“These are some well-told stories about the Synanon School. When I first arrived at Synanon, the school struck me as one of the most intriguing aspects of the community. There were dedicated individuals who invested considerable thought into child rearing, drawing inspiration from the philosophies of Rudolf Steiner (The Waldorf School). Some free thinkers, particularly those outside the mainstream in Synanon, were given leeway to create something special and unique.
It was a fascinating time, marked by numerous departures from Synanon by those who disagreed with the idea of raising children in a Kibbutz-like manner. Conversely, many individuals were drawn to Synanon because they embraced this approach. Unfortunately, the center could not hold, and the innovators became discouraged, eventually leaving. As Synanon unraveled due to Chuck’s decline, so did the school. People started doing their “own thing” in terms of child rearing.
There were remnants of the original philosophy and some genuinely caring individuals, but the concept of “A SYNANON SCHOOL” became more of a mishmash of ideas and methods, with the pressing question being, “WHAT DO WE DO WITH ALL THESE KIDS?”
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