This is Mr. Bernstein, a fast-talking, self-advocating tornado of ideas and demands. The phrase, “Idea Man,” doesn’t capture the sheer creative output Mr. Bernstein gifts the world each day; “Idea Volcano” might be a good start. Mr. Bernstein’s favorite activities at school are “business, business, and more business.” He is the founder and CEO of Starship Studios, a fledgling but extraordinarily ambitious company currently working on its first project, producing the pilot episode of an anime featuring soul-snatching, ice-carrot farming, The Eternal Nation, The Dark Continent, and plenty of Demon Blood. Starship Studios plans to eventually develop food businesses and get into the coffee game. Mr. Bernstein would like you to announce that he is hiring, accepting applications of all talent; you can reach him via his secretary by emailing your resume to office@zenademocraticschool.org.
Mr. Bernstein says he likes being at Hudson Valley Sudbury School “because there are many potential employees to interview and hire.” He says he has found the caliber of employee he is able to hire here is “very high.” When I asked if he would offer any business tips to the public, he said, “No. I don’t give free advice. In fact, if you run a business, I want to drive your business away, or shut it down, or purchase it…I will do anything to realize my dream.” Just a taste of Mr. Bernstein’s flavor. He wants everyone to know he is 8, btw, and that another thing he really likes about the school is that he met his best friend here.
Mr. Bernstein would also like people to know that he does not appreciate the school’s Judicial Committee. He says, “they waste my time and they make people serve on their committee involuntarily.”
Mr. Bernstein, you are a force to be reckoned with. Thank you for reminding us that you are 8, because at times it seems you are a 60 yo Russian business mogul with 23 bank accounts. Your ingenuity is always impressive; your friendships are sweet. We are happy to have you among us, and glad you find us to be decent employees. Love ya, boss.
Opportunities
At Zena Democratic School, we pride ourselves on offering our students endless opportunities; they are free to pursue their interests, dabble in this and that, or to fall head over heels into a subject without interruption – for as long as the interest remains, or to follow it wherever it may lead.
But the most valuable opportunity we offer students is the time and space to discover who they are. Students at ZDS have time to be, to think, to talk, to play, to discover what they enjoy and appreciate and, equally importantly, what they don’t enjoy or appreciate. We offer an opportunity to practice crucial skills such as motivation, persistence, articulation, and humility, to be part of a democratic community, and to experience acceptance, cooperation, recognition, and celebration. This unstructured time is where the real beauty of the ZDS experience lies and where the most important learning usually takes place.
However, many people do love content and instruction, and there is plenty of organized and formal activity at school. Students often organize this on their own, or with the assistance or leadership of a Staff Member, but they may also request the Programming Clerk to facilitate whatever kind of instruction or activity they’d like to have, from basic reading instruction to skateboarding lessons to sex education; every topic under the sun is theoretically available for our students to explore and to receive instruction upon.