Liberty and Responsibility

A grassroots movement formed in the summer of 2007, with the goal of offering a true educational alternative to the traditional orthodoxy of education now dominant in most public and private schools in New York City. Our community is composed of students, parents, educators, and others who believe that freedom and democracy are not just textbook concepts, they are instead a way of living and learning—for children and adults alike. The Manhattan Free School is dedicated to the belief that young people must be free to develop their birth-given gifts in a non-coercive educational environment. At MFS, students have the power to make decisions that affect their everyday lives and that of their community.

Here is a map of Manhattan Free School made by MFS student Joseph McFarland:

A Possible Day at the Manhattan Free School

As founding students of The Manhattan Free School, you are embarking on an uncharted adventure. Although there are many free schools throughout the world, our school opened for the first time in September, 2008 and we are still “becoming.”  There are many similar schools that we can turn to for advice, but we have the satisfying work of creating our own unique Free School to suit our own needs and desires.

9:00 - 9:30am: Arrival and Student-Initiated Activities

9:30am: Morning Meeting — During this meeting we decide what we will do for the day and make announcements.

9:45am-11:30am: Student-Initiated Activities
We are lucky to have the use of many different spaces for our work and play.  At 215 East 6th Street, we have the use of two large, sunny classrooms, a gym with a stage, and a fenced-in rooftop. We have the use of the Garden on Avenue B with a plot to cultivate.  We have the use of libraries, museums, parks, and other NYC attractions.

Because of our location and the people involved with the school, the possibilities for exposure to ideas and skills are as wide as the imagination of the students and the staff, the volunteers sharing their time and talents, and the arranged mentorships in the larger community. We will actively seek volunteers and student interns from neighborhood universities who will add their talents to our pool of offerings. We invite everyone who wants to offer their talents to MFS students to apply to us.

Some of the talents, skills, and resources for student consideration include: art of all kinds, guitar, knitting, tennis, read along, read aloud, writing, poetry, bookmaking, Spanish,  Portuguese, French, cooking, chess, neighborhood exploration, map-making, democracy and democratic processes, philosophy with graduate students from Columbia University, debate, computer,  performance (instruments and voice and dance), video production and editing, math through high school level, money management, science, acting, music & coaching new musicians—theory, piano, flute, saxophone, violin, percussion, & voice, advertising, marketing, sales, counseling, metaphysics, psychology, swimming, basketball, woodworking, birdwatching and nature study, hiking, local architecture and history, photography, mechanics, bike repair, and outings to places of interest and joy.

11:30-12:30: Lunch — while we have scheduled 11:30am as our lunch hour students can eat food brought from home whenever they are hungry. Students may decide to undertake lunch preparation, as a real-world learning experience, with help from staff as needed.

12:30-2:30pm: Student-Initiated Activities

2:30pm- Library Time- this is a quiet time allowing time for  activities such as reading and writing.

2:45- Clean-up-different teams of students have the responsibility for clean-up each day.

Other Acitivities/Routines

Democratic Meeting — The Democratic Meeting is the heart and soul of The Manhattan Free School and the place where democracy is lived and learned. It is made up of students and staff members, each having one vote in matters pertaining to the day-to-day life of the school. It is the forum for discussion, negotiation, and decision-making, as the students and staff create a community together. In 2009-2010 the Democratic Meeting will be held on Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30pm.

Advisory- this is an opportunity for each student to meet one-on-one with a staff member to discuss and define goals and research resources to meet those goals.

3:00pm: Dismissal

3:00-5:45pm: Afterschool Program — if there is interest we will form an afterschool program.

The Manhattan Free School is a dynamic organism that will continually adapt and evolve over time, and while a day has been outlined, it should be noted that this schedule is just one way a day might go. Free schools are very fluid places and the needs and interests of the students define the day’s schedule for each student.