Any serious educator who has the common sense of a slug (and that's about one percent, by the way) will tell you that the educational system as we know it is merely an indoctrination into the values of the ruling class. Much of the work that is forced on teachers is mind-numbing bookkeeping and measuring designed to further the careers of educators (and satisfy administrators) more than anyone else. What is refreshing about Sudbury is that they do away with all that and get down to the business of educating students.

Meaningful learning comes from the individual, and that's what the Sudbury model is all about. I can't recommend this book highly enough.


Awesome and wonderous learning   May 11, 2001
 27 out of 28 found this review helpful

Just under 200 pages this book is for the few brave souls who have kids and who like their kids and who believe that children are free spirits who if allowed to be around other kids who see the world as a classroom and life from birth to death as a learning experince, can and will benefit from.

We home schooled are son, and would have relished a Sudbury school had there been one in our area. This is a school that came about in 1968 in Framingham Massachusetts. Open to children ages 4-19. As the books notes "The school starts from a premise stated by Aristotle over 2000 years ago in his famous opening to the _Metaphysics_:Human beings are naturally curious".

The books explains how children at the school learn all the normal subjects and much more, but at their own pace. And they do learn. And I personally believe that the country needs more educational choices, including Sudbury and home schooling! Subjects covered are: Classes, Math, Fishing, Chemistry, Cooking, Play, how older and younger children teach others, The Honour System, Sports, how they deal with "troublemakers".

I am a big supporter of the idea of at least reading about choices other people are making and recommend this book to thinking people.


A good introduction to the Sudbury Model   April 27, 2001
 19 out of 20 found this review helpful

A remarkable example of walking one's talk. These people set out to do something in the late sixties based on ideals that most of us have long since compromised to the pressures of performance and conformity. If it sounds too good to be true, I suggest you take a closer look.

The central message of this book is: Trust Your Kid. You will have to eventually, so why not start now, while they still live with you.

Many additional books are available through the school's website at sudval.org. There, one can subscribe to an active discussion list regarding this philosophy. Info about similar schools and startup groups is available at the SERN website, sudburynetwork.org.

This book is as good a place as any to begin the process of re-thinking what you assume education is.


A great statement of self-education and mutual respect.   October 26, 1999
 17 out of 17 found this review helpful

This book explains quite a bit about the Sudbury Valley School, it is not about people who want to work at a super market checkout nor is it about people who do not know how to read. This is about a school that essentially lets you unschool. As and unschooler I found it to be interesting and inspiring. This is a book about a school where you essentially can become anything you want to become. Traditional schools are about molding people, this is a school about learning and freedom. While searching for alternative education I actually visited a school that models itself on SVS, however it was a bit of a drive to get there and it was just getting off the ground so I chose to unschool instead.

"There can be no freedom without learning and learning without freedom is always in vain"-JFK


This is the way schools should be run   July 9, 2001
 13 out of 13 found this review helpful

If you believe that kids need to be controlled, guided, and "exposed to new ideas," you won't like this book. But if you recognize that kids can be trusted to learn what they need most, when they need it most, you'll recognize the tremendous value of this book. Also, check out _The Sudbury Valley Experience_ by the same authors.