The Tutorial School is an educational community dedicated to the development of independent, responsible students, prepared with life skills that encourage and sustain a thoughtful, successful, and meaningful life.
We are an independent, alternative, democratic school for ages 10–19 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, offering an education based on freedom, trust, and self-governance.
Since 1982, The Tutorial School has filled a vital need in the community, helping children become happy, effective, functional adults.
Follow us…
Facebook Posts
NEWSLETTER October 2022![]()
🔗 bit.ly/3yDjOQN![]()
![]()
We have seen the first snow on the mountains, and the aspens are changing everyday. The children are growing and getting settled in as well. The school is growing, and it is delightful to watch children engaging in the democratic process by sharing power though our activities and weekly meetings.![]()
![]()
Our first Open House will be Thursday, October 20th from 2pm to 6:30pm. It is open to past, current, and future students and their families. There will be falafel to eat and alumni to meet. This will be a wonderful way to meet the other parents of our students. Let’s get together and share a meal. If you would like to contribute, please bring seltzer, salads, or sides. More information here: bit.ly/3CGa6jm![]()
![]()
Vacation Schedule: The All School Council is considering taking off the week of November 21st for Thanksgiving. Also, the last 2 weeks of December and the first week of January for winter vacation. We are still deciding about Halloween, but we will have school on almost all of the one day holidays that the public schools take off.![]()
![]()
📆Halloween: Possible day off![]()
📆Thanksgiving Break: November 21st to November 24th![]()
📆Winter Break: December 19th to January 5th![]()
![]()
In the past four weeks we have gone on three field trips, spending Thursday afternoons hiking around in nature, looking for unique rocks and watching the changing of the aspen leaves. These field trips put us on the same path, as it were, and gives us the opportunity to get to know each other better.![]()
![]()
The apartment in the back of the school recently had an outdoor faucet installed, and the children have been helping Rose create new garden spaces. Together, we have grown nasturtiums from seed, constructed raised beds, planted an apple tree, lettuce, spinach, kohlrabi, thyme and much more, plus daffodils and hyacinths for the spring. I hope this is the start of doing many more outside projects.![]()
![]()
A knitting machine has arrived at the school. Machine knitting is how much of the clothing we wear every day is made, but it is much more complicated than programming a pattern. (Though that is a part of it, there is a manual punchcard reader) Some have already managed to make fabric swatches, but there is still much to learn.
📣 OPEN HOUSE 📣 We invite you to join us and discover the world of democratic education! ![]()
![]()
On Thursday, October 20th, we will be hosting an open house with food, activities, insightful conversations and much more. Alumni of the Tutorial School will be there to welcome you and tell you about their educational journey first hand. For more information, please visit our website: bit.ly/3CGa6jm![]()
![]()
We welcome our past, current and future Tutorial School community to join us for an afternoon and/or evening!![]()
![]()
⏰ Come drop by and see us on October 20th from 2:00pm to 6:30pm. ![]()
![]()
🍽 Conversations are always better with good comforting food. For the busy parents, the hungry students, alumni and the The Tutorial School community, we will be serving dinner! ![]()
![]()
What’s on the menu 😋? Have you heard of Falafel? It's a Middle Eastern “fast food” made of a mixture of chickpeas, fresh herbs, and just the right type of spices. We can learn together how to make one from scratch using vegetables from our school garden! Drop by around 4pm and enjoy the mouthwatering smell from the kitchen. Join the fun and cook with us! ![]()
![]()
Is Falafel not your thing? Don’t worry, our faculty will prepare lasagna for the veggie and meat lovers!![]()
![]()
✅ No fee, just bring your smiles and good conversations. ![]()
![]()
We are looking forward to seeing old and new faces of all ages!![]()
![]()
For more information, please visit our website: bit.ly/3CGa6jm![]()
![]()
#openhouse #democraticeducation #homeschool #unlearning #freetolearn #santafe #newmexico
thetutorialschool.wixsite.com
We invite you to join us and discover the world of democratic education! On October 20th, we will be hosting an open house with food, activities, insightful conversations and much more. Alumni of the ...
One of the most important dimension of The Tutorial School's culture and philosophy is the concept of practice—the creative pursuit of competency. ![]()
![]()
At The Tutorial School, students are free to practice autonomy, responsibility, and freedom without any concern for failure or judgment. It is our fervent belief that only through the practice of these essential human qualities can a child become a well-rounded adult.![]()
![]()
Learn more about The Tutorial School's philosophy 🔗 www.tutorialschool.org/about/#general
Say hello to Iku! 👋🏼 She is as friendly and warm as the photos she’s taken of the students and school for the past 25 years! You haven't seen them yet? Visit our page and check them out 🔗 www.tutorialschool.org/about/#photos. ![]()
![]()
Iku Fujimatsu moved from Japan to the United States in 1995 with her nine year old daughter and became involved in multicultural workshops for homeschooled children. She also started the “Kid’s College” summer program at the Santa Fe Community College, while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on At Risk Youth. In 1997 she joined The Tutorial School as a teacher of Japanese and the Fine Arts. The rest is history! ![]()
![]()
She has taught art through exploring nature and hands-on survival skills such as tilling soil, identifying wild, edible plants and cooking. As a dynamic, global educator and as an artist, she has dedicated the majority of her professional life to the belief that an intimate relationship with nature is essential to an enriched education, as well as a healthy life, self-awareness and personal freedom. ![]()
![]()
When asked the question, “How will The Tutorial School adapt to the remarkable changes in global culture, technology and human identity?” she replied that “Our students will learn how to navigate the unknown. They will trust themselves, be flexible and resilient. They will stand quietly in the midst of the storm with imagination and self-determination while holding positive and creative visions for the future.” ![]()
![]()
Read more about Iku on our website and check out her diverse perspectives on education from the mountains of Nagano, Japan, to cities of Tokyo and New York 🔗 www.tutorialschool.org/who/#faculty
Meet Moe! Moe Zimmerberg has been involved with the school virtually from its inception with Richard Testa, who founded the school as a place for children to heal and blossom. As a philosopher, scholar, and graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Moe brought a unique perspective to the development of The Tutorial School. ![]()
![]()
For Moe, the paths to academic, emotional, and personal success in life require practice. “Practice in managing freedom, responsibility, self-determination, and leadership. It also requires taking the long view—profound change takes time.” ![]()
![]()
When asked, “How will Tutorial School adapt to the remarkable changes in global culture, technology and human identity?” his response provides insight to the school’s view of the role of education. “We can’t determine curriculum for an uncertain future, so we must teach children to be cognitively flexible and to think for themselves; this is how we prepare our students for the future.”![]()
![]()
✅Read more about Moe and our other faculty members here: www.tutorialschool.org/who/#faculty![]()
✅Read an article about Moe in MIT Technology Review: www.tutorialschool.org/who/an-alternative-education/
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Tutorial School is a nonprofit corporation that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, disability, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity in the administration of its educational, admissions, scholarship and financial aid policies, in management, or in any their programs and policies administered by the school.