Trashman

This is Trashman, e’rybody’s fave sk8erboi who’s growing up too fast (prob bc he eats so many cold cuts and gets like 400g protein/day). Not long ago, he was, “lil baby,” but he says “not anymore.” He was also my school-son, but he emancipated himself and rolls his eyes at my school-dad jokes. His hair is longer, the music he listens to is even worse, and he can actually ride a skateboard irl so. We wish we could give him some pill or set a spell that would halt his rapid growth, but we know that alas, such thoughts are futile whimsy!

Trashman says, “I am very much an intellectual. Why use big word when small word better?” But although his intellect dazzles daily, he has no intention of holling up in an ivory tower; he’s all skater, and he does and dreams it at school, cooking up big ideas about his future; he’s an innovator, a bubbling pot of ideas and enthusiams – just look at his “summer 2019 bucket list”: 1 Learn to backflip 2 Learn to kickflip 3 Purchase nunchucks and learn how to use them 3. Make one issue of a magazine and/or a zine 5 Purchase a trampoline 6 Make my own clothing line 7 Go skydiving 8 Own one item of Supreme 9 Build a mini ramp 10 ??? Yeah, just a few summer plans. He also wants his own potato chip business, ok? But if the skating and chips fall thru, his backup plan is waste management (hence the nickname). He sorted the recycling at school not long ago, and found his mind refreshed and his body limber, and then he found out there’s money in trash so.

Trashman has many friends, and there’s one group in particular, all girls, who have “raised him.” Don’t get me wrong, they’re all good people, but they can be contentious, and Trashman is the peacemaker, a role he fills admirably. He and two members of this group, known locally as the Squad, have formed an edgy collective called ASS, which Trashman describes as “everything. A rap group, a band, fashion, art. Like the Kardashians, but only 3 people, and not a family.” Yo Trashman, we can hardly believe our good fortune in having you here, skating and mowing cold cuts and making peace and rolling your beautiful eyes. You may think I’m crusty, but I’ll always think you’re cool.

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.