Clearing Up a Few Misconceptions

  by Maria Corse


The staff and board have, recently, become aware of some myths and misconceptions about Deep Root Center philosophy and policies through conversations and interactions with current and potential DRC students as well as community members. These first weeks of this new academic year have been dedicated to openly communicating our mission and procedures to dispel any future misunderstandings.

Myth #1 - Deep Root Center is the right educational facility for everyone who wants to or already home-schools.

Fact - DRC supports every family to make the educational choices that are best for them. In reality there are as many different ways to home-school and all are valid, however, not all are compatible with DRC philosophy.

A. Un-schooling is free form and allows students to be extremely self-directed and to follow their particular interests.

​B. Traditional homeschool follows a set curriculum (often purchased), where parents determine and make sure particular subjects and themes are being learned.

C. There are multiple combinations of the two.

D. On-line homeschool has set classes and curriculums. All class work is completed and submitted to the instructor through the mail or on-line.


Un-schooling is the type that meshes cohesively with DRC's philosophy. We encourage youth to explore their world, to be independent, and decide on their own what they want to learn. When a family visits DRC and states the intention of directing the content of their child's education, we discourage them from becoming members, because our goals are at cross-purposes. While we honor their beliefs, DRC is not the correct educational facility for their family.


Myth #2 – Deep Root Center and self-directed learning, in general, is easy. (It is for people who are “lazy”.) Kids who un-school will never get into college and they only “play” and have fun all day. Students at Deep Root Center have “flunked” out of traditional school, because they don't care about their education and are throwing their lives away.


Fact – Deep Root Center has high expectations for our students. When they become members they are asked to take direct responsibility for their education, they own it! No one will tell them what or how to learn. Some are not ready for that culpability at first and need to go through an adjustment period we call de-schooling. DRC staff supports all of our students through this important interval by offering time, weekly mentoring sessions, a safe space, as well as kindness and respect.


Many of our kids have chosen DRC because they were bored, sick of following silly (unimportant) directions and rules, and felt like they were wasting their time learning things that were not interesting or meaningful.

​These kids are excited about discovering or expanding a passion that will carry them into the next phase of their lives. They come to understand, fairly quickly, that self-directed learning is, in fact, challenging, and, sometimes hard, but worth the effort, because they are able to determine the outcomes.

Myth #3- Deep Root Center is well funded, because we joyfully accept every student, despite their family's ability to pay the full fee, and offer fee reduction to anyone who needs it.


Fact – Deep Root Center does not have a big bucket (bank account) full of money, that we are able to use for operating expenses and living wages, to compensate for the fee reductions we provide.


The considerable scholarships we offer (over $40,000, so far this year), in reality, are simply monies we do not ever receive. Even though we ask our families to make their child's education a priority and contribute as much as they can possibly afford, the economic actualities of the North Country mean that Deep Root Center will continue to rely on extensive fundraising, grants, and donations to pay the bills, because we absolutely refuse to say “no” to any child who is excited about exploring the world and taking charge of their education.

DRC NEWS

​Donations

Please consider making a one time or monthly contribution to the Deep Root Center scholarship fund.

DRC accepts personal checks, as well as credit and debit cards through PayPal or Square-up.


Haunted House Fund-raiser

Two SUNY Canton Greek Houses are in the process of creating a Haunted House at Deep Root Center. It will be open October 29th during Canton's Annual Phantoms in the Park activities. Stay tuned for more information.

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