Liberty School (Blue Hill, Maine)
Liberty School was a secondary school in Blue Hill, Maine for nearly ten years. Students aged 21 and under were accepted by attending an interview with the admissions committee (composed of students and teachers), and completing an essay on a topic of the school's choice. Liberty school was known was a democratic high school. The school had an open campus, and students were largely in control of their education. Many students were actively involved in the school’s democratic governance.
The school closed its doors in December 2007 due to financial reasons. The 2006-2007 school year was turbulent. In May 2007 a new board of trustees was elected by the school community to revitalize efforts to make the school sustainable. Although much energy was put into revitalizing the school, enrollment did not recover substantially enough to grant financial stability (Ellsworth American Nov. 2007 - 'Liberty School to Close in December 2007').
Enrollment
The number of students enrolled hovered around 60. Liberty School accepted many diverse students. The staff and school community made consistent efforts to see that everybody could find a place in the community. Students had an advisor to help keep guide students. There were no grades but written evaluation instead. Admittance was generally welcoming. Students and faculty collectively admitted students through the school’s admissions committee.
Community service
Students were responsible for cleaning the school, including all classrooms and bathrooms. Students were required to do at least 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Community service typically involved volunteering for a non-profit organization.
Student activities
Liberty School periodically offered sports, including soccer, basketball, and Frisbee, though none of them become standardized to the extent hoped for by some faculty members. Some after school activities included rowing, hiking, swimming, and, this past winter, skiing.
In spring 2005, the first ever Liberty School Film Festival was held at the Alamo Theater in Bucksport, Maine. It was a showing of student work, films from the Video Poems class, and the premiere of the DVD Yearbook as well as the print version of the Yearbook.
Classes
Liberty school offered many diverse classes from traditional math and science classes to topic generated classes like the History of Jazz. Classes were often interdisciplinary.