Sudbury Valley School

Sudbury Valley School (@SVS_School), a democratic learning environment located in Framingham, MA, places great value upon student initiative.  Pupils not only decide what and how they learn material, for they also organize their own schedules and participate in the administration of the school.

In the following 2009 documentary, staff member Daniel Greenberg expresses some concern about limited personalization in schools.  He argues that a whiff of independence merely "seduces you into thinking that [that] little bit of freedom, when you're really being manipulated, is the real thing.  And that opens you up to being manipulated your whole life."  I believe that Greenberg would be impressed were he to note the extent to which IP values academic freedom and personal responsibility.

"I don't see any reason to treat children different from other people.  My experience is that they are human beings just like everybody else.  And to view a child - certainly after they become articulate, when they can make some judgment (which is usually about four or five) - to view a child as any less competent to make decisions for themselves than adults...that's ridiculous." - from Daniel Greenberg, Staff Member