Tempting as it was to hop back in our rental cars and flee halcyon Vermont for the less hostile environment of New York City, we decided to stick around and face the fury. After all, we chose to come to Putney because we thought it would make an interesting, unusual story. And so far, we were exactly right. The Putney School is a small, independent boarding school situated on a beautiful, isolated mountain campus. The students are responsible for making the place run, from cooking and serving all of the meals to keeping the senior cabins well stocked with firewood to managing the impressive working farm.
Every student has several jobs, and every job has a tangible purpose.
So if you have a lot of calculus homework, or if you just feel like taking a nap, too bad - the cows still need milking, the mail still needs delivering and the bathrooms still need cleaning. At Putney, there's no such thing as a day off. After one tour of the school'' extensive galleries, you know these people are serious. Forget about papier mache dragons and the other staples of high school art class - we're talking about real, innovative, experimental work. And if your chores don't offer enough in the way of practical experience, you can always participate in activities like cider making or maple sugaring.