WORKSHOP FOR SUDBURY SCHOOLS AND STARTUP GROUPS
On The 40th Anniversary Of Sudbury Education
Sudbury Valley School is Having a Workshop for Sudbury Schools and Startup Groups
Over the last 5 (count ‘em!) Workshops, we have become friends and closer colleagues with the people from other groups and other places who are doing the same work. It has given us immense strength to share our travails and our glories with exactly the people who know what we are talking about. This year seems like the perfect year to have a Workshop; who better to share our 40th anniversary with?
The 2008 Workshop is going to be held at Sudbury Valley School’s campus, from July 12th (Saturday) when we will start with registration, drinks (of a variety suitable at 9AM) and a little something, at 9:00AM; until the end of the evening on July 15th, after a glorious dinner and hopefully not too many tears, but lots of invitations to come and visit each other.
WHO IS INVITED: If you are a staff member of a similar school, or you are working to found a similar school, this invitation is for you. We hope you will be able to join us, and you are very welcome to bring your spouse, significant other, and children.
Our first Workshop, in 1994, was for the handful of schools operating then. It seems almost quaint to look back on a time when we few pioneers (most of whom will be here, we hope, in 2008) were preparing the meals, and washing the dishes, and taking out the trash together. By 1996 those things became harder as the number of attendees climbed over 100, so we got some “outside” help with cooking – Mark Bell made elegant dinners for us. But by then we had pre-empted Mark’s time by adding him to our staff, and had to find other ways to get food on the table, for close to 150 by 1999! The group grew, and we found ways to maximize our time to talk and think, by adding very professional help. By 2005, there were well over 200 people in attendance.
All along, we have been enriched by people from other countries and other continents joining us. All the participants, including the organizers of course, have wrestled with exhaustion after day upon day of talking, talking, talking, refining ideas and practices. We have all even asked ourselves, “Is it worth it?” The answer is a resounding “YES”.
LOGISTICS: The fee structure for the 2008 Workshop is as follows: $300 for staff/founders; $150 for every other member of that person’s family who is three years old or over.
We will help arrange housing for people who would like us to. Such housing will probably be in the homes of families associated with the school, but none of them live within walking distance of SVS. Housing that the school arranges will be only that: a roof, a place to sleep, and a shower, and will not include any meals. If you want us to help with arranging your housing, you must be resigned to a commute, like most of the families who come to school here.
All transportation is the responsibility of the visitors. The host families with whom housing is arranged will not be providing any transportation, nor will the school.
All meals, from the starting snack on Saturday morning, through dinner and dessert on Tuesday evening, will be served at Sudbury Valley. There will also be limited childcare available here: we cannot be responsible for children under 3, but we will have a few Sudbury Valley teens on hand to help keep things smooth among the children who are visiting. The campus will be open to them, as will most of the facilities within the main building.
CONTENT: The Workshop program will evolve over the next many months. Let us know any topics you would like to see discussed, discussions you would like to lead, or presentations you would like to make. Everyone’s wishes will be considered as we design the program.
DEADLINES: First of all, we would like you to let us know whether or not you are probably coming; that you can do by email anytime.
Then, in the beginning of 2008, we will post a registration form on our web page. It can be emailed back or printed and mailed, and there will be directions on it for paying by credit card or with a check. (Don’t look for it til we tell you; it isn’t there yet.) If you would like us to arrange housing, you must fill out the form and return it with the entire fee for your family/self by May 15, 2008. If you just want to come and enjoy the Workshop with us, and will take care of your own lodging, the deadline for returning the form and the fee is June 15, 2008.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us – email is easiest (office@sudval.org).
We hope we will see you next summer, and meanwhile have a great year – a lot of us have big anniversaries for our schools this (and last) year!
Mimsy Sadofsky and Dan Greenberg
Public Relations Clerks
–
From the SVS office
http://www.sudval.org
![[Valid RSS]](valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
