Opening Day!!
The big day is finally here! Tomorrow is the first day of school ever! — for Sunset Sudbury School Students. Wish us well!
Video Viewing
The last few information meetings have been the best we’ve had in more than two and a half years! Thanks to those who came out for the movie viewing last night. We stopped the movie a little early to make sure we had enough time for conversation. Here is the segment we didn’t get to see last night.
Mark your calendar. The next open house / information meeting is September 12th!
Idelma
We’re In the News!
Sunset Sudbury has been in the news a lot lately. Check out the following links.
- Natural Awakenings Magazine… an announcement about our school is on page 15 and a really good article on Democratic Schooling is on page 28.
- And watch for us on Channel 6 (NBC) news on Friday night!
We’re almost set for the first day of school on August 23rd. You are invited to our upcoming Open House on Saturday, August 14 from 3 to 5pm. Please help us spread the word.
Here are several ways to stay in touch and up to date with what’s happening at Sunset Sudbury School.
- join our Google group if you want to participate in discussions about the school
- “like” us on Facebook
- follow us on Twitter
We look forward to seeing you and your families in the near future.
Construction Update
We are learning so much about the construction industry! The first pipes are in for our new bathroom. One big hurdle down!
First pipes are in!!
In this process, we’ve also gotten to know the government officials at the city and county levels pretty well. Yesterday when I visited the building department for our plumbing permit, one of the people who works there stopped mid-sentence with another customer and called out across the room, “where is he?” I answered “who?”, to which she replied…”your son, where is he?”
…A sure sign that my seven year-old son and I are spending too much time in government offices! — Idelma
Who knew bathroom pipes would be so exciting?
SAVE THE DATE! August 14th
Join us on Saturday, August 14th (3 – 5 pm) for the last open house / information event before the school year starts! You can tour the school, watch a multimedia presentation and get answers to your questions.
This will also be a chance for you to turn in your admissions application and schedule an admissions conference. Simple activities or movie viewing for children ages 4 and above will be available.
Hope to see you there!
Why Our School Exists
Interesting insights from a high school valedictorian in her graduation speech. You can read comments from other readers on the author’s blog.
Coxsackie-Athens Valedictorian Speech 2010
Here I Stand
Erica Goldson
There is a story of a young, but earnest Zen student who approached his teacher, and asked the Master, “If I work very hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find Zen? The Master thought about this, then replied, “Ten years . .” ?The student then said, “But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast — How long then?” Replied the Master, “Well, twenty years.” “But, if I really, really work at it, how long then?” asked the student. “Thirty years,” replied the Master. “But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed student. “At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?” ?Replied the Master, “When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.”
This is the dilemma I’ve faced within the American education system. We are so focused on a goal, whether it be passing a test, or graduating as first in the class. However, in this way, we do not really learn. We do whatever it takes to achieve our original objective.
Some of you may be thinking, “Well, if you pass a test, or become valedictorian, didn’t you learn something? Well, yes, you learned something, but not all that you could have. Perhaps, you only learned how to memorize names, places, and dates to later on forget in order to clear your mind for the next test. School is not all that it can be. Right now, it is a place for most people to determine that their goal is to get out as soon as possible.
I am now accomplishing that goal. I am graduating. I should look at this as a positive experience, especially being at the top of my class. However, in retrospect, I cannot say that I am any more intelligent than my peers. I can attest that I am only the best at doing what I am told and working the system. Yet, here I stand, and I am supposed to be proud that I have completed this period of indoctrination. I will leave in the fall to go on to the next phase expected of me, in order to receive a paper document that certifies that I am capable of work. But I contest that I am a human being, a thinker, an adventurer – not a worker. A worker is someone who is trapped within repetition – a slave of the system set up before him. But now, I have successfully shown that I was the best slave. I did what I was told to the extreme. While others sat in class and doodled to later become great artists, I sat in class to take notes and become a great test-taker. While others would come to class without their homework done because they were reading about an interest of theirs, I never missed an assignment. While others were creating music and writing lyrics, I decided to do extra credit, even though I never needed it. So, I wonder, why did I even want this position? Sure, I earned it, but what will come of it? When I leave educational institutionalism, will I be successful or forever lost? I have no clue about what I want to do with my life; I have no interests because I saw every subject of study as work, and I excelled at every subject just for the purpose of excelling, not learning. And quite frankly, now I’m scared.
John Taylor Gatto, a retired school teacher and activist critical of compulsory schooling, asserts, “We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness – curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time, texts, and tests, by introducing kids into truly competent adults, and by giving each student what autonomy he or she needs in order to take a risk every now and then. But we don’t do that.” Between these cinderblock walls, we are all expected to be the same. We are trained to ace every standardized test, and those who deviate and see light through a different lens are worthless to the scheme of public education, and therefore viewed with contempt.
H. L. Mencken wrote in The American Mercury for April 1924 that the aim of public education is not
-
to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence. … Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim … is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. That is its aim in the United States. (Gatto)
To illustrate this idea, doesn’t it perturb you to learn about the idea of “critical thinking.” Is there really such a thing as “uncritically thinking?” To think is to process information in order to form an opinion. But if we are not critical when processing this information, are we really thinking? Or are we mindlessly accepting other opinions as truth?
This was happening to me, and if it wasn’t for the rare occurrence of an avant-garde tenth grade English teacher, Donna Bryan, who allowed me to open my mind and ask questions before accepting textbook doctrine, I would have been doomed. I am now enlightened, but my mind still feels disabled. I must retrain myself and constantly remember how insane this ostensibly sane place really is.
And now here I am in a world guided by fear, a world suppressing the uniqueness that lies inside each of us, a world where we can either acquiesce to the inhuman nonsense of corporatism and materialism or insist on change. We are not enlivened by an educational system that clandestinely sets us up for jobs that could be automated, for work that need not be done, for enslavement without fervency for meaningful achievement. We have no choices in life when money is our motivational force. Our motivational force ought to be passion, but this is lost from the moment we step into a system that trains us, rather than inspires us.
We are more than robotic bookshelves, conditioned to blurt out facts we were taught in school. We are all very special, every human on this planet is so special, so aren’t we all deserving of something better, of using our minds for innovation, rather than memorization, for creativity, rather than futile activity, for rumination rather than stagnation? We are not here to get a degree, to then get a job, so we can consume industry-approved placation after placation. There is more, and more still.
The saddest part is that the majority of students don’t have the opportunity to reflect as I did. The majority of students are put through the same brainwashing techniques in order to create a complacent labor force working in the interests of large corporations and secretive government, and worst of all, they are completely unaware of it. I will never be able to turn back these 18 years. I can’t run away to another country with an education system meant to enlighten rather than condition. This part of my life is over, and I want to make sure that no other child will have his or her potential suppressed by powers meant to exploit and control. We are human beings. We are thinkers, dreamers, explorers, artists, writers, engineers. We are anything we want to be – but only if we have an educational system that supports us rather than holds us down. A tree can grow, but only if its roots are given a healthy foundation.
For those of you out there that must continue to sit in desks and yield to the authoritarian ideologies of instructors, do not be disheartened. You still have the opportunity to stand up, ask questions, be critical, and create your own perspective. Demand a setting that will provide you with intellectual capabilities that allow you to expand your mind instead of directing it. Demand that you be interested in class. Demand that the excuse, “You have to learn this for the test” is not good enough for you. Education is an excellent tool, if used properly, but focus more on learning rather than getting good grades.
For those of you that work within the system that I am condemning, I do not mean to insult; I intend to motivate. You have the power to change the incompetencies of this system. I know that you did not become a teacher or administrator to see your students bored. You cannot accept the authority of the governing bodies that tell you what to teach, how to teach it, and that you will be punished if you do not comply. Our potential is at stake.
For those of you that are now leaving this establishment, I say, do not forget what went on in these classrooms. Do not abandon those that come after you. We are the new future and we are not going to let tradition stand. We will break down the walls of corruption to let a garden of knowledge grow throughout America. Once educated properly, we will have the power to do anything, and best of all, we will only use that power for good, for we will be cultivated and wise. We will not accept anything at face value. We will ask questions, and we will demand truth.
So, here I stand. I am not standing here as valedictorian by myself. I was molded by my environment, by all of my peers who are sitting here watching me. I couldn’t have accomplished this without all of you. It was all of you who truly made me the person I am today. It was all of you who were my competition, yet my backbone. In that way, we are all valedictorians.
I am now supposed to say farewell to this institution, those who maintain it, and those who stand with me and behind me, but I hope this farewell is more of a “see you later” when we are all working together to rear a pedagogic movement. But first, let’s go get those pieces of paper that tell us that we’re smart enough to do so!
Early Enrollment Ends Tomorrow!
The link below takes you to a summary of the steps and deadlines for enrolling your child at Sunset Sudbury School. Keep in mind that by enrolling now you are receiving benefits that are only available to families enrolling early (before July 16th).
Note: Any form requiring a signature must be signed by both parents (or legal guardians).
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Checklist for Admission and Enrollment to Sunset Sudbury School.
Wish List
Some of you have been asking us to put together a wish list for the school. Here it is…
Remember that all donations are tax-deductible. We would be happy to provide you with documentation for your donation of anything on this list. You can send e-mail to info@sunsetsudbury.org or call 954-404-7785 to make donation arrangements. Thank you so much for your support!
Computers
- Laptops (Minimum Windows XP / MacOSX)
Furnishings
- Credenza 6-8 ft long x 2 ft wide
- Ottoman or bench 3’ x 3’
- Large round ottoman (leather of vinyl)
- Couch – up to 8 ft (vinyl or leather)
- Bean bags (leather or vinyl)
- Outdoor picnic table
Rugs
- Rugs (all shapes and sizes)
- Outdoor and indoor rubber-backed entry mats
Small Appliances
- Toaster oven
- Vacuum cleaners (3)
Tables
- Large dining room table up to 8.5’ long x 3’ wide
- 2 tables – 6ft long x 2 feet (no wider than 3 feet)
- Various sizes – rectangular or square tables for our art room
Seating
- Benches up to 8 feet long
- Folding chairs (20)
- Leather or vinyl side chairs (2)
- Stools / chairs for our art room
- 5 wheeled office chairs
Shelving
- Shelving all types and sizes (free standing or wall mounted)
- stackable shelving (metal wire or plastic) 4.5 ft w x 2 ft deep
Other
- Garbage Cans w/ lid
- Paint (interior and exterior wall paint)
- Flooring – Wood/bamboo/cork (650 sq ft)
- Step ladder
- Lockers
- Cork / dry-erase boards
- Coat hooks – wall mounted
- Throw pillows
- Shoe cubbies
- Games - (Board games, video games, Wii games)
- Books - (middle school & high school)
- Toys – (Legos, other logic / building games) for ages 10 and above
- Art & crafts supplies – any and all
- Gift certificates for Office Depot, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Publix, Whole Foods, etc.
July 11 Info Event
Join us this Sunday, July 11th from 3 -5 pm. You’ll be able to visit
the school’s beautiful new location (4200 N.W. 66th Avenue, Davie).
You’ll also get answers to your questions about our school. Simple
activities / movie viewing for children 4 years and older will be
available. Let us know if you’re thinking about attending. See you
then!
Building Fund
Thank you everyone! We raised over $5, 600!
Thank you!
Our campaign is closed!
We are thrilled to announce that we have found a wonderful place to serve as the home for Sunset Sudbury School! Please help us bring this much needed school option to families in this area by donating whatever you can.
Our school offers a unique environment where kids are free to be themselves and find their passions.
Use your debit or credit card to donate… by clicking the orange ChipIn! button on the right sidebar.
If you prefer to donate by check, you can mail it to…
Sunset Sudbury School
PO Box 290944
Davie, FL 33329-0944
You can help us raise the money we need to install a new bathroom and fire alarm system required for us to open our doors this August. Donate what you can and then help us spread the word to others in your circle. Encourage them to ‘chip in’ to this very important cause.
Sunset Sudbury School is a non-profit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible. We appreciate your help!
Our new building, located at 4200 N 66th Avenue in Davie, features… 2,400 square feet of spacious and beautifully remodeled indoor space, a grassy outdoor space for playing tag, exploring, or picnicking, and a garden filled with native and exotic plants for having fun and learning in nature.
Hurry! Scholarship Available Now
Open House
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We'll keep you posted on everything Sunset!
