by Maria Corse





The ultimate life goal – as many adults, in the professional world, see it – is a college education.  The stats are prominently recorded and touted, everyone has seen them; people with college degrees get better paying jobs. 
 
This dream does not seem attainable, or, for that matter is not even on the radar screen, for numerous young people here in the NoCo, because, for most kids, the downward spiral of apathy and disenfranchisement begins fairly early, when they are bullied, labeled, called out, bored to tears, or, even, ignored (by their peers and the system). As a result, they fall victim to inertia, anxiety, or anger, start skipping school at a comparatively young age, and, when legally able, quit.
 
At sixteen, they, consequently, become one of the dismal statistics commonly found here: pregnant, married early, unemployed, in abusive relationships, addicted to drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, or, have a low paying, dead-end job that barely pays enough to survive, let alone thrive, perpetuating the cycle of personal, economic, and societal depression, as well as ignorance.  It is not hyperbole to declare this a crisis of epidemic proportions affecting most of our region, which, despite legions of caring teachers, traditional, compulsory, coercive, state-run, curriculum driven schooling has not, and, will not be able to solve.
 
Imagine the possibilities if kids were able to make personal decisions about their life and education at a young age, were able to follow their personal interests, had mentors, in safe environments, who advocated for them and offered support, suggestions, and encouragement, and, in short, were able to choose their future instead of abdicating to the inevitable.
 
Free choice guided by self-direction or determination, in my view, is the one variable that should be added to this whole messy, intolerable equation that absolutely would make the difference between success and failure - happiness and despair, not only on a personal level, but for the whole community.
 
Quite simply, when kids are given the opportunity, and trusted from early on to make personal, relevant decisions, they will almost always choose what interests and motivates them; owing to the fact that they have  been given the space and time for personal growth and learning, as well as a chance to envision life-long aspirations, whether that includes college, starting a business, or becoming an artist.  Anything is possible with an open mind, enthusiastic support, and the innate desire to make a difference in the world.

DRC NEWS
 
Trish and I worked all week on laying the groundwork for the outdoor program.  We will unveil the Comprehensive Plan, as well as the name, next week! 

Become a Member of DRC
If your child has expressed dissatisfaction and dislike for their current educational environment, DRC is the option in the NoCo that provides a safe, dynamic, and nurturing space, where learning becomes enjoyable again.  At DRC the possibilities are endless, because there are no restrictions on what you can and can’t learn. Contact us today.
 
Summer Programs
We know how stressful the last three weeks of August can be for both parents and kids.  Let DRC handle the daily details. Register today!
 

by Maria Corse
 
I have great faith in the Universe.  I believe, wholeheartedly, that the seemingly random and serendipitous occurrences that make up our lives are in fact the result of a higher power – whoever(s) or whatever that may be – providing us the opportunities to make the choices that will determine our life journey.  In my case, the Universe, quite literally, throws amazingly talented, interesting, and generous people who are seeking an opportunity to share their passions and know-how directly into my path.
 
Serendipity is such an immense piece of my personal belief system that when thinking about today’s blog, I discovered that I had already written a piece about it last April, and, more than a year later, this still holds true.
 
Serendipity is simply one of my all-time favorite words, because it means that good and favorable events can happen, with no previous notice or announcement, at any time; new people will enter my life to share their talents, resources, and pure awesomeness, and, I can offer the same for others. It encompasses all that I hold dear: simplicity, kindness, magic, and wonder.
 
A few months ago, Trish called the Center.  She told me that she had picked up one of our rack (informational) cards at the Potsdam Food Co-op and was very interested in learning how she could help us.  I invited her to come in to visit the very next day.  After that initial meeting, which included several hours of intense, forthright, and authentic conversation, Trish decided that she would like to volunteer regularly. I can safely say, in my perspective, from that first meeting on, we immediately understood each other on a profoundly intuitive level.  
 
Over the next few weeks, Trish came in every Wednesday and stayed for the entire day.  She mainly spent time with the Seedlings, often in a “tent” or “clubhouse” under one of the tables completely immersed in one of their imaginary games, all the while comfortably conversing about any of the ideas or topics the kids brought up – from the wonders of birds to complex social issues.
 
As our first meeting foretold, she and I also had marathon conversations that centered on our mutual belief that all children are natural learners and we (adults and educators) can, absolutely, trust them to be in charge of their own education. 
 
A few weeks ago, during one of those chats, Trish mentioned that she has always had the dream of opening a facility where kids can immerse themselves in the wonders and beauty of nature. At the end of the day, I simply said, let’s do it.
 







These last few weeks have been a whirlwind of thinking about how to proceed and outlining our next steps. I am particularly excited about this project, which will be an, as yet to be named, program of DRC, because it adds an additional layer of possibilities to our already dynamic, self-directed educational environment. 
 
A lover of wild untamed weather and places, Trish not only brings an inherent affinity for the natural world, she also has extensive, professional experience working in the mental health community.  She has seen the direct and disturbing effects of what is now being called, Nature Deficit Disorder – the disconnection between people and their natural environment -  in many of the children and adults she has interacted with, over the years.  She is anxious to counter-act that growing phenomenon by providing children the opportunity to experience the wildness of the earth.   
 
Over the next month, Trish and I will be working hard to develop this innovative program.  As we bring the specifics into clearer focus, we will share it with you through this blog, and, of course, social media - check the DRC Facebook page for regular updates.
 
She and I will also be meeting with folks and organizations in the community who would be eager to collaborate with DRC and/or fund this effort.
 
If you know of folks who would be excited about investing time, energy, resources, and/or funds to this program, or, for that matter, in any of our work, please get in touch with us and pass this on.

DRC NEWS
 
Dairy Princess Parade
 
The DRC float won 3rd place for creativity and colorfulness.  I am so proud of all of our kids who worked hard to design, paint, and assemble the float.
 
Summer Intern
 
Margar will be at the Center all summer beginning this Monday.  He has been given the huge task of creating a data base and organizing the huge assortment of digital data that has been created and has accumulated over the past three years. 
 
Summer Program
 
We are your child’s safe, entertaining, and creative space for the last three weeks of August.  Register on line.
 
Membership
 
We are taking membership applications through the summer.  Please get in touch today, if your child is looking for a change.

by Maria Corse
 
How passé - completely yawn inspiring - boring.  Some would go even further to say that there is no real drama or thrill in nice.
 
I would argue, in most cases, that just may be the point.  I understand, there are those few who thrive on theatrics, crisis after crisis, and turmoil, however, for most of us, it gets really old, really fast.  And, for many us who are ultra-sensitive, it is absolutely unbearable.  We are highly attuned to the energies and feelings swirling around a room when we walk in.  An environment filled with toxic vibes of anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, or frustration often hits us like a ton of bricks.  
 
On the other hand, we are equally aware of positive energy. Personally, when I am surrounded by people who are pleasant, kind, authentic, and open to new ideas and experiences, my heart beat slows down (I stop pacing) and I am visibly engaged in the activities or conversation around me.
 
People who are sensitive are often conscious of their impact on others and are very mindful of intentionally offering their whole selves by listening and observing carefully without judgement, and, by expressing their feelings and ideas with the objective of discovering shared passions and interests.  I value the opportunity to make deep personal connections and to build meaningful relationships with the people I meet, all the while learning from their experiences.  Because, really, when it is all said and done, isn’t that why we are all here?
 
No matter what you subscribe to --- The Golden Rule, the Law of Reciprocity, or the principles of Karma, they all promote this one thing. In my view, nice rests companionably alongside, honesty, authenticity, humor, compassion, empathy, and kindness; however, it also resides cozily within excitement, enthusiasm, discovery, creativity, passion, and spirited-ness. In other words, there is absolutely no need to be an obnoxious jerk to avoid boredom, because with respectful behavior you can open yourself to compelling new friendships and ideas, and, in the process, you may even uncover a small dose (hit) of drama, in bite-size, manageable portions.

DRC News
 
Summertime
We spent the last week of our academic year: playing in the woods, talking about classes for next year, making fidget spinners, dismantling the aquaponics system, working on our (award winning) Dairy Princess float, making homemade pizza, and engaging in the usual lively social scene.
 
Thank you again to all of our kids, their families, staff, and volunteers for another fantastic year.  I am continually inspired by your enthusiasm and willingness to explore this model of education.
 
Looking forward
 
We have some exciting initiatives that we will be unveiling over the next couple weeks. 
 
First – We will be creating a workout room/gym space at DRC.  It will include simple equipment such as: a punching bag and boxing gloves, hand weights, chin-up bar, yoga mats and props, a balance ball, (maybe a small b-ball hoop), and a foam tile floor mat.
 
Second –We will be revamping our weekly schedule to take advantage of community collaborations and college student volunteers. Beginning Sept. 5th, DRC will be open every Monday and Tuesday, closed on Wednesday, and open on Thursday and Friday. 
 
Third - Stay tuned for information about a brand new, innovative program at DRC this Fall.
 
Summer Hours
In general, the Center will be open M-F, 8-3 during the month of June. I will, however, be scheduling appointments through the whole month and we will be working on rearranging, organizing and building our new spaces, so contacting us ahead of time is advised.
 
I will be taking at least two weeks of vacation during the month of July.  There will be staff and/or an intern at the Center most days if you would like to stop in and check us out. 
 
17/18 Registration is Open
Contact Maria to set up an appointment to learn how your child can share their voice and ideas while becoming part of this dynamic and inspiring community of learners.

by Maria Corse
 
Self-directed, non-coercive education has been proven successful, beneficial, and valuable by years of scientific research, as well as the anecdotal experiences of thousands of learners and teachers. 
 
Children learn more in their first year of life than the remainder of their years put together.  Self-Directed learning methodology capitalizes on that natural instinct by allowing for and supporting a life-long love of learning, intrinsic motivation, individual interests and learning styles.
 
As children grow, defiance, their other inherent instinct, begins to kick in.  Evolutionarily speaking, resistance to coercion and institutional pressures is absolutely necessary to the survival of the species.  Innovative questions, fresh ideas, and new techniques, simply put, prevent stagnation of the culture.
 
This intuitive rebellion, along with the intention of attempting to change cultural norms, however, is seen as a direct threat by stake holders within the status quo.  Students in traditional educational situations are, therefore, taught to conform, follow the rules, and abstain from questioning authority.
 
Over the last twenty to thirty years, innumerable professionals have stepped out of the established educational model, with more joining the movement every day, simply, because they do not want to work counter to the natural human instinct of acquiring knowledge and skills.  AERO a not-for-profit organization based on Long Island is a clearing house for the many versions of self-directed, child-centered education. 
 
Deep Root Center is a member of the Liberated Learners Network of twelve functioning (open) learning centers with several more in the planning stages, opening in September.  Each of the individual centers follow the North Star model, which was co-founded by Ken Danford in 1996. We are all completely unique, however, in the way we choose to operate.  For example: at this point, DRC is the only center that works with young children (our Seedlings program); Lighthouse, in Holyoke, is much more structured; Compass, in Ottawa, offers individual classes to homeschoolers who don’t want to become members of the Compass community.
 
This is one of the reasons I traveled with two students to True North in Collinsville (Canton), CT, LightHouse in Holyoke MA, and North Star in Sunderland, MA this past week.  We spent time observing and interacting with staff and members of these three sister centers to soak up ideas and inspiration to bring back to DRC.  We had a ton of fun in the process and have started planning another mini-tour for next year. 
 
Deep Root Center is building the future of education, right here in the NoCo, by supporting and encouraging our student member’s innate desire to explore their questions, ideas, and interests in our safe, dynamic, supportive community of engaged, self-motivated, and happy learners.