects of this culture at will realize that they need these basic skills
in order to fulfill their goals. Students who learn 'the basics' on their
own schedule, because they are intrinsically motivated to do so, learn
more easily and are more likely to challenge themselves.
Back to TopWhat if a student has different interests than everyone else at school? Because everyone is
unique, it is not unusual for a student to have an interest that no one
else at the school shares. Often the activities of one student or staff
will spark the interest of others in the school community. However,
students are encouraged to pursue their interests, whether or not anyone
else wants to join in. If a student feels that he needs expertise or
guidance which is not available in the school community, the school can
arrange for an expert be brought in to teach classes or the student may be
a good candidate for an off-campus internship. Back to TopHow will children be prepared for the real world? Some people feel that the freedom students have at The Beach School does not reflect the realities students will have to face as adults. However, the school actually models itself on the 'real world', as opposed to many traditional schools which instead say they 'prepare' students for challenges they will not actually face until later in life. At The Beach School, as in the adult world, students mix with people of all ages. They must plan their own activities. They must set their own goals and determine when they have met them. They must learn to work within the rules imposed by the community, or else work towards changing those rules. They must take responsibility for their own actions, which the school believes is the best way to teach the responsibility needed to function effectively as adults. Back to TopThe school community functions somewhat like a large family. Young and old learn from each other and look out for one another. This reflects the reality of life in the community at large. Age-mixing also reduces the harsh comparison students who are grouped by age may make about their abilities and those of others. Back to TopThe Beach School's philosophy supports self-evaluation, which is an important life skill that encourages intrinsic motivation. For this reason, staff do not undertake to test students except at their request. The school does not issue report cards or grades. If parents wish to discuss their child's school activities with staff, they may schedule a meeting at which the student is present. During this conference, the student can report on his or her accomplishments, and the staff can discuss their observations of the student at school. Back to TopParents are valuable
members of the school community who serve in a number of roles. Their most
important role, of course, is as a source of support and encouragement for
their children's chosen activities. Parents with specific areas of
expertise may also serve as resources for any students who share their
interests. The school also welcomes parents who are willing to provide
extra supervision on field trips. All adults who come into regular contact
with students must, for safety reasons, file a criminal background check
with the school. Parents, along with students, staff, and elected public
members, are also part of the school's Assembly body, which has authority
over the school's by-laws and makes financial and legal decisions. As
Assembly members, parents may stand for election to the school's Board of
Directors. Back to TopWhat kind of students should and should not attend the school? Any child who is able to be responsible for his or her own behavior and well-being is welcome at the school. Interested parents of children with special needs are encouraged to talk to us on an individual basis. Students who have previously been diagnosed with conditions such as ADD/ADHD or other learning disabilities may find that The Beach School's philosophy of education suits their learning style better than more traditional methods, and that they can focus better in this environment. Back to TopWhat about my child's past school history? The only enrolment requirements at The Beach School are that the student be able to take responsibility for her own actions, and that her family believe in the school's educational philosophy. Students who come from other educational situations will find that The Beach School is very different than traditional schools, and that the school can be a nourishing environment for students with both positive and negative past educational experiences. Back to TopDoes this kind of school attract "problem" kids? The Beach School attracts people who prefer its philosophy to that of their other educational options. Some people do seek out The Beach School because they have had difficult experiences in other educational settings. However, over 30 years of experience at similar schools has shown that these students often resolve their difficulties on their own once they are in a 'Sudbury' school. Many of the difficulties these students have had in the past do not stem from the fact that they are 'problem kids', but from the fact that they were failing to conform to the expectations of others. Many times what these students really need is an environment in which they are encouraged to follow their own paths. In this environment they can recover their belief in themselves and thus resolve the root cause of their difficulties. Back to TopWhat are Sudbury Schools' post-secondary attendance statistics? These are the statistics from a 1991 study of hundreds of alumni of the original Sudbury Valley School:
More information on
Sudbury Valley School alumni is available in Legacy of Trust: Life
After the Sudbury Valley School Experience by Daniel Greenberg and
Mimsy Sadofsky, which can be ordered through Sudbury Valley School Press
at: http://www.sudval.org/02_book_06.html. Back to TopI want to stay updated on the school status, how do I do it? There are two ways to keep up to date with the school status. You can check the website for updates or you can join our email list. To join the email list, simply send an email to: info@thebeachschool.org requesting updates. Back to Top |