The Putney School

The Putney School
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Name	The Putney School
City	Putney
State	Vermont
Country	United States

The Putney School is a private, co-educational, Progressive Education school in Putney, Vermont, founded in 1935 by Carmelita Hinton and inspired by the Dewey School and Summerhill School. The school is known for its emphasis on Experiential Education, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility, and has been compared to other progressive schools like Phillips Exeter Academy and Lawrenceville School. The Putney School has a long history of innovation in education, drawing on the ideas of John Dewey, Maria Montessori, and Rudolf Steiner. The school's approach to education has been influenced by the Boulder Free School and the Free School Movement.

● History

The Putney School was founded in 1935 by Carmelita Hinton, a Progressive Education pioneer, and her husband, Alexander Hinton. The school's early years were marked by a strong emphasis on Agricultural Education and Manual Labor, reflecting the influence of Rudolf Steiner's Biodynamic Agriculture and the New Deal's Civilian Conservation Corps. The school's history has been shaped by its relationships with other progressive schools, including the Dartington Hall School and the Bedales School. The Putney School has also been influenced by the ideas of A.S. Neill, Paul Goodman, and Ivan Illich, and has been compared to other alternative schools like the Sudbury Valley School and the Hudson School. The school's history is also connected to the Putney, Vermont community, and has been influenced by the town's history and culture, including the Putney Town Hall and the Putney Historical Society.

● Campus

The Putney School's campus is located in Putney, Vermont, on a Hill Farm that has been in operation since the 18th century. The campus includes a variety of buildings, including the Main Building, the Dormitories, and the Farm Buildings, which reflect the school's emphasis on Sustainability and Environmental Education. The campus is also home to a variety of Wildlife Habitats, including Forests, Wetlands, and Meadows, which provide opportunities for Outdoor Education and Conservation Biology. The school's campus has been compared to other rural schools like the Orme School and the Cate School, and has been influenced by the ideas of Aldo Leopold and the Land Institute. The campus is also close to other educational institutions, including the Marlboro College and the School for International Training.

● Academics

The Putney School's academic program is designed to be Interdisciplinary and Experiential, with a focus on Project-Based Learning and Community Engagement. The school offers a range of courses, including English Literature at the University of Vermont, Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Science at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The school's academic program has been influenced by the ideas of John Dewey and the Dewey School, and has been compared to other progressive schools like the Francis Parker School and the City and Country School. The school's faculty includes experienced educators from institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of California, Berkeley. The school's academic program is also connected to the Putney Central School and the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union.

● Student Life

The Putney School's student life is characterized by a strong sense of Community and Social Responsibility, with a focus on Volunteer Work and Community Service. The school offers a range of Extracurricular Activities, including Sports Teams like the Putney Panthers and Clubs like the Putney Environmental Club. The school's student life has been influenced by the ideas of Kurt Hahn and the Outward Bound program, and has been compared to other schools like the North Country School and the Eaglebrook School. The school's students come from a variety of backgrounds, including New York City, Boston, and San Francisco, and have gone on to attend colleges like Brown University, University of Chicago, and Stanford University. The school's student life is also connected to the Putney Community Center and the Putney Public Library.

● Notable Alumni

The Putney School has a number of Notable Alumni, including Actors like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Musicians like Trey Anastasio and John Medeski, and Writers like Jonathan Safran Foer and Jennifer Egan. The school's alumni have also gone on to become Politicians like Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy, Business Leaders like Richard Branson and Arianna Huffington, and Activists like Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein. The school's alumni network includes graduates who have attended colleges like Harvard University, Yale University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and have gone on to work at institutions like Google, Microsoft, and the United Nations. The school's notable alumni are also connected to other organizations, including the Putney Alumni Association and the National Association of Independent Schools.