The 8th grade class experienced the annual Survivor—Lord of the Flies experience this past Monday. This is the culmination of their study of George Orwell's Animal Farm and William Golding's Lord of the Flies as well as an extension of their studies of political theory in seventh-grade Civics, the American Colonial Period in American Experience, and their discussions of The Omnivore's Dilemma in Earth Science - and it manifests as a day-long, experiential-learning, in-house field trip. This day inspires the students to reflect on the challenges of self-government and the significance of individual choice and collaboration in the context of a larger community. Today was packed with activities aimed at driving home “the bigger picture” of their studies, and the students are  in the drivers’ seats with the faculty as their guides. We didn’t catch it all, but we did see the shelter-building, spear-throwing, basket-weaving, Philosophers’ skits, and fashion show. We saw them literally break bread together with a modest fare lunch of rotisserie chicken, apples, and baguettes. There’s no tech in the worlds they built, which in itself makes for a rare day in modern education. The end result is something that won’t be soon forgotten (ICYMI…spear throwing and fashion show!) and the attempt they deserve to achieve the kind of authentic learning that can outlast any test and survive through adolescence into adulthood. If you’re comfortable on the edge, good for you. All of us at Fredericksburg Academy are content to stay in the epicenter and keep making waves!

*Well done to our eighth-grade faculty on coordinating and facilitating an epic experience!