Wilson's high school dream
Donation protected
Hello Everyone!
My name is Wilson. I am 15 years old and about to go into my sophomore year of high school.
I am here to ask help from my world community. I have a strong desire to step out from my current public school into a new, more open, broad-thinking style of school, the Glacier Lake School. I feel this school will allow me to grow in independence and start learning to contribute to the world much sooner and in better ways than if I remain in my local high school. But, as I come from a relatively low income family in one of the poorest counties in Montana, money is always tight (though we get by quite well considering), and I cannot figure out a way to pay for this incredible opportunity without help. I did work this summer helping an elderly friend, and will be contributing those earnings and my own savings, but that still leaves a long way to go.
Why this matters so deeply to me: Though I have always gotten good grades, I don't feel they reflect my public school experience in any way. Ever since my parents had to literally drag me out the door every single day to go to Kindergarten, I have felt deeply that most public schools in the United States are taught as an assembly line, and are not for me. I am not alone in believing that education should be personalized, not standardized. In my opinion, school should be about creating the best possible people by building on students' individual strengths and interests, not forcing more of something on them strictly because they are not good at it, do not like it, or fail to see its value.
While this is the way that I feel, I understand that many do not. My elder brother graduated from public school as Valedictorian, and is now pulling a 4.0 GPA in college. Many other people I know are perfectly satisfied with the public educational system they are in, and I respect that. I also know that most adults have been through school and do not see how it could be different. I mean absolutely no disrespect to these people, nor to the teachers and staff who work so hard for such low pay. Though public school has not satisfied me, I know that it has been good for many others.
I have moved between schools within my very rural county several times in my life. My mother has supported me in trying to find an education that works for me; I have been to three different public schools in my area and homeschooled twice.
I had heard whispers of a kind of school that is based on developing curious, intelligent people, rather than just meeting national testing standards. The Sudbury Valley model of "Democratic school" piqued my curiosity, and I would go on to learn of a few others, like the Summerhill School in England. Their messages differed slightly, but they all had the same bottom line. As the Summerhill School says, "The school should be made to fit the child, not the other way around." These school models represent how I have felt since that first day of Kindergarten, and I began to search for such options.
As luck would have it, I have found a Sudbury Valley model school in St. Ignatius, Montana, just two hours from where I live! My mother and I recently toured it, and found that it may be exactly the kind of opportunity I have looked for all my life. It is called a "Democratic, Free School", and is based on the idea that students should be able to take charge of their own learning. Children are natural learners, so it makes sense to let them reach out and be curious instead of forcing data down their metaphorical throats.
I want more than almost anything else to be able to attend Glacier Lake School. It's motto "Freedom through responsibility," thrills me. I am ready to learn how to be a responsible member of a democratic school community, and how to reach professional goals NOW, not have to wait several more years. For example, I am very interested in finance, especially in socially ethical investing. At this school, I may be able to help with the school's fundraising, grant writing, and finances, providing an early step in my experience at helping good organizations in the future.
However, my family finances being as they are, we just don't have the money to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. I would be very greatful for any amount of money you could help with. The tuition is $5100, but to pay for a place for me to stay during the week (this is not a boarding school) and to travel home on weekends are expected to require more than twice that. All contributions would be incredibly helpful in both paying tuition and the many other expenses, including housing, travel, and food.
Thank you so much for helping to make me not only a well-educated student, but also to help create curious, thoughtful, inspired members of society. I don't know of any way to thank you enough, so I offer this: when I get the chance to help a kid meet their dreams in the future, I will never forget this experience, and promise to pass it on! Thank you again.
My name is Wilson. I am 15 years old and about to go into my sophomore year of high school.
I am here to ask help from my world community. I have a strong desire to step out from my current public school into a new, more open, broad-thinking style of school, the Glacier Lake School. I feel this school will allow me to grow in independence and start learning to contribute to the world much sooner and in better ways than if I remain in my local high school. But, as I come from a relatively low income family in one of the poorest counties in Montana, money is always tight (though we get by quite well considering), and I cannot figure out a way to pay for this incredible opportunity without help. I did work this summer helping an elderly friend, and will be contributing those earnings and my own savings, but that still leaves a long way to go.
Why this matters so deeply to me: Though I have always gotten good grades, I don't feel they reflect my public school experience in any way. Ever since my parents had to literally drag me out the door every single day to go to Kindergarten, I have felt deeply that most public schools in the United States are taught as an assembly line, and are not for me. I am not alone in believing that education should be personalized, not standardized. In my opinion, school should be about creating the best possible people by building on students' individual strengths and interests, not forcing more of something on them strictly because they are not good at it, do not like it, or fail to see its value.
While this is the way that I feel, I understand that many do not. My elder brother graduated from public school as Valedictorian, and is now pulling a 4.0 GPA in college. Many other people I know are perfectly satisfied with the public educational system they are in, and I respect that. I also know that most adults have been through school and do not see how it could be different. I mean absolutely no disrespect to these people, nor to the teachers and staff who work so hard for such low pay. Though public school has not satisfied me, I know that it has been good for many others.
I have moved between schools within my very rural county several times in my life. My mother has supported me in trying to find an education that works for me; I have been to three different public schools in my area and homeschooled twice.
I had heard whispers of a kind of school that is based on developing curious, intelligent people, rather than just meeting national testing standards. The Sudbury Valley model of "Democratic school" piqued my curiosity, and I would go on to learn of a few others, like the Summerhill School in England. Their messages differed slightly, but they all had the same bottom line. As the Summerhill School says, "The school should be made to fit the child, not the other way around." These school models represent how I have felt since that first day of Kindergarten, and I began to search for such options.
As luck would have it, I have found a Sudbury Valley model school in St. Ignatius, Montana, just two hours from where I live! My mother and I recently toured it, and found that it may be exactly the kind of opportunity I have looked for all my life. It is called a "Democratic, Free School", and is based on the idea that students should be able to take charge of their own learning. Children are natural learners, so it makes sense to let them reach out and be curious instead of forcing data down their metaphorical throats.
I want more than almost anything else to be able to attend Glacier Lake School. It's motto "Freedom through responsibility," thrills me. I am ready to learn how to be a responsible member of a democratic school community, and how to reach professional goals NOW, not have to wait several more years. For example, I am very interested in finance, especially in socially ethical investing. At this school, I may be able to help with the school's fundraising, grant writing, and finances, providing an early step in my experience at helping good organizations in the future.
However, my family finances being as they are, we just don't have the money to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. I would be very greatful for any amount of money you could help with. The tuition is $5100, but to pay for a place for me to stay during the week (this is not a boarding school) and to travel home on weekends are expected to require more than twice that. All contributions would be incredibly helpful in both paying tuition and the many other expenses, including housing, travel, and food.
Thank you so much for helping to make me not only a well-educated student, but also to help create curious, thoughtful, inspired members of society. I don't know of any way to thank you enough, so I offer this: when I get the chance to help a kid meet their dreams in the future, I will never forget this experience, and promise to pass it on! Thank you again.
Organizer
Cat Ballou
Organizer
Trout Creek, MT
