The Putney School - Review #5

My school had a phenomenal work program, where students were expected to complete jobs around the school 6 days a week. These jobs included working on the farm, preparing meals, cleaning up after meals, cleaning all school buildings, and more. The work ethic that this instilled in me is invaluable. My school was also extremely progressive when it came to student acceptance. If a student wanted support for an activity (such as attending a protest), there was a sense of support and communal dedication to helping the student achieve their ends.

While it is difficult to say what the best thing that happened to me at Putney is, I would say that the amount of experiences I was able to gain is probably what I am most thankful for. I was able to take the competitiveness I naturally feel and mold it towards achievement for the sake of experience, rather than to "win". I feel eternally grateful that I was able to spend my formative years surrounded by a community who wanted me to succeed, and provided me with the self esteem to know that i can do whatever I set myself towards. It helped me see the value in helping others, and in dedicating ones self to a cause.

My only regret is that I could not try more. There are so many activities at Putney, it is impossible to do them all. I would advise students to be close with your advisor, and take time to really think about what you want to experience while you're there, because you'll never find a place like Putney again.

I loved the relationship between staff and students, the work ethic that is emphasized, and the arts program. I feel like those aspects of Putney are unlike those of any other school. I will forever be grateful to Putney for helping me become the person I am today.

I wish the real world had milk lunch, eat as many cheddar biscuits as you can. Find all the hidden spots in the woods, they're a perfect refuge from the world when it gets to be too much. And if you get a chance, read all the walls in Jeffrey Campbell, you'll feel the connections to years past (little Sally says hi).

When in class, the atmosphere was one of inclusion and respect. Students sit in a circle with the teacher, taking turns while speaking rather than raising their hands and being called on. Respect is easily given between the teacher and students, not demanded, which helps students to feel they can speak to the teacher about subjects they want to explore further. Exploration is always encouraged, as are special interest projects. The arts are a large focus, and every student is expected to fully delve into their talents. Students refer to teachers by their first names, and work with them to ensure that their is an atmosphere of curiosity. There is a cooperative environment, rather than competitive.

Athletics at Putney are about working as a team for the love of the game, rather than for the sake of winning. Anyone can be on a team if they choose, although captains are elected. Students are expected to participate in a physical activity at least one trimester of the year, but it does not need to be a sport (for example, yoga and dance are both acceptable alternatives). While there is not the emphasis on sports that one may find at another school, there is a much stronger sense of camaraderie and inclusion. There is a new gym on the campus, which is extremely environmentally conscious, and includes a rock wall.

The arts program at Putney is unparalleled in its support and teaching. After experiencing the resources and expectations from Putney, I was disappointed when I saw what other schools allowed to pass for an arts program. Students are given time to fully immerse themselves into their art, and are not treated as children playing, but rather as artists exploring. Their are many mediums through which students can express themselves--from theater and dance to welding and stained glass. If you can imagine it, Putney will help you create it.

Extra-curriculars at Putney are not really extra -- students are expected to participate in them each semester. Each student would do both afternoon and evening activities, and had a vast amount of options to choose from. I'm glad Putney made all students participate: it made being busy seem like a regular part of life, and helped me be more prepared than my peers from other schools once I went to college.

At Putney their is a foundation of trust amongst students, so no rooms have locks on them. Students don't really spend much time in their rooms besides sleeping, what with all the wonderful activities they are offered and classes 6 days a week. Students were encouraged to interact in common spaces, and it was normal for students of other dorms to simply come into another dorm to see who was available. Once again, the atmosphere of inclusion prevails in Putney's dorms.

Students eat from the KDU, which serves buffet style breakfasts and lunches, with sit down dinners most nights of the week. The sit down dinners remain one of my favorite aspects of Putney, as they brought students and teachers together in a way outside of planned activities, and allowed for conversations to evolve in ways they may not have otherwise. The food was always phenomenal, and often came from Putney's own gardens or farm. As students worked in the kitchen to help prepare food and clean up after, there was always a sense of connectedness that came from eating in the KDU.

Putney itself is a small but beautiful town in Vermont. the locals were accepting of Putney students, and were often included in school matters. The towns of Brattleboro and Keene are not far from Putney, and provide more experiences for students to get off campus. The culture as a whole in the area was conducive to the atmosphere that Putney provides, and helped promote ideas such as sustainability, cooperation, and personal responsibility.

As Putney is a small school, it is difficult to not interact with almost every student there. This provides rich personal experiences that last a lifetime, as there will always be a connection with another Putney person. Students were likely to reach out to others, and did not form "cliques" as one may see at another school. Independence was strongly encouraged as well, which helped students to realize that they were capable of making decisions separate from their peers, which I believe is vital for teenagers.