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. Currently we have the students divided into approximately 5 and under and 6 and over.
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 a Self-Directed Education (SDE) 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). We don't seek to teach to specific academic benchmarks, so much as we seek to make things like math and reading meaningful to our students. For more details, click thru the menu tab above, titled "Our Approach."
THAT'S ALL VERY CUTE, BUT CONSENSUS PROCESS DOESN'T ACTUALLY WORK WITH KIDS, RIGHT?
We didn't expect consensus 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 past year, we are pleased to note that, in fact... it's been super easy! Breezy, even! We invite you to try it too!
Children are naturally driven to express their needs, hear other people's needs, and find creative ways to balance them with each other. Consensus process centers these pro-social impulses in children, and ensures that they blossom. "Traditional" authoritarian schooling (which is a relatively modern concept) does not support this drive; in fact, it often impedes emotional awareness (of self and others) and entrenches bad interpersonal habits.
There are many benefits to consensus process:
All in all, consensus helps kids grow up happy, whole, loving, and fiercely intelligent!
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. Currently we have the students divided into approximately 5 and under and 6 and over.
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 a Self-Directed Education (SDE) 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). We don't seek to teach to specific academic benchmarks, so much as we seek to make things like math and reading meaningful to our students. For more details, click thru the menu tab above, titled "Our Approach."
THAT'S ALL VERY CUTE, BUT CONSENSUS PROCESS DOESN'T ACTUALLY WORK WITH KIDS, RIGHT?
We didn't expect consensus 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 past year, we are pleased to note that, in fact... it's been super easy! Breezy, even! We invite you to try it too!
Children are naturally driven to express their needs, hear other people's needs, and find creative ways to balance them with each other. Consensus process centers these pro-social impulses in children, and ensures that they blossom. "Traditional" authoritarian schooling (which is a relatively modern concept) does not support this drive; in fact, it often impedes emotional awareness (of self and others) and entrenches bad interpersonal habits.
There are many benefits to consensus process:
- When kids have the opportunity to express their emotional and developmental needs, we have a much better chance at meeting them. We can give them learning opportunities that are relevant to their interests and rooted in their lived reality.
- On the interpersonal level, kids learn that their needs are not in opposition to the needs of others. Consensus is in everyone's best interest.
- In a consensus based program, kids constantly practice putting feelings into words. This trains their minds to be agile and emotionally perceptive.
- ... and the list goes on..!
All in all, consensus helps kids grow up happy, whole, loving, and fiercely intelligent!