Peter Kindfield, Ph.D., Principal

The Farm School Web Site

The Farm School at Home Satellite Campus Program

The Farm School provides alternative education for students taught by qualified members. Our kids are taught to be socially conscious, creative, and critical thinkers. Most importantly, they put what they learn into practice and have a good time doing it.

The philosophy of The Farm School begins with the belief that all kids have a natural desire to learn and grow, and that all aspects of life are considered a part of a person’s education. The students are allowed to pursue their areas of interest, in a relaxed setting of encouragement and with a variety of resources. We use cooperation, not competition as a model. Intimidation and authoritarian means of implementing school programs are not part of the agenda so students have the freedom to be who they are without interference or judgment. We believe knowledge of one’s self, honesty and tolerance are as important a part of a child’s education as academics.

Vision
We envision a world where all people live in peace and harmony with each other and our planet.

Mission
We seek to help our students manifest a peaceful and harmonious world.

Organizational Structure
The Farm School is a consensus-democratic school. We attempt to achieve consensus on all shared decisions and use voting to make decisions when this seems like the most peaceful path to a decision. We make decisions about the daily functioning of the school during school meetings where students and teachers each have equal voice. Our Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) makes decisions about the daily functioning of the school that require the input of parents. We make decisions specific to individual students during triadic meetings that include a student, her/his advisor and a family member.

Our school board is accountable for the functioning of the school as a business entity (non-profit corporation). We entrust our Principal to make recommendations about how to achieve our mission and to make time sensitive decisions on our behalf. What We Teach At The Farm School students learn as they apply basic skills and content to real-world problems. We use the following lenses into the subject areas to focus our responsive curriculum and to connect what our students learn to their and our community’s needs, interests, experiences and values. Science, Math and Technology for Peace, Equality and Sustainability: Applying science, math and technology towards personal, community and planetary peace and sustainability. Social Science for Peace, Equality and Sustainability: Applying social science towards peaceful, equitable, and sustainable solutions to personal, community and international conflicts. Communication Arts for Peace, Equality and Sustainability: Communicating in the service of equality, peace and sustainability for all beings using multiple languages, music, art forms and media (including magazines, newspaper, radio, the Internet, bumper stickers, T-shirts, posters and banners). Being in Our Bodies: Being in and moving our bodies peacefully and sustainably.

Sounds like a nice school huh? Well it really is! We take very seriously the importance of the values that our kids need in order to become whole, caring adults. A few years ago it was thought that maybe the time was coming when we would have to close the school since most of the community’s kids have grown-up, but we once again have young children and we see potential for more. Many of us look forward to the time when our own grandchildren will attend this school.




Member of The National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools

Also, check out Alan Graf's Radical Civics Here or at hippielawyer.com

Links to Reviews of The Farm School:
Independent Schools Directory
TN State SDE Directory
Private School Review