Learning.
No school required.
Berkshire Freedom Academy is an unschool. There is no prescribed curriculum, no grading, no testing. Young people are free to learn what they want, in the ways they want to learn in. Adults don’t judge or direct the learning; rather, they support the learning if asked. In our experience, motivated learners don’t need or want a lot of help from adults!
Even without grades and transcripts, young people who attend unschools are easily able to move on to the next phase of their education if desired. Today most colleges - including the Ivy League - have special admissions counselors dedicated to unschooled and homeschooled applicants. Colleges want to attract creative, independent, critical thinkers, and virtually all unschool graduates move on to their top choice colleges, as well as apprenticeships or other professional training.
Our learners will go wherever their curiosity takes them.
Our job is to enthusiastically support their adventures.
When you walk into Berkshire Freedom Academy, you won’t see young people sitting at desks in rows or listening to an adult give a lecture. It won’t be quiet and orderly, except perhaps in the reading room.
What you will see is exhilaration. You will see young people excitedly organizing themselves to choreograph a dance, or build a fort among the trees, or have a video gaming competition. You will see young people taking a leadership role in their own lives, deciding for themselves how to spend their time and explore those things they are passionate about. You will see the older learners helping the younger learners, and young people of various ages clustering around an interest.
Freedom with boundaries.
Freedom is the platform that allows young people to follow their curiosity and imagination, figure out what they love and learn how to trust themselves. The amount of freedom our learners are given is related to their ability to follow the rules and be responsible; learners earn more freedom by demonstrating they can handle the freedom they have.
Democracy in action.
Through a democratic process, all young people in our community participate in the governance of the school. The includes creating new rules as issues arise, challenging existing rules when needed, approving budgets and greenlighting projects that require funding. In this model, young people take ownership of and responsibility for their community.
Respect for others.
As in any organization, interpersonal conflicts arise. Unlike most organizations, a formal mediation process is present. In this space of non-judgement, young people are able to practice sharing their feelings and listening to others to understand the impact of their actions. Virtually all “behavioral” issues are worked out through a mediation process.
Berkshire Freedom Academy is designed to foster the development of young people as mental, emotional and physical beings.
Choice & Agency.
Self-directed education is non-coercive. Young people have agency and are not forced to learn anything until they have the readiness and willingness to do so. Permission to “opt in” allows learners to customize their educational experience, making it both more enjoyable and more efficient.
In this experience, young people become self-determined, learn to believe in themselves and have a point of view about their life.
Trust & Confidence.
When young people are in charge of their own learning without being directed by adults, they develop trust in themselves and their abilities. They learn how they prefer to learn, which includes stretching themselves and having room for mistakes without the fear of shame or judgement. They develop a strong sense of self.
Integrity & Empowerment.
Our young people grapple with all sides of issues as they participate in developing rules and community guidelines. Rather than reading about governance, they experience it. They come to understand the importance of following community agreements - or using the democratic process to change them.
What about the adults?
In the self-directed education model, adults are allies and guides who support young people throughout their learning journey, as opposed to judges and assessors who wield power of the learners. Adults don’t dictate what young people choose do or whether it matters.
Adults relinquish the authoritarian power dynamic that is prevalent in society and treat young people like actual people. They inspire and support the learners by sharing their own knowledge, interests, experience and wisdom - as requested - and reinforce loving and healthy boundaries as needed.
Adults also lead classes or provide their expertise on a variety of topics. Classes are always optional, as learners are free to participate in only those activities they feel drawn to.
