So, did you actually visit this school? Are your comments based on observed facts? I’d like someone to point out one of the “psychotics, bizarros or masochists” that graduated from this school.
Here is a documented fact: The vast majority of students who have gone through this 40 year old school are highly successful, highly educated, productive, powerful, and wonderful people who have a much healthier, more normal and happier outlook on life than Debbie Schlussel, who appears to thrive on targeting those she feels threatened by. Who is the bizarro here? It is obviously the narcissistic, way over made-up (as in “I am so insecure that I must hide my real face behind Maybelline), small-minded, little person who wrote such tripe with out even substantiating her facts.
Oy vey, is right.

Martha on March 4, 2007 at 7:03 pm

I am actually a recent graduate of the Fayerweather Street School (class of 2010 woohoo!). I can only speak from personal experience, but Fayerweather was the best experience of my life, I met a group of kind supportive people who treated everybody with respect. I’m legitimately sorry that you might convince even one student not to go there. I’m also sorry that you mind the fact that we don’t hate gay people and we don’t like the exploitation of forigen workers. As far as I know, no one from Fayerweather is a psychopath 🙂

Alec on November 3, 2010 at 8:13 pm

I too am a recent graduate of Fayerweather Street School (2009!), and I’m honestly quite astonished at how warped your perspective is. As Alec said, Fayerweather is a really wonderful school, and the fact that we don’t censor education and awareness concerning homosexuality is a strength, not a weakness. One in every 10 people are a member of the LGBT community. Yeah, that’s something like thirty million Americans. So please stop making a fool out of yourself. Stop promoting bigotry and social ignorance, and excuse us when we choose to do otherwise.

Sophia on November 6, 2010 at 3:18 pm

I’m still in Fayerweather, and even I can’t believe your ignorance and bigotry. If you have a problem with people being able to chose who to love, you’re the real psychotic. And I’m sure that if you visited the school, you would find a group of caring people, who are active in the political and social community. And the fact that we can care about people who are different than us or those who have been exploited, or those we haven’t even met yet – is that a weakness? If such a school has been up and running very well for the past 40 + years, I suggest you check out our viewpoint yourself. Sounds like you could use it.

Steph on November 9, 2010 at 8:13 pm

“….Psychotics, bizarros, and masochists” come for the most part from environments where they (the aformentioned crazy people) are restrained, restricted, or judged. Because of Fayerweather’s open minded attitude and their sadly unique and rare message of love and peace, children are brought up not to hate but to treat all with respect. As a Fayerweather student the group of people I struggle personally the most with respecting is those who make ignorant and unknowing judgments and offensive comments, which is what this article seems to do.

What is the problem with children not being prejudiced? If you are interested in writing a follow up article and visiting the school, please contact Fayerweather. I, for one, would be more than happy to host any person who is willing to engage in respectful and intelligent conversation, and who is able to act adult–i.e. no name calling.

Off to eat my tasty cold tofu from Whole Foods (elitist food market—did you know that they *gasp* have hired Muslims???! Clearly Al Queda supporters!)

-Signed, A Proud and Enthusiastic Liberal Thumbsucker

Maggie on November 9, 2010 at 8:14 pm

Also a recent graduate (class of 2009) and having attended the school for ten years, I find your views quite appalling. You allege that Fayerweather produces “psychotics, bizarros, and masochists,” yet you give no reasonable evidence for this. Support of LGBT rights, something you clearly regard with disdain, does not correlate with nor cause mental instability, disability, or masochism. I would venture to say that the vast majority of students that have attended FSS in fact become the exact opposite–thoughtful, caring individuals.
As for your less-inflammatory-yet-still-ungrounded statements, maybe you should visit the school. The school doesn’t provide lunch for students, so I believe edamame, tofu, and health-concious desserts lose any relevance. As for “self-pedal school buses (ie., bikes),” you should probably re-evaluate that statement. Once again, FSS does not provide bus transport, because it operates as an independent school, separate from the public school system. More importantly, however, riding a bike to school benefits everyone, especially the rider, given the current obesity problem. Anyone that argues with that might as well start eating only McDonald’s.
As for it’s “anti-bias curriculum,” I don’t understand why that poses a threat. Because you can’t demonize someone whom you deem less than yourself? As the grand-daughter of Holocaust survivors, you of all should people should understand the inarguable malevolence of what you preach. Your grandparents suffered at the hands of a horrid, fascist regime discriminating against them because of their religion. And what do you do? Discriminate, but not only against religion. Against sexual orientation and political ideology, among other things. Maybe Hitler will give you a medal for your good work if you ask nicely.

Flamingly, liberally, and thumbsucking-ly yours,
Neil

Neil on November 9, 2010 at 9:09 pm

Miss, you truly have a warped sense of judgment. I have friends that go there, and they don’t go crazy and kill all those who aren’t gay, lesbian, or otherwise different then them. And thumb sucking is never a problem as long as children learn to grow out of it. It helps them calm down and make sense of a confusing predicament or new situation. You must really be prejudiced and confused to even think of writing this, let alone publishing it online.

Dorothy on November 11, 2010 at 1:46 pm

First off, I’d like to say that several of my closest friends go to this school, and many of the important people in my life are gay/lesbian. Opinions like yours are the very things that cause homosexual/bisexual suicide attempts. Are you so small minded and insecure that you choose to hide yourself behind grotesque makeup and pick on everyone who is different than you? Anti-bias programs in schools teach children to respect and embrace other ways of life (wouldn’t it be a boring world if we were all alike?), and clearly should have been part of the curriculum in whichever school you attended.

Mimi on November 25, 2010 at 6:42 pm

I go to Fayerweather and I have found that its an incredible school for tolerant people (obviously not you) teaching tolerance will eventually make the world have less wars and more peace. So If you want war that’s fine.

sara on November 27, 2010 at 4:48 pm

Words can’t even describe your ignorance….you never went to Fayerweather: either to visit or god forbid – attend! You obviously never interviewed either current facility and or students nor alumni….you simply have a right wing agenda and will discredit anything that’s progressive and not of the “Main Stream” view. Fayerweather has over the past 44 years graduated highly intelligent people which have ingrained in them a willingness to open their minds to possibilities….If nothing else that is one of the main achievements of an education at Fayerweather….to be open to not just learning aimed at meeting the requirements of the MCAS but to open the mind to possibilities. And that is something yo are obviously incapable of comprehending….Darwin nailed it when he realized that a species is constantly evolving…failure to evolve is nothing less than a death sentence for that line….you I surmise have failed to evolve. But your failure is no reason to defame institution that promote that which you have failed at. I was graduate by Fayerweather in 1971. Attendance there was and still is a pivotal influence in my life and my day to day interactions with those I work with…you have no idea of that which you speak…ignorance is no excuse. regards

michael crowley on September 6, 2015 at 11:08 pm

i go to fayerweather and it is the best school ever. i have been going since p-k
and i am now in 4th grade. we do celebrate gay pride and it is really fun. i have no idea what your problem with fayerweather is. have you even been there? i have made so many friends at fayerweather, and have had so much fun there. if your kids don’t go there, YOU SHOULDN’T BE GLAD AT ALL!!!

geneva masunaga on January 21, 2016 at 3:47 pm

you know that whatever school your child goes to we can make it sound like a shitty school? plus i went to fayerweather ( grad of 2004) and it was the best expperience i ever had. You dont let people choose who they love ? tsk,tsk, are you the president, NOPE so dont put more things like this

Thumsuckerly yours

lauren

lauren on March 7, 2016 at 11:23 am

Found this shockingly online about the best school I can imagine. Obviously, the woman who wrote this is herself a bigot, small minded and likely poorly educated hate-filled person. My daughter attends FSS and it is a place where bright and hard working, compassionate, and highly successful adults emerge- you can easily track the grads and see where they end up and who they become. Psychopaths come from warped and constrained, abusive, and frequently bigoted upbringings- not those that support peace and kindness, equality, and respect. Those who choose FSS are highly educated and successful parents who know how to make greatness in the world rather than live a life off of spewing hate in the Internet. You’re a sick person.

Carey on June 15, 2016 at 10:02 am

Well, well.. looking up Fayerweather St.School at the top of the search was this …obscene blast from 2006.. ho hum! -I wonder where she is 10 years later- and if she might have found a little wisdom..it would make an enormous impact on what there was in ’06. It seems her site is designed to make money.. can’t see much elst it’s there for.

I was a FSS parent of a now successful Silicone Valley resident, and for a while a member of the Board of Directors.

Reading the rep;ies makes me feel very good about having been a member of this community.. Thanks to the kids, parents and staffs. Seems to me that you are doing a marvelous job.

Now is there Way to get ms schussel to remove this bit of BS from the search engines? I’ll try email..

charles laws on September 9, 2016 at 9:56 pm

Fayerweather Street School is the best school i have ever been to. I went there from 3rd to 5th grade and i wish i was still at FSS. I moved to India 1 year ago and have been to two schools which are NOTHING like Fayerweather. If you have any rude things to say keep it to yourself. You try and hide your ugly face with makeup and when your face loaded on the page for a second I thought you were the grudge ( true fact). But honestly, you must of had a very bad education or none at all for you to say things like this. This school is teaching children that there is no problem with being gay/lesbian, and the 300 bracelets; the children made. I think you might need to go back to preschool.

Thumbsuckingly NOT sorry,
Sehajh

Sehajh on September 25, 2016 at 7:08 am

I had a delightful two years as the first school librarian at Fayerweather, where I could breast feed my baby during the work day, with the children gathered around me as they would be at home. You are missing something if you stay away from liberal, artistic and intelligent Cambridge people. Give the school a closer look, and I hope you will enjoy some fresh ideas about what being a human being might include.

Juliet, mother of Gerald, the great 34 yr old musician!

Juliet on March 14, 2017 at 4:54 pm