About Us

Mission Statement

We provide an educational experience grounded in the belief that learning flourishes in freedom. By operating a day school where children ages 5-18 can choose their own daily activities, inside the school or in the surrounding community, we foster the growth of mature and responsible young adults who will continue to love learning throughout their lives.

Three Pillars of the School

Self-initiated learning

The school community will never compel the participation of an individual in an academic activity. The goal is to preserve the joy of learning and produce graduates with self-motivation. Read more

Self-evaluation by individuals

The school will encourage its members to evaluate the results of their efforts themselves, rather than issuing "assessments" of any kind. The goal is to produce graduates with self-knowledge. Read more

Self-governing community

Full participation in policy setting and rule enforcement activities will be open to all members of the school community. The goal is to produce mature graduates who are prepared to be responsible citizens of a democratic society. Read more

Method

Rather than attempting to correct the existing K-12 model of education, we begin with a model of education which is known to work -- the university -- and modify it for students who are not yet adults.

1. The school will track attendance, as it must, in order to comply with New York State laws for minors.
2. There will be no required course of study, sequences, or majors. Students will decide for themselves how to spend their time. The school will offer "on-demand" instruction. Such instruction may take a variety of forms, including: a class which meets regularly for an extended period of time, a short series of workshops, a one-time guest speaker, or a trip to an off-site activity.
3. The school will not attempt to discourage activities which constitute safe forms of play. Instead, it will recognize that what adults call "play" is how children learn about the world and develop their abilities. The school will work to create an idea-rich environment, in which children's natural play can discover the wide variety of human experience.

Like a university, the school will provide the space and tools necessary for children to perform their own research into the world around them. It will provide teachers who bring the perspective of experience and accumulated knowledge as a resource for students to tap.

The teaching staff will be a resource in two ways:

1. Respond to student questions and requests for assistance or mentoring.
2. Provide a diverse menu of instruction available from staff and community members.

The second item above distinguishes this model of school from other concepts of "free schooling" or "unschooling". Teachers will uphold the principle of non-compulsion and trust students' ability to direct their own learning, but will not allow a fear of unduly dominating young minds to prevent teachers from offering their own ideas and interests for students to examine and consume. Teachers will model their interaction with students on the template of a college professor; they will offer instruction, be available for mentoring, and also pursue their own fields of interest, as a means of creating a rich, creative environment for students to enjoy.