Title: wild school

Gender: Male

Age: 61

Location: Oxford, Mi

As a child I knew that school was unfair. I’d look out the window and long to be among the trees. I’d often day dream about creating a school. I knew two things: I loved nature and I loved to play. In 7th and 8th grade I was able to put in the minimum effort and still get fairly good grades, the primary strategy being: you’ve got my body from 8 until 3 but I’m free as soon as the bell rings. In high school I was shocked to discover teachers who used ridicule and humiliation as tools to dominate and control my fellow students. I had a difficult time with Chemistry and my plan of only working during school hours took some serious hits. I read Summerhill. I journeyed north to the upper peninsula of Michigan and worked for three summers in an experimental over night camp called Pioneer Camp. It was there that I discovered the wonder of being in a community embedded in the wild. It was my introduction to ‘wild school’. I felt that my grades were not good enough to get into the school of choice for my sub culture (U of M) so I went to MSU suffered for a year and change and transfered to WSU where I met a series of mentors who transformed my life. After a year of travel and self discovery in Europe and North Africa with my wife and adopted daughter we returned home. I had a syncronous encounter with a camp friend in a drug store in Malaga Spain. My friend told me his parents were starting a school. I have been working at that school for 35 years. It is an experience way beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined. A dream that’s dreaming me. Children’s laughter, an ecological awareness center, courageous parents, empowered teachers, wind generators, a bridge, hills, swamps, and fresh water lakes are some of the ways that this dream has manifested.

Member Since: Friday, June 09 2006

Last Visit: 37 days ago.

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