Kindle Farm School

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if anyone has any information on Kindle Farm School in Vermont.

[Che Gookin]

What does google kick up?

[Anonymous]

As far as I can see, it is non-residential. From a quoted article on their webpage:

There are crises at Kindle Farm. These are, after all, at-risk kids. On arrival in the morning, a student brings with him the boiling rage of a pre-dawn blow-up at home. "If that early morning anger gets out of control-and sometimes it does," said Bob, "our safety is endangered and then comes a chaos that sucks in everyone, souring the productive community spirit."
Then two, three, or maybe more teachers immediately build a safe space around the student. The teachers are not going to coddle or sympathize, not going to say, "Talk about it later when a counselor comes." Rather, they face the issue then and there, discuss the problem, and lead the student to find options in his behavior at once, so he can start the day's work. If options can't be found a plan can't be made and followed, there are immediate consequences: the afternoon program for that student, be it mountain biking, canoeing, or recording techno music at "The Loft" in Brattleboro, is put on hold.
But to Bob Bursky and the Kindle Farm School staff, these are "not troubled kids but rather kids who have troubles." And it is this concept -kids are people first- that is the philosophical premise at Kindle Farm. "We find their troubles and problems soon enough," Bob says, "but we start them with a clean slate."
"There is not another school like this in the state of Vermont," says Abigail Dillon, director of special education for Windham Central Supervisory Union - the local school district. "And don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
She continued, "It's all about building relationships. And by doing that successfully, Kindle Farm School has built an incredible community over there. For most kids it's the first time they've ever even had one. At last year's Christmas party a mother told me, "This is the first time I have ever come to a school event...and I am proud to, for now my son is flourishing.' One boy recently told me, "Here is where for the first time in my life I feel safe'. If done right, this kind of community experience can transcend the poverty, the abuse, the anger - and Bob Bursky and his staff do it right. And we heard the other day he just got the school's five-year license."
And at what financial cost to the school districts? "It's about $22,000 a year per student," Abigail Dillon replied. But a residential situation can easily run $65,000 and up."
When hearing of the school's tuition, Eris Howe, a West Townshend native whose family's roots in the town go back to 1770, said, "Only $22,000? Well, that's a bargain! Do you have any idea what jail costs?"

That does not make it a good program, but at least they can see their families often.

[Ursus]

Kindle Farm School uses an "Oak Meadow curriculum," at least according to their History page. Oak Meadow is a Waldorf School, one that developed a anthroposophist home school program that is pretty much Waldorf through and through, with some small modifications. I personally would be very suspicious on this count alone, since I think most Waldorf Schools are heavily steeped in the Steiner cult, and the ones that aren't just don't offer a very good education, and may even damage a child's ability in critical thinking.

Looking briefly, I haven't yet found the Waldorf connection on the Kindle Farm School website, but some schools actively try to hide it. Who knows. Oak Meadow doesn't exactly advertise it either, but do a SEARCH on the Waldorf Critics site, and you'd be surprised at how much sewage trickles to the surface. Roger Rawlings also has a good webpage alerting parents to pitfalls in a Waldorf "education."

Of note: On Oak Meadows' "Affillitated Schools" page, towards the bottom, under the category of "Specialty Schools," the following programs are listed:

• Focal Point Academy
• Ironwood Academy
• Majestic Ranch

Need I say more? Kindle Farm is not listed, but perhaps they use a modified version of an "Oak Meadow curriculum" (which is a slightly modified version of a Waldorf curriculum) which does not accord them affiliation status.

Are they a "kinder, gentler" program? Perhaps; perhaps not. Tread with care.

[Che Gookin]

Oi.. Ursus..

Educate us on the Stiener bit will you?

Curious is all.

[Ursus]

Focusing a bit more on Kindle Farm for the moment... Page title: We are a 501c3 on a Mission : Board of Directors

Color emphasis mine.

—•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•—

Board of Directors

Christopher Karp, President, is Operations Director at Chroma Technology Corp in Rockingham, Vermont with a wholly owned subsidiary in Munich: Chroma Technology GmbH. Chris is currently completing the first year of his first 3-year term on the Kindle Farm Board of Directors. Chroma is a 100% employee owned manufacturer of optical interference filters, primarily serving life science and astronomy communities worldwide. Chroma employs about 80 people, has ~$18million in sales, and is an active supporter of VBSR, VEOC as well as supporting excellent quality of life standards for employees. Previously, Chris worked as Division Manager for a Massachusetts filter manufacturer Barr Associates with about 250 employees and $25million sales. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Optics from the University of Rochester and an MS of Physics at University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

Jerry Baker, Vice President, is the operations manager at Oak Meadow School, a K-12 distance learning school in Brattleboro, VT. In years past, he worked in the alcohol and drug rehabilitation field as a detoxification technician then moved up to the 10-day residential treatment supervisor. He was in this field for 6 years. Jerry has recently received his Bachelors in pre law (emphasis on paralegal studies) and has a two-year degree in computer science. Originally from San Diego, CA, he has lived in Putney, VT for the past 10 years.

Benjamin Taggard, Treasurer, is an investment adviser for The Richards Group, a financial services and insurance firm located in Brattleboro, Vermont. Ben is beginning his second year of his first 3-year term on the Kindle Farm Board of Directors. He was previously a financial analyst at Cabot Corporation, the Boston-based specialty chemicals company. In addition to serving on the Kindle Farm Children's Services board, Ben serves on an advisory committee to the Meeting Waters YMCA in Bellows Falls, Vermont, and is a board member at the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Formerly, he was president of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce and a board member of the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics-Finance from Bentley College and a Master of Science in Finance from Boston College Carroll Graduate School of Management.

Karen Blumberg, Secretary, has been a practicing clinician working with youth, adolescents and families in the Brattleboro, Vermont area for the past 10 years at various agencies. In the past year she has begun a private practice in Brattleboro, where she still maintains focus on working with children and adolescents, but also counsels adults as well. In addition, Karen holds workshops for parents raising children and adolescents, particularly challenging children, as well as presenting to school districts. Originally from New York, she moved to the area to attend graduate school, where she received a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Antioch.

Michele Gallagher, Board Member, is a stay-at-home mom with three children, Brian 18, a recent graduate of SMS, Kylie 16, a junior at BBA and Jay 9, an elementary student at Kindle Farm. She is married to Ron Vallario, a family physician at Mt. Valley Medical in Londonderry. Before moving to Vermont in 2004, she was a member of the NJ Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a physician trainer and child advocate. She has worked as a paraprofessional in NJ and NC with children with autism and in a Bronx HS with teens labeled "emotionally disturbed." She has also taught practical arts and personal awareness to developmentally delayed adults. Raising Jay has been both her most challenging and rewarding role to date, and the staff at Kindle Farm does so much to support her in that role.

Jerry Appell, Board Member, teaches Social Studies at Monadnock Regional High School in Swanzey, New Hampshire. He has been recognized for a number of innovative teaching methods throughout his career. He has recently been rewarded two grants to produce a CD of educational songs called Rock in the Classroom. He helped to create a senior level social science program in which students receive college credit for courses taken in high school. Three years ago he created the Monadnock Gay-Straight Alliance with the goal of addressing sexual orientation issues as they affect student populations. Jerry is a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union. Originally from New York City Jerry moved to Vermont in 1983 and received an MA in History from the University of Vermont.  

Gigi Mathews, Board Member, is a recent transfer from the New Jersey shore, where she was an active volunteer in her community's youth and public health programs. She has a background in corporate training and mortgage banking. Her love of skiing brought her to Vermont. As Stratton Mountain's Lead Mountain Guide, she is responsible for the mountain's volunteer workforce and claims that getting paid to ski is the best job in the world. Gigi, her husband Scott and assorted pets love living in Stratton. Their daughter Jordan is an architecture student at University of Virginia.        

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