Christen Parker-Yarnal

Last week a group of dedicated and inspired individuals gathered in the outskirts of Chicago for the Global Self-Directed Democratic Schools Conference hosted by Tallgrass Sudbury School. Staff from self-directed and self-governed schools across the US and Canada, along with some students, parents, and supporters, collaboratively submitted workshop and breakout discussions proposals then sponsored and voted on their favorites to create together a robust 3 day schedule of sessions along with...

Yesterday was Abraham Valdes’ Diploma Defense. Many, if not most, Sudbury Diploma Defenses are small affairs where a panel of 3-4 Sudbury staff from other schools are brought in to give feedback and challenge to a prospective graduate after having read their reflection paper or “thesis.” I’ve been delighted to be part of several of these panels at various schools and believe there’s tremendous value in this tradition, this rite of passage, this opportunity to publicly express oneself. At our...

Thinking of “initiative,” I wanted to sort out in my mind why I see the initiatives taken at Sudbury different from those I saw while teaching at a conventional high school.