by Lois Bairstow, Middle Science Teacher
Farm School is an annual event for our Middle School and we look forward to it with great anticipation. This year, we were scheduled to meet our partner school, Woodside Montessori, at the Farm on Halloween. However, Mother Nature had other plans. Our students' bags were packed (with costumes, but no candy), when we received a phone call from the director of Farm School telling us they had 20 inches of snow and no electricity. Well…. that much snow would be pretty fun at the Farm, but no power sounded pretty cold for sleeping. So we waited until early December and then headed out on a bus.
I am always struck by the beautiful dovetail of philosophy and expectations between Farm School and our Montessori philosophy. Their first rule of the Farm is to be kind. How many places do you know that have kindness as their top priority? Hmmm. Grace and courtesy and kindness-- sounds pretty similar.
Then there is the actual purpose of the Farm. Our students don’t just spend their time doing activities about farm work. They do actual farm work. The Farm literally couldn’t run without the students that come to it. The students do the work of the Farm. Hmmm. Real work, purposeful work/practical life--sounds pretty similar. This real work of course, involves a certain amount of risk. Students use axes, work with large animals, move electric fences, and put pizza in the wood-powered brick oven.
What I notice about our students when we are at Farm School is the seriousness with which they take the responsibilities they are given. They understand that, while they are there, they're responsible for the running and wellbeing of the Farm. So they carefully listen to instructions, ask questions when they need clarification and, with surprising composure (considering most of them have never milked a cow before) do the work. I loved seeing Margot swinging the axe over her shoulder time and time again to get it right. And seeing Brody duck between fence stakes when we were moving the electric fence. And watching Eoin carefully put the metal rod back into the forge in order to heat it for the hammer and anvil.
The observations go on and on. Each moment underscores that Farm School is the perfect match for our Montessori philosophy, and each year we are reminded of our roots when we visit.
