Subscribe
to TIC!

The Free School of Albany Says it is “Freeing Minds”

When Leah Penniman got a job with the Department of Education, MA after graduating from Clark University a few years ago, she had a problem: how to juggle her job responsibilities as a career woman and as a parent. “I wanted to teach and at the same time monitor what my kids are being taught in their school,” she said. Then she heard about the Albany Free School. Without hesitation, she relocated to the Capital Region with her two children. “The school offers an alternative attraction to the public school. It is an oasis of authenticity in the desert of despair. Teachers and students are honest about what education is supposed to be, and kids learn to be honest with themselves and others,” said Penniman.

The Free School of Albany (Photos by: Kimberly Feliciano)

The Free school is a different kind of school. No strict timetable, students are not graded, and parents are also qualified to be teachers to their children. Although, many have criticized this as divided loyalty.

The idea of a “free school” began as a dream in the 1940’s to the early 1960’s. A group of visionaries who were apprehensive of the spread of totalitarianism in Europe believed the only way to stop its influence in the New World was to have "free education". That is, education free from government control. Their concern was the looming specter of Big Brother turning education to a vehicle to control people’s minds. In their perspective, the best form of education that liberates the mind should involve parents, students and teachers.

It was a radical move. With time, though, the free school movement won converts. Here in the Albany Capital Region, Mrs. Mary Leue started the Albany Free School in 1969. A few parents withdrew their children from public school to become the pioneer students. The curriculum was a blend of formal “instruction and home life”. To maintain strict adherence to their mission, free schools everywhere shunned grants from the government.

What is the reaction of Albany Public School District to the idea of Free School? Speaking to The Informed Constituent, Matt Leon, Public Relations Officer believed the idea of free school may be innovative but the public school system offers more eclectic curricula which cater to the needs of all students. According to him: “While other educational theories beside the traditional public school model exist, the City School District of Albany believes public schools truly work for all students, as evidenced by the fact that the district has evolved to meet the needs of its students and the demands of modern education with a curriculum that meets all applicable standards and a diverse set of offerings. These offerings include one of the area's first International Baccalaureate Programs, a dual language enrichment program at the elementary level, a Career Academy, and a variety of social service and after school programs across the board.”

Mr. Bhawin Sachak, who’s in his early 30’s, has been a teacher with the Albany Free School for seven years. “The philosophy of the school, from onset, was to reclaim education from government control and free our kids from unnecessary bureaucracy. Students learn better when allowed to grow at their own pace. There are many career paths in life and alternative methods should be explored to reach them. In the final analysis, kids come out the better for it in terms of what they want and how best to achieve their goals in life.”

A typical day at the Free School begins at 8:15am. Students are assigned to classes and grade level based on their age. Curriculum is flexible. Each child designs his/her activity for the day and presents it to the teacher. Classes are small; five to seven students per teacher, enhancing effective communication and learning.

“We ask each student what he/she wants to learn and do at the start of each day,” explains Mike Berry, a Kindergarten teacher. “One may say, ‘I want to read and write,’ while another wants to work on math or the computer. We’ve discovered that every child wants to learn. It’s better to free their minds than to compel them.”

But what about accountability? Free Schools don’t have a grading system or conduct examinations. Since classes are small, teachers have one-on-one interaction with students,” Sachak said. “Giving out grades are mere conventions and defeat the purpose of real education. Exams are not true tests of student’s abilities. Since each student has voluntarily chosen what to learn and do, it’s easy to hold him/her accountable. When a student doesn’t deliver, we find out what is wrong.”

There are ten teachers and four interns at the Albany Free School. Parents volunteer regularly. Through its flexible curriculum, students look at life from a wider horizon as reflected in their career aspirations.

Kayzia Parker is an eight-year-old third grader. She wants to be a professional singer. “I like it here ‘cos I don’t want to be bored for six hours in a public school. I do whatever I want. I can do art, be on the computer, or just sit down and relax.” Andrew Fisk is an eleven-year-old fifth grader. He started Free School in pre-K. “It’s fine here. You tell your teachers what you want to do with others, or on your own, and they guide you in achieving those goals.” Andrew plans to be a dentist.

At the Albany Free School, students participate in a program called “Living and Learning” from 10:00am until noon. Lunch is served at 12:15. Interestingly, students prepare their own meals in the school cafeteria—It’s part of “Living and Learning”. After lunch they engage in different kinds of sporting activities, return to class at 3:00, with the school day ending at 4:00.

The Free School operates on a shoestring budget, but the teachers are not complaining. “We love what we’re doing, and it’s not for the money,” said Sachak. The total tuition is between $90 and $100 per student, per semester.

The Albany Free School has success stories. Lilly Meriogliano graduated in 1999 and currently is a junior at a community college in Brooklyn, NY. Isaac Gram, a 1999 alumnus, is currently a Development Director at the Alternative Education Resource Organization in New York City. Another alumnus works as Undersecretary at the Governor’s Office in Albany.

Today the school boasts of fifty-eight students from pre-K to eighth grade whom are between the ages of three to fourteen. The Albany Free School opens its gates to its first high school students in Fall 2006.

What is the FBA?  |  FBA Website Prototype  |  Cost Estimates  |  The Team

Publishers of The Informed Constituent.

Contact the FBA