Core Principles

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 August 2010 20:18

3 Principles guide our decision making and inform our mission.

1.  Freedom is for everyone.

Regardless of a person's age, credentials, or resources, we think everyone deserves freedom.  Students own their daily routines by deciding what, when, and how they will learn.  They have the power to say both "yes" and "no".  They enjoy freedom from manipulation, coercion, and physical or emotional violence.  Each student, with guidance from advisors and mentors, determines his or her own requirements for success.  Unrequested homework, undesired tests, standardized benchmarks, and compulsory attendance have no merit in our school.  Human behavior around learning is often dictated by the rigid roles of "teacher" and "student.”  At the VFS staff, parents, and volunteers are released from the limitations of “Authority Figure” and allowed the joy of interacting naturally with students.  They are free to share wisdom, offer classes, provide guidance, and just be themselves.

2.  Freedom cannot exist without responsibility.

With increased freedom comes increased responsibility to ourselves, one another, our community, and the planet.   We share the responsibilities of upholding agreed upon community laws, respecting the school property and the property of others, using money and resources wisely, and maintaining a successful and sustainable school.  We share a commitment to co-create and preserve a place where all are welcome and free to thrive.  In order to preserve our freedom, we must respect and defend the rights of everyone.  A successful community balances personal freedoms and community responsibilities.

3.   Community requires joint ownership and participation.

As a conscious learning community, we strive to model a cultural shift which broadens and deepens our concept of education.  Education is more than developing a set of skills or acquiring a body of knowledge.  Education is a life-long process which honors the journey of the individual while defining a larger purpose in the world.  True knowledge is the result of meaningful engagement with the world around us.

Ownership is reflected in the belief that everyone matters here, both in word and in action.  Everyone has a role and responsibility in sustaining our community.  In order to establish ownership each student, each community member, must ask two questions:  "Who am I? and, "What does the world ask of me?"  Our community provides the social context and support to answer these questions.  The framework of our community encourages opportunities for learning through dialogue and building authentic relationships across ages and roles.