by Jim Rietmulder | Dec 1, 2021 | [Homepage], Daily life, Featured, Newsletter, Stories, What's it all about?
With retirement on the horizon, I’m feeling reflective. This morning I’m thinking about how different The Circle School is today from the way it was in its founding years. And how much the same it is. I’m thinking about changes to come, and how the cherished sameness...
by Jim Rietmulder | Aug 27, 2021 | [Homepage], Daily life, Featured, Lily, Meadow Campus, What's it all about?
At first glance, you might get the wrong idea from the title of my book, When Kids Rule the School. You might think kids are in charge in some sort of absolute way. It’s not that simple. The publishers didn’t like my working title: “Kids Practicing...
by Jim Rietmulder | Apr 13, 2021 | [Homepage], Featured, Public policy, Uncategorized, What's it all about?
I’m disappointed by America’s dysfunctional politics. And I bet you are, too. What really gets to me is the hyper-polarization and aggressive non-cooperation. I want to yell “Grow up, America!” — but that might be insulting to the kids I work with. For me it’s...
by Beth Stone | May 15, 2019 | Daily life, Featured, Play, Stories, What's it all about?
Even now, after 35 years as a founding staff member, I half dread being asked by a newcomer to explain The Circle School. It could be a neighbor, the friend of a friend, or recently my dental hygienist just before she asked me to open wide. My anxiety arises not from...
by Julia James | Mar 3, 2014 | Daily life, Stories, What's it all about?
If I’m being honest, it wasn’t anarchy, but something more akin to libertarianism. The rules weren’t really gone, but School Meeting voted to suspend enforcement of any victimless violations. And not even all of the rules were gone — those...
by Joan | Feb 18, 2014 | Parenting, What's it all about?
My mom is great. When Graham was a newborn, she used to arrive at my house late in the morning, bringing lunch for us and a basket of washed, folded baby clothes. She’d admire Graham, and we’d eat lunch together. Then she would do all the dishes, including the ones...
