FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
We are based at the Gill Tract Community Farm in Albany. We also visit various east bay parks and other learning opportunities like farms and outdoor workshops. We are continuing to expand our locations to include a wider variety of opportunities.
IS THE SOLIDARITY SCHOOL A GOOD FIT FOR MY GIFTED CHILD/ CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?
Whether EBSS is a good fit for any family depends a lot on your particular circumstances, needs, and goals. In our experience, our programs work best for families and caregivers who are comfortable with learning that ebbs and flows around the interests of the children, and for children who are willing to take part in planning and directing their own learning, and can work without direct instruction or supervision. If you've read over our website and believe your child would thrive in our program, please get in touch.
WHAT AGES DO YOU SERVE?
Right now our group spans 3-12 year olds. Generally this is a program for school aged children who are able to social distance (judge 6 ft distances, wear a mask), but we are experimenting with a preschool pod.
WILL MY CHILD BE THE YOUNGEST/OLDEST/ONLY CHILD OF THEIR AGE?
Maybe. We understand the concern, especially since we've all grown accustomed to schooling that takes place alongside same age peers. However, we believe that mixed-age learning environments offer huge benefits and opportunities for social, emotional, and academic growth. Yes, even if your child happens to be the youngest, oldest, or only one of their age! Here is a wonderful article about the value of mixed-age play, by author Peter Gray.
WILL MY CHILD DEVELOP MATH AND LITERACY SKILLS AT THE SOLIDARITY SCHOOL?
EBSS does not offer a linear approach to education. We work with an emergent learning model, so we do not offer a fixed amount of writing, science and math each day. However, we are always looking for ways to motivate math and literacy skills through child-centered programming (games, puzzles, storytelling, hands on projects, etc). Please see the "our approach" page for more explanation!
THAT'S ALL VERY CUTE, BUT CONSENSUS-BASED CHILDCARE DOESN'T ACTUALLY WORK, RIGHT?
We didn't expect collective process with the kids to be easy; we wondered if we bit off more than we could chew, aiming for 2 meetings a day. Looking back now on the Fall, we are pleased to note that, in fact... it's been super easy! Breezy, even!
"Traditional" authoritarian schooling (which is in fact a relatively modern concept) is not the only option, nor is it, in our minds, the best option. We have had great success in empowering children to take responsibility for their decisions and giving them opportunities to learn that are rooted in their interests and lived reality, and we invite you to try it too!
IF YOU DON'T CALL THE POLICE, WHAT DO YOU DO?
We recognize that policing & the prison system are relatively new concepts that were created in order to maintain systems of colonial violence and domination. Many communities, past and present, have successfully looked to each-other for their own safety. We are proud to continue this long history and want to share with you our specific safety strategy below.
Our Deescalation and Safety Strategy:
As a school we recognize that all of the space we use is public space, no one is entitled to ownership of the earth we all share, and that the land that we use and learn on is stolen Lisjan Ohlone land. We also believe that calling the police does more harm than good (something we intend to talk more about in the future). For these and many other reasons we do not intend to invite law enforcement onto the land. Both the Gill Tract Farm and the Sogorea Te Land Trust have successfully maintained this policy for years, and we are proud to join them in it.
Deescalation and conflict resolution are skills we have all worked to develop and are excited to model for the students. We have the following strategies for responding to various incidents that may occur on the triangle during school hours. The following are different occurrences that may take place and how the teachers on site that day plan on responding to them.
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
We are based at the Gill Tract Community Farm in Albany. We also visit various east bay parks and other learning opportunities like farms and outdoor workshops. We are continuing to expand our locations to include a wider variety of opportunities.
IS THE SOLIDARITY SCHOOL A GOOD FIT FOR MY GIFTED CHILD/ CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS?
Whether EBSS is a good fit for any family depends a lot on your particular circumstances, needs, and goals. In our experience, our programs work best for families and caregivers who are comfortable with learning that ebbs and flows around the interests of the children, and for children who are willing to take part in planning and directing their own learning, and can work without direct instruction or supervision. If you've read over our website and believe your child would thrive in our program, please get in touch.
WHAT AGES DO YOU SERVE?
Right now our group spans 3-12 year olds. Generally this is a program for school aged children who are able to social distance (judge 6 ft distances, wear a mask), but we are experimenting with a preschool pod.
WILL MY CHILD BE THE YOUNGEST/OLDEST/ONLY CHILD OF THEIR AGE?
Maybe. We understand the concern, especially since we've all grown accustomed to schooling that takes place alongside same age peers. However, we believe that mixed-age learning environments offer huge benefits and opportunities for social, emotional, and academic growth. Yes, even if your child happens to be the youngest, oldest, or only one of their age! Here is a wonderful article about the value of mixed-age play, by author Peter Gray.
WILL MY CHILD DEVELOP MATH AND LITERACY SKILLS AT THE SOLIDARITY SCHOOL?
EBSS does not offer a linear approach to education. We work with an emergent learning model, so we do not offer a fixed amount of writing, science and math each day. However, we are always looking for ways to motivate math and literacy skills through child-centered programming (games, puzzles, storytelling, hands on projects, etc). Please see the "our approach" page for more explanation!
THAT'S ALL VERY CUTE, BUT CONSENSUS-BASED CHILDCARE DOESN'T ACTUALLY WORK, RIGHT?
We didn't expect collective process with the kids to be easy; we wondered if we bit off more than we could chew, aiming for 2 meetings a day. Looking back now on the Fall, we are pleased to note that, in fact... it's been super easy! Breezy, even!
"Traditional" authoritarian schooling (which is in fact a relatively modern concept) is not the only option, nor is it, in our minds, the best option. We have had great success in empowering children to take responsibility for their decisions and giving them opportunities to learn that are rooted in their interests and lived reality, and we invite you to try it too!
IF YOU DON'T CALL THE POLICE, WHAT DO YOU DO?
We recognize that policing & the prison system are relatively new concepts that were created in order to maintain systems of colonial violence and domination. Many communities, past and present, have successfully looked to each-other for their own safety. We are proud to continue this long history and want to share with you our specific safety strategy below.
Our Deescalation and Safety Strategy:
As a school we recognize that all of the space we use is public space, no one is entitled to ownership of the earth we all share, and that the land that we use and learn on is stolen Lisjan Ohlone land. We also believe that calling the police does more harm than good (something we intend to talk more about in the future). For these and many other reasons we do not intend to invite law enforcement onto the land. Both the Gill Tract Farm and the Sogorea Te Land Trust have successfully maintained this policy for years, and we are proud to join them in it.
Deescalation and conflict resolution are skills we have all worked to develop and are excited to model for the students. We have the following strategies for responding to various incidents that may occur on the triangle during school hours. The following are different occurrences that may take place and how the teachers on site that day plan on responding to them.
- As a rule teachers are aware of any and all unfamiliar people who enter the space and immediately make all other teachers onsite aware of a strange visitor. Tons of different people use the space for a variety of reasons, but we have a general sense of who is and is not a regular visitor and keep track.
- When an unfamiliar visitor is on the land we remain mindful of them without breaking the flow of our day to day activities.
- If an unfamiliar person gets close to us and/or tries to engage with us or any of the students we first make sure they are observing proper COVID safety protocols (distancing and masking). Teachers will address whatever questions they have, end the engagement and go about their day.
- If the person is behaving erratically or is insistent upon engaging with students or teachers further, one teacher will walk away with them while the other(s) take over supervision of both pods.
- When things like this happen, we will make a point to have a small check in with all of the students, and send a small communication to all parents regarding the incident.
- Again, we recognize that all the land we teach on is shared land that we are guests on. If need be we will insist that someone stay a far distance away from the school, and cease engaging with teachers and students, up to asking them to leave the space entirely.
- If these boundaries are pushed or disrespected, then we will seek help from other teachers, farmers, and volunteers in containing someone and removing them from the space. This has been accomplished successfully in the past by people working with the Gill Tract Farm.
- If there are not enough people on the land to accomplish this safely, if there is a larger threat in the immediate vicinity, or if we otherwise deem it wise for any reason, we have the option of taking all teachers and students inside the farm gate, and locking it behind us.