We recently talked with Saint Louis Sudbury School student Nyla! She is 10 years old and has attended public schools in St. Louis before coming to Sudbury. Nyla loves hanging out with friends and traveling!
How do you describe Saint Louis Sudbury School to your friends or family who aren’t familiar with the school?
It’s self-directed education with a different way of learning than public school.
What’s one of your favorite things about Sudbury?
The freedom
What do you find challenging about the Sudbury experience?
The amount of students. I want to have a lot more.
Students of all ages can freely mix at Sudbury. What do you like about that?
I think it’s great.
What do you think of Sudbury’s Judicial Committee?
I think it’s a great resource for when kids have troubles, aren’t getting along, or have a hard time setting boundaries. It helps students learn other ways of dealing with conflict.
A lot of people talk about how Sudbury model schools help develop life skills. What are some life skills you’ve practiced at Saint Louis Sudbury School?
Learning how to take care of younger kids and putting my opinion in a conversation.
Dream about Saint Louis Sudbury School 10 years from now. What does it look like to you?
Way more students, of all ages. A space that fits us more or our own building. Everyday is packed with fun classes.
A Walk in the Neighborhood
Saint Louis Sudbury School students recently took a walk to nearby Cherokee Street in St. Louis! After checking in with student-led Safety Committee, kids walked several blocks to see our friends at STL Style who generously offered to share information about our school with their customers, stopped by the magical shop Flowers & Weeds where a student bought an air plant to share with the school, and explored the area. Our group enjoyed practicing life skills—communication, patience, sharing, discovery, self-awareness, caring for others, and being okay with the unknown.
Q&A with Staff Member Alayna
Alayna Franklin
Where are you from and what kind of schooling experiences did you have growing up?
I am from West County here in Saint Louis, Missouri! My schooling experience K-12 was through Parkway public schools. After graduation, I attended Mizzou for less than one year. I recall my years in school as some of the darkest of my life. The levels of anxiety and depression I faced felt insurmountable and crippling. I struggled socially and with attendance, but somehow managed to perform academically quite well, at a cost I think no child should face.
How did you come to be a part of Saint Louis Sudbury School?
My sister, Alexis Franklin, founded the school in 2019. I attended the inaugural board meeting with my then infant in 2017, where admittedly I first learned about the Sudbury model of education. I was eager to join the movement as I knew I needed an educational opportunity for my kid when he came of age. Previously, I had considered homeschool as my only option since I knew I would not be subjecting my kid to compulsory education and I hadn’t yet fully explored alternative or self-directed education. I briefly held a position on the board, taking a step back after some time as the hours of work competed with my existing part-time job as a hairstylist and full-time job mothering a baby. Years later, I began part-time staffing at the school, bringing my toddler along. Eventually, I became a full-time staff member and later Board Co-President.
What do you enjoy about it?
I love working with young people, helping to provide them a safe environment to find themselves and their way. I enjoy being in community, learning from mistakes, building relationships, and seeing the project grow and evolve from its infancy. As a bonus, I love that I was able to find a job that supports young mothers, one that allowed me to bring my toddler with me and practice attachment parenting while earning a modest income. Mothering is meant to happen communally!
What are some of your life experiences that have helped prepare you and guide you as a Sudbury staff member?
At the most basic level, I have childcare experience through staffing at a daycare before I had my own baby, though countering the greater culture through parenting my kid has been the largest impetus for what I do here. I adamantly advocate for the respect of my own child, which I find woefully difficult within this culture which often views young people as blank slates, to be coerced into compliance, to fall in line and pursue the “dreams” of their predecessors (compulsory hierarchical education followed by a 9-to-5 for life).
Further, I find that my interests in mental/emotional health, trauma awareness, healing in relationship, sovereignty, lifelong learning, and community building translate very nicely to our mission here at the Saint Louis Sudbury School.
Do you feel like you have changed since becoming a part of Saint Louis Sudbury School? If yes, how so?
I have changed in innumerable ways. When I began working on the project, I was a brand new mother. My experience with Saint Louis Sudbury School has overlapped with many formative years of my young adulthood; embarking on parenthood, facing chronic illness, changing careers, etc.
Regarding my experience growing within the school, I often express that working here is “confronting” in the most challenging and expansive way. What I mean by that is that there’s no hiding from yourself in a community like this. Adults in traditional institutions working with young people are often expected to be neutral, emotionally private, and to a degree, without flaws. This is a rare opportunity where I exist as an adult in an institution with young people, without imposed hierarchy, while expressing myself authentically and pursuing my own passions and interests amongst others doing the same. I wish everyone had this opportunity. It is hard! I make mistakes often. The conflict resolution and relational skills I’ve learned here along with the self-exploration I’ve been afforded permeate every facet of my life. In fact, within my own household, my 5 year old often calls family members to unofficial “Judicial Committee” meetings to deal with interpersonal conflict!
What do you like to do for fun?
Due to my own and my family’s background with mental and physical chronic illness, I love learning about holistic health. I have healed significantly from many chronic symptoms that medical professionals once told me I would spend a lifetime managing pharmaceutically. I spend a lot of my free time studying different modalities including homeopathy, herbalism, ayurveda, food as medicine, iridology, reiki, etc. and have more recently delved into the Emotion Code and German New Medicine. As nerdy or “woo” as it sounds, integrating and honoring the four bodies (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) is my favorite hobby!
Beyond that, I adore spending time with my 5 year old son. I love to cook and bake healthy, nourishing food. Before motherhood, I spent a lot of my free time making art, with a focus on figure and portraiture, creative writing, jewelry, and interior design. I suspect that as my kid ages and requires less output from me, I will fall into these creative outlets again.
Dreaming big, how would you like to see Saint Louis Sudbury School ten years from now?
Ten years from now, I see the Saint Louis Sudbury School in our own space, with access to nature and ample off-campus opportunities, with many more students and staff. I would love to still be a staff member here. With many successful graduates and scholarship opportunities, I envision a thriving community in symbiosis within the larger community. Perhaps Sudbury will become a household word and we won’t have to work quite as hard to convince the masses to trust young people! I suspect sovereignty and respect will become far less radical in ten years, for young people and adults alike.
Why Sudbury: Thoughts from a Parent
“I'd known since before our child started kindergarten that I wanted a different school environment for them than the one I grew up in. After several years in a blue ribbon public elementary school and a couple years in a private performing arts school, we were conflicted about the high school years for our child.
We toured St. Louis Sudbury School a couple times and decided to give it a try last year as Cricket entered 9th grade. This is the first time in over 9 years of education that my child can't wait to arrive at school each morning and for weekends to end so they can go back to school. They feel so valued and respected as a part of the Sudbury community and the life skills they are learning are so important for their future. I can't imagine a better place for children to grow and learn on their own terms than at Saint Louis Sudbury School.
We can't wait to see what the future holds for this community and everyone involved. If you are looking for a super inclusive democratic learning environment for your child, please look into this school. It has changed our lives for the better over the last year and only continues to grow and exceed our expectations.”
— Shelah, Saint Louis Sudbury School parent
Unschooling and Self-Directed Education
You may have heard of unschooling and Self-Directed Education. Are they the same thing? How are they different?
We like this explanation from the Alliance for Self-Directed Education:
"Unschooling normally refers to a style of homeschooling in which young people are free to follow their own interests, with no obligation to choose 'educational' activities. Unschooling parents don’t impose the structures and agendas of conventional schools; rather, they trust their children’s natural self-educative drives and provide supportive conditions."
"When we chose the term Self-Directed Education to describe the movement we are championing, we meant for it to include unschooling families as well as people involved in schools and learning centers where the students have essentially the same freedom as unschoolers. In that sense we are all unschoolers."
At Saint Louis Sudbury School, you might hear us describing our organization as "unschooling in community." Sudbury students have the freedom to explore self-chosen activities and life experiences, regardless if they were chosen with the active intent of "education." And they get to do this within a self-governing democratic community where each person plays a role in running the school, co-existing, and growing together.
Q&A with Veda
We recently talked with a new Saint Louis Sudbury School student! Veda is 13 years old and is from Fort Worth, Texas. She likes music and art and has attended Montessori and Sudbury model schools before coming to St. Louis.
You've attended a Sudbury model school in Texas. Why did you choose a Sudbury model school instead of a conventional school?
Because I didn't like the curriculum, the way I was taught, or the lack of freedom I had. I chose Sudbury because I can do what I want when I want to do it and not be judged for the choices I make.
Why do you think Sudbury model schools are important? What can students get out of a Sudbury experience?
I think Sudbury Schools are important because they teach people how to be creative and don't put unnecessary stress on kids.
How have you changed since attending Sudbury model schools?
Since I started going to Sudbury I’ve become more confident, social, and have developed hobbies I had zero interest in when I was in public school.
What do you think of Saint Louis Sudbury School so far and how is it different from the Sudbury model school you attended in Texas?
Saint Louis Sudbury School has been really good so far and there are a few things that stick out that are very different such as: opening and closing hours and the amount of students. I prefer this amount of students when it comes to chores or anything mandatory because its just easier, but with more students I feel there’s more opportunity for different things.
What do you say to people who are suspicious of self-directed education? (e.g. "How on earth will kids learn anything?!")
When someone asks how I'm learning anything (typically family) I usually respond with: “I learn whatever I want, whenever I want.” If they don’t understand I'll briefly explain the Sudbury model. It is common for people to “disagree” with the way I'm taught, but it doesn’t bother me.
White Elephant Gift Exchange
Saint Louis Sudbury School community members recently had fun with a White Elephant Gift Exchange! It was wonderful spending time with students, staff, volunteers, and parents before our winter break. Here are some photos from the event!
Q&A with Sudbury parent Kia
Kia Springer is a parent, volunteer, and board member of Saint Louis Sudbury School. We asked her a few questions about why her family chose Sudbury, how her kids have changed since being at Sudbury, what students learn, and more. We appreciate Kia and her family so much!
How long has your family been a part of Saint Louis Sudbury School?
My two children have been at Sudbury for about a year and a half.
There are many education options in the St. Louis region, why did you choose Sudbury?
We started to look for my son’s next step as far as a school. His school really went downhill unfortunately during the pandemic, as many did trying to navigate that. We gave my daughter the same option to look for a different learning environment as her school was starting to give her anxiety with the pandemic restrictions. We wanted to look for a different educational model than we where previously in. After looking at a few places, both children independently choose Sudbury for themselves.
What kinds of changes have you seen in your children since starting at Sudbury?
I have seen changes in my oldest child in the most positive way. He would make himself actually throw up when we pulled up to his old school so he could go home. They would punish him and take away critical social time if things were not handed in. He loves the freedom he feels at Sudbury and the ability to be present and part of meetings when he wants to. He was not interested in attending any meetings at his prior school. He finally feels safe and cared for at Sudbury. With my daughter at Sudbury as well, I have seen her come into her own, stand up for what she wants, sets boundaries, asks for things that are uncomfortable and make friendships in a pure non judgmental way.
Do you feel like you have changed as well?
I feel like I have changed in the way that my kids are finally comfortable and happy in a school so I am happy. I have always been unsure of the traditional school model knowing all children are different. And if you don’t fit in that traditional box, then you struggle. So having a learning environment that my kids are actively involved in, makes me want to be involved as well.
How would you describe Saint Louis Sudbury School to a friend?
I always say Sudbury is self directed learning. Then I emphasize that once again! At Sudbury, the kids are really in charge of their time, wants, need, finances, food, and friends. Being in a self-governing democratic model at a school is also very new and exciting. I love how the children start at a young age speaking up for themselves in what they want and why to their peers. It’s the most community based school I’ve experienced due to no separation of age and where you are academically.
Many people who haven't experienced the Sudbury community, ask how kids at Sudbury will ever learn anything or how they will go to college. How might you respond?
They are learning everyday. With everything they do. Right choices vs. wrong choices, time management, budgeting, what they want and don’t want, social skills, when to rest and when to push it, how to advocate for themselves, and how to run a school. For me, I couldn’t ask for better things to learn for my children. As far as college goes, there is never any security that if you go, you will be successful. In fact some very successful people didn’t go to college. If kids at Sudbury want and choose to apply to college, the Sudbury community can help prepare the students.
When adults first hear about the Sudbury model, they often say, "I wish I had a school like that when I was growing up." Why do you think they say that?
I wish I had a school like this! Many of my friends I explain the model too feel the same way. I think that most of us have been through the classic educational model, it didn’t work for us, and many of us have major trauma from it. It helped us create unfortunately fears, anxiety, depression, self-worth questions, and more… and no one likes those feelings. What we would give to feel free and safe, learn what we what to learn, be social and eat when we want, feel safe and loved and supported. That’s how all children should feel.