Would you send your child to this school?

[Marseeya]

Actually, this is the school my husband went to years ago. He thrived there. Somedays he would go and just lay on a couch and read all day. Since you can pick what classes you want to take he mainly focused on the math and sciences since those interested him the most. This is where he fell in love with woodworking, and by the time he graduated he was able to get a very good job as a finish carpenter/cabinet maker. Out of all the friends of his I've met who went to the same school, every single one raved about the positive experience they had at the school. If we lived in the area I'd send my kids there in a heartbeat.

How interesting! Was he there when they wrote any of their books? The one I read was Free at Last and it was really interesting.

Also, what did you think of my comment that the success of the students depends on the type of parents the kids have? Are the parents of those kids a little more intellectual and a little more involved than most parents? Is that what your in-laws are like?

I'm surprised to see the number of people in this thread that are so familiar with these schools.

 

[Marseeya]

I love this school!!! I went to a workshop there a few years ago. I helped start a Sudbury School in Houston. I was a staff member. The problem was that my boys were only two when I was working to get it started. We were there all the time and I burnt them out. Now I home school, but when they want to go to school it will be a Sudbury School. I have done a ton of research on graduates, it is amazing what they have done. I have also met many students, they would come down and help us. You would not believe how great they are.

So, do you think only a certain type of student would thrive there? What about unmotivated kids? Or kids with learning disabilities? Or kids with below average intelligence? What was it like being a staff member?

Sorry for all the questions! But I'm just really interested in this.

 

[Skylarr29]

I would also liek to know more info on people who are first hand experience with the school. I like the idea ina way but I do have concerns.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I'm sure the kids love that enviroment, but I have never seen any evidence that those kids actually learn as much or as well as the other method. I work with a guy who has two kids. The boy went to public school for kindergarden and he learned to read. He then went to one of these schools. He loves to read and is now in 6th grade. His younger sister (4th grade) went there the entire time. And guess what, she cannot read and does not want to learn to read. The parents are divorced. I think that the Dad is having second thoughts about the school choice. He is worried she will never read. Why read when you can play?

 

[chrissyk]

I have just spent some more time reading this and I am not too sure about it. I dont like the fact that "nothing" is really enforced as far as "traditional" education. That is what would worry me. I also wonder about safety ... one of the schools in Maryland(where I want to move soon) says there are woods for students to roam and creeks and fields etc. I just wonder if an adult would be with them or not. Teenagers will be teenagers ( hormones etc.) no matter what, so that kind of worries me... I also wouldnt let my 5 year old go wondering alone through woods or by creeks etc. All the pictures they show dont really ever have any adults in them. I also dont like the fact that there is no standard teaching credentials for the staff.... they do not even have to have any teaching certificates it says on the site and that they hire staff by a student and teacher vote. This sounds more like a summer camp to me. I also wonder a little about the real world later on. When in the work force you do have to learn how to take orders and keep a schedualed life etc. Exploring is great... learning socialazation skills is great... I just dont think complete freedom is right especially for a 5 year old. I mean what if your child doesnt learn to read??? Is that OK since no one every has a set class etc???

I went to private school in MA. I can say for sure that there is no law that private school teachers have to be certified. Therefore, the teachers at this particular school may or may not have teaching credentials. I would guess that most don't, but that's just as a result of my own personal experience in private school in the same state.

 

[Skylarr29]

I went to private school in MA. I can say for sure that there is no law that private school teachers have to be certified. Therefore, the teachers at this particular school may or may not have teaching credentials. I would guess that most don't, but that's just as a result of my own personal experience in private school in the same state.

Wow I didnt know that. Thanks.

 

[In a hurry]

I think the idea is terrific, but I wouldn't do it. Sad, but true. I think most kids would thrive in that environment, but it is just too odd for me.

It would be very difficult for me to teach in such a school, with 20 years of trad. teaching under my belt.

 

[Daxx]

Question for you then. Would you like to teach in a school like that? I really think I would! (I'll be teaching language arts)

I don't believe either of my kids would do well in that type of setting either. I think I would, though. Wouldn't you love to have kids coming to you because they WANT to learn what you're teaching???

It'd be great to have kids come to me b/c they wanted to learn what I'm teaching. However, it seems like the teachers do more supervising and guiding than actual lesson teaching (at least that's the impression I received from the website). Don't get me wrong -- guiding and supervising is considered teaching ...

I don't think I'd like to teach in a school like that b/c I'm more into structure and following a day-to-day lesson plan. I think it would be very difficult for me to just "let loose"! Like most kids, I thrive on structure!

 

[jaimee1024]

I would be curious to see some info on what these kids do after they leave this school. How many go to college? How many go on to make a successful living? This school would not work for my DD. She is not very self motivated and needs someone to encourage her a bit!

 

[chrissyk]

Wow I didnt know that. Thanks.

Private school teacher certification requirements (or lack thereof) may vary by state...I should have said that in my post. One of the reasons that I am so wary of private schools is because mine had NO certified teachers. The result was pretty disasterous. I know that certification doesn't guarantee anything, but at least it's a baseline of some sort.

How many kids attend this "Sudbury School"? With tuition at less than 6K per kid (and based on a sliding scale for siblings), I can't imagine that they are exactly flush with cash to attract the best "teachers" either.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Is there anything about whether or not criminal background checks are done on these teachers? I know in the state of MD that all people who work with children have to be fingerprinted including teachers. I am at work and can't really get into reading that site.

 

[solferino]

Is there anything about whether or not criminal background checks are done on these teachers? I know in the state of MD that all people who work with children have to be fingerprinted including teachers. I am at work and can't really get into reading that site.

CORI checks are required by ALL staff members and parents who volunteer at MA schools.

And although the tuition is low it does not mean there are necessarily low-brow teachers. The school my daughter goes to has an excellent teaching staff, and tuition is low because of donations made by families and alumni families.

And would I send my child there? Absolutely, but it's because it would work for her. Would a place like that work everyone else's kids? Absolutely not, it all depends on the child and the philosophies of their family. For our family public schools in this area are simply not an option. And if we were closer to Framingham she'd probably be there now, but that's a commute I'm not willing to make. So in the meantime we've got a structured curriculum with a Sudbury feel. It's all good..

 

[chrissyk]

CORI checks are required by ALL staff members and parents who volunteer at MA schools.

And although the tuition is low it does not mean there are necessarily low-brow teachers. The school my daughter goes to has an excellent teaching staff, and tuition is low because of donations made by families and alumni families.

And would I send my child there? Absolutely, but it's because it would work for her. Would a place like that work everyone else's kids? Absolutely not, it all depends on the child and the philosophies of their family. For our family public schools in this area are simply not an option. And if we were closer to Framingham she'd probably be there now, but that's a commute I'm not willing to make. So in the meantime we've got a structured curriculum with a Sudbury feel. It's all good..

I'm not sure which school your daughter attends, but I can attest to the fact that the private pre-K-8 that I attended had HORRID "teachers"...I'm 100% certain that this was because of the low pay. They couldn't attract real teachers because they paid next-to-nothing. Maybe that does depend on alumni donations, though. I can't imagine that too many alumni are donating to my elementary school The tuition there was a lot higher than this Sudbury school tuition and that was 20 years ago. I just had to scratch my head and wonder how much the teachers at the Sudbury school could possibly be paid well with the school charging such low tuition rates. Maybe they do get some bang-up donations from alums, though.