by Cody Unger | Nov 20, 2024 | Daily life, Ideas, Stories
In public school I studied math, science, social studies, and English. As a student at The Circle School, I planned every detail of a two-week field trip to Europe, contributed to the school’s chore system and judicial system, and helped to host admissions...
by Cody Unger | Oct 24, 2024 | Daily life, Ideas, Pictures, Play
We all have cycles in our lives. At The Circle School, we know a better way to educate is one that works with these cycles, not against them. Each day on staff at The Circle School includes dozens of interactions with kids seeking me out. Sometimes it’s...
by Cody Unger | Nov 13, 2023 | Daily life, Ideas, Pictures
Circle School staff continue to advance our staff initiative as adopted in fall 2022: Increase the quality of life for Circle School students and staff, particularly through three initiatives: Increase students’ access to resources. Increase staff’s...
by Jim Rietmulder | Oct 15, 2023 | Daily life, Ideas, Pictures
Drag-alongs, tag-alongs, stumble-ons, and happenings The Circle School describes itself as “self-directed” education, but that term can be misleading. Talking about student freedom, initiative, and self-direction sometimes creates the impression that each student is...
by Jim Rietmulder | Apr 14, 2023 | Ideas, Public policy
I want children in school to find happiness. Not momentary fireworks, but the saturating joy of purpose and meaning in life. Not someday, but now, as children. I’ve noticed that kids who live fulfilling lives as kids tend to build fulfilling lives as adults. I think...
by Jim Rietmulder | Aug 27, 2021 | Ideas
At first glance, you might get the wrong idea from the title of my book, When Kids Rule the School. You might think kids are in charge in some sort of absolute way. It’s not that simple. The publishers didn’t like my working title: “Kids Practicing...
