Help us raise $3000 in 30 days!
In addition to this year's Spring Appeal, we need your help to raise an additional $3000 online to Support BFS.
As part of our commitment to educational outreach, Brooklyn Free School opens its doors throughout the year to educators from all over the world, to come in, observe, teach, and learn within our community.
This year, BFS has hosted educators from Chicago, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Japan, Brazil, and from all areas of NYC including groups and individuals from Bank Street College, St. Anne's School, Urban Academy, and City and Country School.
We have also welcomed 28 amazing school day volunteers who learn along with our students and staff.
I am glad to be a part of community where respect and tolerance
are the default, and so many different identities are welcomed,
respected and even defended; and where it is expected that the whole
community do those things, understanding the potentially detrimental
effects of even the most accidentally offensive sentiments. --
One of our daytime volunteers
It was so powerful to see the entire community assembled and
respectful of voices and proposals from any member of the community.
It's really got me thinking about what it means to be a democratic
community. -- A Bank Street teacher
What I really appreciated was my sense that Brooklyn Free is truly an ongoing experiment. I think as schools get larger and established there is an inevitable gravitation toward reflecting mainstream society and traditional ideals, even when a philosophy is well articulated and robust. Brooklyn Free is still figuring it out, but more than that there is the sense that to actually "figure it out" is the beginning of the end. Schools must keep asking "What works?" instead of "What's our way?" in order to keep their programs effective, dynamic and enticing. I felt that at B'lyn Free. -- From Manhattan City and Country School teacher who visited for professional development
You will effect the lives of more young people than you will ever know. -- Teacher from Namaste School Charter School
Please consider donating to Brooklyn Free School during this spring appeal, and help us continue to to support the greater educational community.
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Over the last 10 years, Brooklyn Free School has raised close to $400,000 from individuals like you. These donations have allowed their students access to sliding scale tuition assistance, ensuring that BFS maintains the truly diverse community necessary to fulfilling its mission of education for social justice.
BFS is unique in its ability to impact the lives of these students by creating an environment that allows friendships and interactions that would rarely occur in the segregation of traditional schools. In a society that increasingly divides individuals from differing backgrounds, BFS stands as a beautiful example of the richness that comes from a diverse community.
Your donations will help BFS support the voices and community involvement of all students. Help Brooklyn Free School continue its mission.
Please give today and #SupportBFS.
BFS is a real, practicing democracy. An all-inclusive
democratic system runs many aspects of the day-to-day life of the
school, and students are free to pursue their interests for much of
the school day, as long as it doesn’t impinge on the rights of others.
The school encourages and fosters as much age integration as possible,
and there are no compulsory grades, assessments, or homework. Students
of all ages are in charge of their own learning and progress and have
real power to make decisions about the direction their education is
going and how their school community is run. BFS believes that all
students should be given the responsibility to make these decisions
about their education and school, learning first hand about themselves
as learners and how to build a better democracy and a better world.
For more information about Brooklyn Free School and to learn
about all of the ways you can contribute, visit brooklynfreeschool.org.
