The Modern School in New York City, circa 1911-12. Will Durant stands with his pupils. This image was used on the cover of the first Modern School magazine.

The Modern Schools, also called Ferrer Schools, were American schools formed in the early 20th century around the ideas of educator and anarchist Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia and modeled after his Escuela Moderna. They were an important part of the anarchist, free education, socialist, and labor movements in the U.S., intended to provide education to the working-classes from a liberating, class-conscious perspective. The Modern Schools had classes for children during the day, and lectures were given to adults at night. Photograph of the Modern School in New York City, circa 1911-1914. ... Photograph of the Modern School in New York City, circa 1911-1914. ... American high school students in a school A school is most commonly a place designated for learning. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... The neutrality of this introduction is disputed. ... Francisco Ferrer Guardia Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia (January 10, 1859 - October 12, 1909), known as Francisco Ferrer y Guardia in Spanish and often simply as Francisco Ferrer, was a Spanish free-thinker and anarchist. ... La Escuela Moderna (trans. ... Free education is a policy stance in politics that ensures education for its citizens up to a certain level. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... The labor movement (or labour movement) is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and political governments. ...

The Modern School in New York City

The first and most notable of the Modern Schools was founded in New York City in 1911, shortly after Ferrer's execution in Spain. Commonly called the Ferrer Center, it was started by a group of notable anarchists including Leonard Abbott, Alexander Berkman, Voltairine de Cleyre, and Emma Goldman. The school first met on St. Mark's Place in the Lower East Side, but moved twice to other locations in Manhattan, with the second move taking it out of the Village into Harlem. It opened with only nine students, one of whom was the son of the contraceptives-rights activist, Margaret Sanger. Nickname: The Big Apple Official website: City of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area Total 468. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Alexander Berkman together with Emma Goldman in 1917 Alexander Berkman (21 November 1870 - 28 June 1936) was a Russian writer and activist who lived and worked for many years in the United States, where he was a leading member of the anarchist movement. ... Voltairine de Cleyre, Philadelphia, Christmas 1891 Voltairine de Cleyre (November 17, 1866–June 6, 1912) was, according to Emma Goldman, the most gifted and brilliant anarchist woman America ever produced; yet even among anarchists today, she is largely unknown. ... Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 – May 14, 1940) was a Lithuanian-born anarcho-communist known for her anarchist writings and speeches. ... St. ... The corner of Orchard and Rivington Streets, Lower East Side (2005) The Lower East Side is a neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. ... The Borough of Manhattan, highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ... View of Harlem from Morningside Heights overlooking Morningside Park Lenox Avenue looking south from the corner of 124th Street. ... Margaret Sanger. ...

Philosopher Will Durant was an instructor and principal of the School starting in 1912. Ashcan School painters Robert Henri and George Bellows were also among its instructors, and writers and activists including Sanger, Jack London, and Upton Sinclair gave lectures. Artist Man Ray also studied there. William Durant William James Durant (November 5, 1885—November 7, 1981) was an American philosopher, historian, and writer. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Ash Can School was remembered on the USPS stamp. ... Robert Henri, by Gertrude Kasebier (1900) Snow in New York 1902, oil on canvas National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC Robert Henri (June 25, 1865-1929) was an American painter notable for his teaching and leadership of the Ashcan School movement in art. ... George Bellows George Wesley Bellows (August 19, 1882 - January 8, 1925) was an American painter, known for his bold depictions of urban life in New York City. ... It has been suggested that Oyster pirate be merged into this article or section. ... Upton Beall Sinclair (September 20, 1878 – November 25, 1968) was a prolific American author who wrote over 90 books in many genres, often advocating Socialist views, and achieved considerable popularity in the first half of the twentieth century. ... For other things called Man Ray, see Man Ray (disambiguation) Man Ray photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 Man Ray (August 27, 1890–November 18, 1976) was an American Dada and Surrealist artist. ...

The Modern School magazine, Spring, 1920

In 1915, a group of individuals who were loosely associated with the School's adult education program plotted to detonate a bomb at the mansion of tycoon John D. Rockefeller. The bomb's premature explosion launched a series of raids and investigations into New York City labor and anarchist organizations, and the School's organizers decided that the city was an unsafe environment for their school. 68 acres (275,000 m²) were purchased in Piscataway Township, New Jersey, and the school was moved there in 1914 as the center of the Stelton Colony. Cover scan of the Spring, 1920 Modern School magazine. ... Cover scan of the Spring, 1920 Modern School magazine. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1917 painting by John Singer Sargent. ... Piscataway Township (pronounced Pis-CAT-a-way) is a Township located in Middlesex County, New Jersey. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

The Modern School magazine

The Modern School magazine had started as a newsletter for parents of students when the school was still in New York, and was printed on the hand press used in the School to teach printing. After the move to Stelton, the magazine was expanded to contain poetry, prose, art, and articles about libertarian education, with a cover emblem and many of its interior graphics were designed by illustrator Rockwell Kent. Many artists and writers, including Hart Crane and Wallace Stevens, praised The Modern School as "the most beautifully printed magazine in existence." See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ... Rockwell Kent photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1933 Rockwell Kent (1882-1971), an American artist was born in Tarrytown, New York, was well educated in art. ... Harold Hart Crane (July 21, 1899 in Garrettsville, Ohio, United States – April 27, 1932 at sea) was a U.S. poet. ... Wallace Stevens Wallace Stevens (October 2, 1879 – August 2, 1955) was an American Modernist poet. ...

See also

• Lexington Avenue bombing

The Lexington Avenue bombing was an accidental bombing in a New York City apartment that occurred in 1914, killing four and injuring dozens. ...

External links

• The Modern School at the Anarchist Encyclopedia
• A history of the Stelton Modern School
• Modern School Collection
• Avrich, Paul.The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States
• Alternative Education Resource Organization
• The Institute for Democratic Education
• International Democratic Education Network
• The Brooklyn Free School
• The Fairfield School
• Sudbury Valley School