Many unique opportunities

At The Highland School, children have the rare opportunity to face real life problems, create solutions, share their ideas with other children and adults alike, and see what happens when their decisions are applied everyday.  Students learn to be responsible community members by having equal voices in making complicated choices.

Another unique opportunity is the chance for each child to explore his or her own individual interests.   At Highland a student can give up the self-defeating idea that “I won’t learn anything unless somebody makes me.”  Instead children learn to adopt the attitude that “I am responsible for my own learning.”  If a student is interested in drawing, he can spend as much time as he wants developing his talent.  If a child chooses to pursue her love of mathematics, she can use school resources, internet access, and nearby college classes to further her passion.

You can see many different activities on any given day.  Writing and practicing for a play to be presented to the school community, researching composting methods for conservation club, building a lego medieval castle, swinging in the yard, studying French in a class, making a tree house, reading a book, taking a practice test for a drivers license, dancing to music in the multipurpose room, and lots of conversation flourish in Highland’s atmosphere of freedom.  Voluntary meetings happen often to organize group activities.  Everything from planning trips to creating the school newsletter takes place in special interest groups.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of opportunities at The Highland School is time.  Each child can pursue her interests for as much time as she wants.  There are no bells or monitors to limit the time spent in any activity.  Students may create deadlines for themselves, but accomplishing goals is part of each student’s learning process.