Solebury School's 2019-2020 Academic Bulletin

FALL TRIMESTER COURSES
The Art of Thoughtful Listening —An Agent of Social Change: This course, open to juniors and
seniors, is designed to empower and support students in their efforts toward building strong human
relationships based in deep mutual respect and alliances. What a revolutionary thought! This is
particularly true when we consider that all our relationships happen in the context of an often oppressive
society at large, and that we have a diversity of life experiences. Class activities include: storytelling,
games/ play, discussions, some short readings, and of course some practice of “thoughtful
listening.” Grading is based on full participation and attendance. 1 credit
Creative Nonfiction: Some of the most powerful, thoughtful, and culturally significant writing is found
in the essays of writers like Joan Didion, David Foster Wallace, and others who are published under the
genre “creative nonfiction.” To engage with this historical, observational, and experimental writing form,
students will read and analyze essays, produce original content, and give meaningful feedback to one
another. The habits and skills developed in this course are useful for those interested in journalism,
cultural studies, and creative writing. This class may also be taken for English credit. Honors, 2 credits.
No Textbook Required
Cultural Anthropology: This course presents a comparative study of cultures and human societies and
allows an opportunity to understand human diversity throughout the world. Students will explore how
various peoples use socially learned traditions, religion, politics, kinship, language, gender roles, and
much more to structure their lives. Throughout the class students will broaden their understanding of
different cultures and will learn new analytical tools to better understand cultural difference,
contemporary global change, and social organization. Students will be asked to demonstrate their
understanding of the material through class participation, guided fieldwork projects, and individual and
group assignments. This class fulfills a global studies program credit. Global. 2 credits
No Textbook Required
Existential Philosophy: The purpose of this class is to: 1) introduce students to a selection of
existentialist philosophers including: Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Dostoevsky, Kafka, Heidegger, Sartre, and
Camus; 2) analyze selected philosophical concepts including “freedom”, “authenticity”, “anxiety”,
“finitude”, “The Absurd”, and “Super-Consciousness”; 3) encourage students to use the knowledge, skills
and understanding acquired in the class to initiate the development of a personal life philosophy. Students
are evaluated on the quality and quantity of their participation in group and class discussions; on journal
writing; on their individual and group presentations; and on a final extensive reflective essay and/or
multiple intelligence project. Global. 2 credits
Textbook: Existentialism: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides) Paperback – August 1, 2008 by
Thomas E. Wartenberg, ISBN-10: 1851685936, ISBN-13: 978-1851685936
Fighting “Fake News”: The term “fake news” has come to mean everything from deliberately fabricated
disinformation to stories that are merely uncomfortable for the subject in question. How did we get
here? This elective attempts to answer this question, first by looking at the ways our own biases can color
our judgements of the media we consume, and how certain media outlets exploit those biases. We then
attempt to determine for ourselves what makes for authentic journalism, and examine how technology and
corporate forces have made such journalism (particularly local and print journalism) struggle. With a
deeper understanding of psychology and the media ecosystem, those who finish this course will be able
spot, and defend against, all manner of media manipulation. This class may also be taken for English
credit. 2 credits
No Textbook Required
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