Sudbury Valley school | ADHD Information

[QUOTE=lillian]

 If the child wants to play outside all day, that's the child's choice.  My son chose to play.  For two weeks, he never approached a "teacher," and today, he admits he liked the school because he did not have any school work. 

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Sounds perfect to me!

Agree redhead. Hopefully idea 2004 will help us all here. To me they are going to require better training for staff. This would rid staff who are underqualified.  Why are not all teacher better educated on child development?They should be taught about dealing with all disabilities. Our taxes will go up for this I guess. Just to add my two cents, I love homeschool.  Traditional school wasn't a good fit for us but it is for others.  But, then, again, homeschool isn't for everyone, either, and God knows it's not easy.  We're entering our third year and it's been a bumpy road but I have no regrets.  I guess when it comes down to it, everyone has their own situation, own choices, own heavy issues they have to deal with as to where they place their children for their educational needs.  As far as the Government is concerned, too bad the Government can't find the perfect fit for everyone but then again I could hear the rambling political excuses as to why our budget wouldn't be able to cover everyone's needs, which is frankly too bad.  It seems the Government's priorities are warped but I won't get into that.  That's a different subject.  As for all of the Washington people having their kids in private school, I figure they can "talk" about the cause only because they "can't relate" to the cause, if that makes any sort of sense.  Hot air from politicians is nothing new but thanks for the info on Sudbury.  It's great to read about different educational avenues.  Sorry for rambling.The point I was making is traditional schools aren't for all. The Govt. should see this how school should be. I know, my daughter is perfect for that type of school, Montessori, she fits their learning, my kids go to a private school and they don't get that kids learn differently. I've been saying that all along to my kids teachers. Look at here how they do things here. www.Sudval.org. This method is found to work. I agree it is a lot similar to montessorie method. Traditinal schooling isn't for everyone. We have 2 options Private w/ ld teachers, Home schooling. The most severe can get help at Public school cause it's the place that has it. No one should need a Label just be taught the way they learn best. America will never see change until we let Washington no traditinal school isn't for everyone.Notice also their kids are in private schools. That should tell us something. They don't care is how I view it cause it's not effecting them.  I would love to send my daughter to Montessorie, she's the type to go,but it's so expensive and my son needs to stay where he's at, and i don't want to switch them to two different schools.

Sudbury is a fascinating concept.  I considered sending my son to a Sudbury school, and he visited for two weeks and loved it.  The problem?  Sudbury believes children should ask to be taught.  There are "teachers" at the school, ready to direct the child in his/her learning, but the child must approach the teacher and ask to be taught.  If the child wants to play outside all day, that's the child's choice.  My son chose to play.  For two weeks, he never approached a "teacher," and today, he admits he liked the school because he did not have any school work.  According to the Sudbury philosophy, children learn in play.  Even though they are not being taught a subject or directed by an adult, they are learning valuable life lessons that are just as important, or more important, than they can learn in a classroom.  When children come to a "teacher" and ask to be taught, their learning is self-directed and self-motivated, which is the best kind of learning. 

The "teachers" at Sudbury sometimes have actually taught in a school and are trained teachers, and sometimes they haven't taught and are not trained.   They simply are adults who are there because the students want them there.  The students both elect and fire them.  These adults bring to the school their own interests.  And my big gripe with Sudbury, is that the school is only as good as the adults who are there.  For example, you could have an adult who is not industrious or curious about the world, at all.  This adult will spend the majority of time sitting around, and there's no reason for the child to approach the adult and ask to be taught anything.  Or, you could have an adult who has a host of hobbies, who does these hobbies at the school.  Naturally, the children will watch the adult and say, "Hey, can you teach me that, too?"  And your child is actually taught something.  The child's curiosity about the adult's interest will engage the child. 

The student I think Sudbury is perfect for is the rebellious teenager, who says, "Why do I have to learn all this stuff at school???  All I want to do is write and paint.  I never want to use math.  I hate science.  I don't care about history.  I just want to paint and write."  Well, at Sudbury, this child would be left alone to paint and write all day.  They'd find her an easel, canvas and oils and say, "Go for it."  If she wanted someone to edit her writing, an adult at the school could do it if able, or the adult would search for another adult in the community, who would be willing to come and help her a day or two a week. 

It's an interesting concept, and it's been around for awhile.  There are some good books written about it.  The one I particularly liked was the one written by Sudbury graduates, telling about their experiences at the original Sudbury school.  Interesting. 

I think the idea is also is that the kid will do things when they are ready not when someone says it should happen. Playing is how kids can learn.Autism center does this and it brought there child out of autism.   oldmember38586.538287037Exactly, but i don't think you can get some teachers to believe that. Yes, and this one of the draws for me.  I have wondered if my son would have the issues he has with writing if he had been left alone to write when he was ready.  Now, just picking up a pen brings him so much frustration that it breaks my heart to watch, particularly since I love to write, and I know what a great imagination he has  . lillian38586.5450347222Read head: teachers have no Neurological training. Reading takes great neurological skill. Since now eye Dr.'s are finding 1 in every 4 kids can't use eyestogether/ tracking problems. They need education on this is why part of why the kids struggle. The ones I see come thru our DR.'s office are boys mostly. Strong wild child all adults should read also great stuff also. Vision therapy has taken long with our son cause he hates it and its' very  hard work. During school no time cause busy.This is why his eye issue is taking so much time. Nice to see you back again "oldmember".