March 2020 - Zena Democratic School

As the mother of a HVSS “lifer” who started school there at age 6 and left at age 17 when he felt ready to step out into the world, my greatest and most persistent challenge was trusting that sending him to Sudbury instead of a conventional school was the right choice. Periodically we visited other schools to see if another might hold more appeal, or at least more promise from an academic perspective. He inevitably rejected the idea of attending school elsewhere, and I always had to take a big gulp, follow his lead and trust the process every time we signed another re-enrollment contract. In truth, it wasn’t until after he left HVSS that the value of my son’s unconventional school experience became apparent. I’ve watched with great admiration as he’s applied himself to whatever he does – from restaurant work, to studying for the high school equivalency exam, to taking college courses – with dedication, discipline and a sense of purpose. With each new challenge he figures out what he needs to do, then sets about doing it. While a conventional education focuses on controlling behavior and teaching content, a Sudbury education focuses on instilling a sense of responsibility for one’s behavior and creating a context for learning. Would I say that the creative chaos of Sudbury is the right learning environment for every child? Nope, but with a great sigh of relief and the benefit of hindsight, I can confidently say that HVSS was the right choice for mine.

-Jenny Fox

HVSS Was The Right Choice

Parents’ experience of the school is a crucial factor in determining their childrens’ experience of the school. Children of parents who work hard to understand our philosophy, communicate with staff, attend events, and connect with the community usually get the most out of our program.

At Zena Democratic School, rule infractions and interpersonal conflicts are resolved using sophisticated restorative justice tools.

Age-mixing is one of the most potent developmental experiences at Zena Democratic School.

Each student aged 14+ is automatically enrolled in our High School Advisor Program;

Screens are allowed at school, with restrictions.

At Zena Democratic School, a Cooperative (coop) is a group of like-minded students and staff who organize around a common interest, like music, art, or sports.

At Zena Democratic School, the jobs of administration and maintenance are divided into roles called Clerkships;

Every student and staff at Zena Democratic School is assigned a cleaning job by the Physical Plant Clerk.

Students may receive a diploma if they elect to undergo our internal diploma process.

Zena Democratic School is located on a parcel of 67 wooded acres in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley region of New York State.

Zena Democratic School is a direct democracy; each student and member of the staff has an equal vote in managing all aspects of the school’s operation.