Devoted to helping adolescent learners become more informed, empathic, and strategic change agents, and made possible by the Bread Loaf School of English.
“Treat people as if they are what they ought to be,
and you help them become what they are capable of being.”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
We expect a lot of our middle and high school learners, who work in small teams to research, write, film, produce, and publish short films about a social issue that matters to them.Treated like the leaders they are capable of becoming, and supported by a network of skilled and caring mentors, these young leaders and filmmakers thrive.
They get out in their communities, posing questions to determine why things are the way they are. They make phone calls and conduct interviews with key players. They painstakingly construct the digital stories they’ve filmed, seeking feedback from peers on early drafts. They attend the premier of their films at a local theater, filled with family and friends of these first-time filmmakers!
What’s the Story? embraces the heart of John Dewey’s philosophy; education should not be mere preparation for life; education should be life itself. We believe all young people deserve to be learning in the field, practicing among adults and learners of various ages the vital skills of team work, communication, creativity, compassion, and self-direction.