The Modern School was the first significant democratic school of the 20th century, predating Summerhill. It was based on the work of Francisco Ferrer of Spain. After he was unjustly executed in 1909, Modern Schools were started all over the world in his name, including one that started in 1911 in New York City. Even though the last Modern School in the USA closed in 1958, its attendees were so profoundly affected by it that they continue to have reunions every year, although they are now called meetings as their numbers dwindle.
I first heard about the Modern School from Nellie Dick, a former teacher there, when she was 96 years old, in 1989. I’ve attended most of the annual meetings since then and have met many truly remarkable people there. For example, one was Alfred Levitt, who was 100 years old when I met him there. He was an immigrant from Ukraine, His teacher was Will Durant and a fellow student was Ariel. They became a famous writing couple selling millions of their books on philosophy. Meanwhile Levitt studied art with some famous Dadaist artists who dropped into the school. I attended a special event at Ellis Island to honor Levitt, at age 103, as one of the most important people to pass through there. They displayed 20 of the paintings he had made, borrowed from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can see a video of it here. You can read some of the history of the Modern School here. One of the pictures from 1911 is of Durant, and I assume Levitt was one of the students in it.
Following is the official announcement of the Annual Meeting. Rutgers houses the archives of the Modern School. If you are nearby you should go!
The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Modern School this year will again be co-sponsored by Rutgers Libraries. The gathering will begin with a musical theater performance followed by a speaker and refreshments. This year will mark our 46 th annual gathering of the Friends . It will be held from 1 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Saturday, September 15, 2018 in the Remigo U. Pane Room in the Alexander Library, Rutgers University. The building and room are accessible for the disabled . Directions and parking availability are given on page 2. There is a $20 entrance fee to cover the cost of the presentations and refreshments.
The play is called Mother Jones in Heaven featuring a musical theater performance by Vivian Nesbitt. ED
More information and directions here
