Manumit school

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The Manumit School ("manumit" in Latin means freedom from slavery) was an "experimental" socialist boarding school in Pawling, New York.

Founded on purchased farm land in 1924 by William and Helen Fincke, it was formally called The Manumit School for Workers' Children. An early promotional flyer for the school asked parents if they'd like their kids to grow up "to become men and women who can think for themselves, stand on their own two feet, and fight injustice and oppression." Its teachings were meant to provide a "progressive," "workers education" slant during a time of increasing soclialist optimism in America. Sarah Norcliffe Cleghorn worked here as an English and Drama teacher until 1929.

A former student, Robert Shnayerson, is quoted in a Time Magazine article in 1961, describing the Manumit experience: "We drove trucks at nine years and plowed with tractors, slaughtered pigs and took care of the cows. But I didn't learn anything about anything."*1