The Sudbury Valley School was founded in 1968 in Framingham, Massachusetts, United States. There are now over 40 schools based on the Sudbury Model in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Australia, Belgium and Germany. The model has two basic tenets: educational freedom and democratic governance.

Central to the school is the weekly School Meeting, based on the traditional New England town meeting. Students and staff are invited to participate in the running of the school, with equal votes. This applies to all aspects of the school, including finances, new rules, and the election of staff. The school is attended by children from 4 to 19 years old.

The school's philosophy asserts that by giving children trust and responsibility at an early age, it is much easier for them to learn what they want, how they want it, and how to achieve this. Students at the school are free to choose how to spend their time.

Of the many books and videos available on Sudbury Valley, Free at Last, by Daniel Greenberg, is a good book with which to get acquainted with the school's philosophy.

Staff

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There is no tenure at Sudbury Valley School -- an election for staff is held each year. The current staff have been involved professionally with the school for ten to thirty-seven years.

• Daniel Greenberg
• Hanna Greenberg
• Mimsy Sadofsky
• Joan Rubin
• Scott David Gray
• Mach Bell, singer with mach 5, formerly with Thundertrain
• Mikel Matisoo
• Morningstar Medaye
• Denise Geddes
• Paul Duddy

Curriculum

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The school is non-compulsory, so there are no required activities. Students are free to spend their time as they wish.

Alumni

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Sudbury Valley School has published two studies of their alumni over the past thirty-five years. They have learned, among other things, that about 80% of the students continue to study at other schools after graduating from Sudbury Valley. Most of them have been accepted at the university of their first choice.

See also

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• Sudbury model
• List of Sudbury Schools
• Democratic school
• Education reform

Fact

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• It has been repeatedly found that children and teenagers undergoing a Sudbury style education often score significantly higher on IQ tests than their traditionally schooled counterparts. Also, it is probable that this is because the parents of higher-IQ children are the most likely to select Sudbury-style education for their children.

External links

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• Official website
• List of Sudbury Schools worldwide

Alternative education | Educational institutions established in the 1960s | Framingham, Massachusetts | Private schools in Massachusetts

Sudbury Valley School | בית הספר סאדברי ואלי | Sudbury Valley School