The program of studies of the Vermont Commons School is a dynamic educational experience. Four guiding principles are central to our mission. Guiding Principles I. Understanding the relationship between the natural and human environments should be the primary goal of education. Using the environment as the fundamental context of education allows students to understand their role and place in both human and natural environments, promoting confidence, wonder, and meaning for the learning experience.
Education becomes a dynamic enterprise into which experience and information are interwoven.
Fluency in basic skills provides the foundation for learning. Students must develop fluent skills in the communication arts, mathematics, and physical and natural sciences in order to gain an understanding of how the world functions and how to interact with it in a constructive manner. With the skills of language, logic, and analysis, students will be able to develop knowledge, adapt, and thrive in an age in which information is generated at an ever-accelerating pace. Genuine Encounters with the world enable students to test skills and apply knowledge in meaningful activities. Students must interact directly with their environment to provide a meaningful, real-world context in which to apply their skills and knowledge.