Blog

The first two weeks of this school year were blessed with superb weather. It was sunny and cool and the outdoors was full of students who were using the whole campus for their myriad of activities: conversing, reading, taking walks and so much more… Read more ›
It was one of those days that everyone was having so much fun, no one remembered to take many pictures. The day was wonderful from the very beginning to the very last second. A day in which the dilemma that was encountered was where to eat dinner.… Read more ›
When I was in Israel (the country of my birth) this summer, I visited two thriving schools inspired by Sudbury Valley. Both are filled to capacity and growing fast, with a current total of over 200 students between them. What was especially… Read more ›
While I was reading Daniel Greenberg's essay (“Are 1000 Pictures Worth One Word?”) on why it has been so difficult to convey the SVS experience in film and pictures, I found myself thinking about the evolution of my own understanding about what… Read more ›
During the last Open House, in October of 2015, there was a remarkable interaction. It didn't surprise me, but it greatly pleased me. Unfortunately, I don't think the guests who were with me had enough context for what they saw to appreciate it.… Read more ›
When you walk into the art room on any Monday or Wednesday, you can hear an almost constant murmur which turns out to be coming from several kids sitting at the clay table or at the two wheels working with clay. Some are throwing pots, others are… Read more ›
If I had to choose one topic to place at the very core of every child's educational experience, I would have no trouble identifying it: how to deal with failure. Yet, this is the subject most assiduously ignored in traditional mainstream schools. On… Read more ›
It wasn’t even an eventful day. Yet things happened that stood out, as always. First there was a relatively innocuous moment that started the day. It seems that the people who run the daily concession had found an innovative way to store some of the… Read more ›
From the very beginning of Sudbury Valley, cooking has been an activity enjoyed by many members of the community. The people working in the kitchen always have great fun, mixing ingredients, making messes, tasting, joking, and hanging out together.… Read more ›
Age mixing is a constant phenomenon at school. We see it so much that it is not remarkable to us any longer. However, at the annual Halloween dance the “mixing” is part of the fun, and is obvious for all to see. For me, it is still amazing to watch… Read more ›
When we first enrolled our girls in SVS, I thought the emphasis on having both parents and kids sign things was a little silly or forced. The kids were nervous, not about going to SVS, but how they should sign. Was the first name and last name… Read more ›
During the summer of 2015, I had what for me was an unusual experience. But first, some background. Back in early 1968, when the school was in the process of formation, the founding group had split up among themselves the various jobs that had to be… Read more ›
Food serves as a major aspect of life at SVS. Of course, everyone in the world loves food; however, here it takes on a life of its own. The minute students arrive, they are eating or talking about food. Trading and sharing food items are a daily… Read more ›
A school without students is not really a school. While beautiful and quiet, SVS during the summer can be a bit melancholy, like an empty husk. Hot and humid days don’t make it much better. Yes, summer can be a good time to get things done, and it’s… Read more ›
Ever since I first became involved with education - some sixty years ago! - I have been hearing one constant complaint: our schools do not do a satisfactory job of preparing children to be successful adults in the modern world. We have been… Read more ›