Welcome to Jefferson Sudbury School!
Here is a trailer for a longer documentary about Fairhaven Sudbury School in Upper Marlboro Maryland. It provides a good idea of what kind of school we are creating and the kind of students who attend a Sudbury school and what they do while they are there.
Sudbury schools have a unique approach to education. The Sudbury philosophy believes that success in life is determined by a person’s character more than by knowing a specific body of knowledge. Therefore, the structure of the school supports the development of qualities such as confidence, independence, resourcefulness, adaptability, persistence and responsibility. With these qualities a person can easily obtain any knowledge they need to succeed. Student choice cultivates these qualities.
We believe that children already have the passion, curiosity, and gumption they need to fully develop into mature young adults. As their elders, we primarily must get out of the way and provide mentoring and resources.
Sudbury schools provide the students with the vital resources they need to progress, and function as vibrant places of learning where the students create their own curriculum. The students constantly exercise their rights and responsibilities as members of an active democracy. Most importantly, they accomplish the critical task of defining themselves through self motivation. Rather than being forced to take classes for which they may not be ready, students ask to be taught what they want to learn, or they simply learn it on their own and from each other (reading is often learned outside of classes, for example). As the digital revolution is rapidly taking off with amazing distance learning courses offered by renowned universities and brilliant 21st century initiatives, Sudbury students – free as they are to schedule their own day – are able to take full advantage of these new technologies like none other. Distance learning will increasingly place school teachers everywhere into a student support role rather than the traditional role of an over-tasked conductor at the front of a classroom. At Sudbury schools they already are.
Like Montessori schools, Sudbury schools capitalize on age mixing, peer teaching, self-learning, and mentoring, replacing the traditional school’s role of the teacher as drill sergeant with that of a resource and mentor; and like Waldorf schools, Sudbury schools avoid raising robots trained in some academic subjects and rather aim for growth of the entire child (body, mind, and spirit), moving on a path to mankind’s nobles goals: truth, beauty, and goodness. Like Waldorf schools, Sudbury schools see trust in the goodness and sincerity of each youngster as the key which sets them free to reach their best potential. If you have ever wondered if that inexhaustible energy of your little kids driving you crazy at home or on vacations could be put to better use, or if you have regretfully watched your children’s curiosity, excitement, and brilliance die once they started school, Sudbury schools are for you and your children.
To announce your interest, participate, or preregister your children, send us an email today (contact form on the right) or join the discussion on our Facebook Group.
