This seems like a model that should be replicated across all age groups...we are all beset by digital distractions and lack of meaning and purpose. Right now what little exists seems to be coliving and kibbutzim. I'd be curious what's out there for "normies" -- adults with jobs, families...that connects back to the land and to communal purpose.
I think you're on to something. The premise seems to be that electronic devices are driving teen depression but I' m of the mind that it is boredom and the resulting depression that is driving their use. One of the intriguing comments in Caleb's essay was the requirement that they chop FIREWOOD to generate heat. For a generation that has been indoctrinated to believe that we’re all going to incinerate in ten years if we don’t abandon carbon as a source of heat and energy, being not just allowed, but required to facilitate CO2 emitting fire without being scolded that he will be responsible for the next hurricane must have been a truly liberating moment. Not only was Caleb given the responsibility of wielding an ax to chop the firewood needed to warm his mates, he was also given PURPOSE. And it seems to me, he was given the opportunity to give a figurative “fuck you” to a nanny state that has increasingly deprived him of both purpose and the joy it begets.
Yes, but wood fires are surface carbon, not fossil carbon.
I suppose all carbon circulates in three circuits:
1. CO2 to plants to CO2 with the decay (composting) or burning of the plants.
2. CO2 to seawater to Calcium Carbonate (limestone), exhumed, eroded, does the CO2 get released? Perhaps by plants.
3. Deep burial of organic matter to produce hydrocarbons, despite being sequestered for perhaps millions of years, all of which are eventually exhumed and burned. Though some hydrocarbons are probably buried so deeply that they are oxidized in-situ, and return via hot springs.
My family of four children lives in the suburbs of a mid-sized city (older kids are off at college now). Both my husband and I work. Our kids have more screen time than I would like, but we didn't let them have smart phones until they were 15-16. They built a lawn mowing business from the ground up and have passed it from one brother to the next. We maintain a decent garden that all of us work in and we usually pickle some peppers, make some tomato sauce for the winter, etc. We buy large quantities of fruit in season and preserve it, as well. Finally, my husband and kids hunt together, we butcher and preserve the meat together, and my boys very literally put the food on our table. We always point out who got the elk or deer we are eating that night and express gratitude for that child and for that animal and for the amazing place we live that provides these opportunities. We're pretty normal people but we've worked intentionally to connect our children to the land, to each other, and to our broader community. It's our way of life and we hope our kids see the value in it and continue this same connection for the next generation.
I think that would be something like community work - actually handing out food at the food bank, etc. Going to church or temple - having a communal experience on a regular basis. Gardening - at your home or a community garden - or just cleaning up the community, trimming overgrown areas, picking up trash, etc.
Oh, what is this feeling? Is it...hope? To return to our roots, use our bodies the way they were designed, and connect with each other? What a great piece. I was mostly horrified at the dystopian scene of the high school hallways where no one speaks and everyone has AirPods in. That makes sense, I just am horrified for the reality to be confirmed. And the kids really don’t know anything different. That’s the scary part.
I was struck, however, by the irony that the rest of us are all commenting and communicating electronically.
I had the occasion a few months back to connect with Yang Peng, a commenter here and author of his own Substack. We met up for nice lunch and got to talk for a few hours. Wondering if Bari might sponsor some regional meetings. We could even invite Comprof. Well,,,,maybe, lol.
Because you're an adult and presumably learned long ago how to manage your time and control addiction impulses, you know how to manage your screen time.
Perhaps but the tech is wildly addictive. The only saving grace is that putative adults such as myself remember a time before tech. And know - in many ways - that it was so much better and more in tune with humanity.
This essay is a hopeful one and an inspiring read. I have one hesitation. There was something that caused Caleb to apply to Midland in the first place; some part of him wanted that experience more than he was addicted to his phone. Any sense of what it was? Any sense of how to nudge more young people who lack the initial inclination along this path?
This seems like a system that delivers good outcomes to students. However at $73,900/year tuition (their website also lists lots of financial aid options) it’s probably not for everyone.
As parents I think our job is to bring as much of the good parts of immersive boarding schools like this into our normal home / school / activities lives with our kids.
$73,900??? This just re-enforces my belief that it is an upper-class solution that leaves the rest of us to slog along. This story is just an outlier with no option to the rest of us.
This is Heather from the Admissions team at Midland School. Midland offers need-based financial assistance and has since its founding in 1932. The purpose is to ensure a diverse community of learners. Some of our students receive close to full tuition assistance, while some are full-pay, and others are everywhere in between. We aim to make Midland affordable for those who are ready for this experience and believe in the mission!
Heather thanks for responding. I did note that there seemed to be a lot of financial aid options. Still, public school is "free" (as in, we already pay for it whether we use it or not via property and other taxes). I attended all 12 years here in SC at my local public schools, got a great education and both my kids are in public school here now doing the same. For most of us, sending kids to an expensive boarding school just isn't on the radar. For those that do, your school looks excellent.
Thank you! I was public school educated myself, and I had a very positive experience in MA in the 90s although I do wish more schools of today integrated more of the concepts that Midland has, as there are so many opportunities for 21st century learning beyond the screen.
This is Heather from the Admissions team at Midland School. Midland offers need-based financial assistance and has since its founding in 1932. The purpose is to ensure a diverse community of learners. Some of our students receive close to full tuition assistance, while some are full-pay, and others are everywhere in between. We aim to make Midland affordable for those who are ready for this experience and believe in the mission!
My very first thought as I was reading this was how much does this place cost? That he is a privileged kid from California. But it has to start somewhere.
I think you are right on the money. We (parents and voters) always see problems and solutions external to our own decisions and behavior. Technology addiction and social problems of our children are often products of our priorities in how we choose to spend our time. At least partially.
Yes! I've told my two elementary school aged kids they will be the last people they know to get "smart phones." My wife and I also point out families, like say at a restaurant, where everyone has their faces in a device and my kids think it's sad. I am sure there are battles to come, but our own actions in our own family are what's most important.
My kids are not going to go to some high end outward bound type boarding school (we have them on the East Coast too, obviously). They are just going to live here, at home, with their parents, going to our local public school and doing normal things. Just like their mom and dad did. The rest is up to them.
Again, I am glad this kid is having this great experience and don't begrudge him that. There are lessons form his experience that we can apply in our lives.
You might have to homeschool. Jr High and high school usually have BYOD policies in place. Very few have good cell phone bans enforced on school grounds. What you want can be doable, it will require a great deal of diligence on your part. Good job on your part though for acknowledging the elephant in the room - best of luck with navigating this with your kids.
The idea of having a local school that bans tech sounds lovely... but then the kid goes home and jumps right on it. It has to be a total immersion/ban for the desire effect. We have resorted to a military boarding school because our son's problem was out of control. Cheaper than Caleb's school :)
I know Boy Scouts of America gets a bad rap these days, and mostly self-inflicted. But my three sons were Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts with one becoming an Eagle Scout. Our troop had a rule that we camped once a month, except February. Typically most scouts signed up for the two week summer camp where they slept in tents under screen netting draped over their cots. BSA is a great way to get young teens outside, away from screens, learn, and grow from adversity and leadership imposed on them as they climbed the ranks to Eagle. Oh yeah, and they chopped a lot of wood.
I was all for this until I saw the tuition to Midland is $70k+. Sweet Jesus! It's expensive to live on a hippie compound these days. Is it impossible for the FP to escape elitism even within the teenage demographic?
There's 80 students and 20 staff, which is a very high staff to student ratio. Assuming each staff member costs $100K when you include benefits, employer SS taxes, employer SDI etc. that's $2 million right there. And it sounds like not everyone pays the full amount. Also, maintaining the physical plant in a remote area is more expensive. I doubt anyone is getting rich from the school.
Thanks Scott for bringing some reality into the conversation about tuition! I'm at Midland. Many of our competitor schools in California charge similar tuition, and we have a 4:1 student to faculty ratio and 2,860 acres of land to maintain. The philosophy of "needs vs wants" which has been with Midland from the beginning is what makes it work.
I work at Midland and I attest that is not the case! I personally took a cut in salary & benefits to come here from a top international school in Seoul. It's pretty rustic and everyone pitches in, wears a lot of hats. Faculty and staff are always trying to model the "needs vs wants" philosophy.
I cynically predicted that a classroom with books, paper and pencil (essentially no tech), would become the domain of the affluent, while tablets, screens, remote learning and eventually, no teachers, will become the entrenched norm for the lower classes. The future is less than bright.
Exactly what I was thinking. Not sure if Prison Blues are still a thing but this school should be marketing whatever their equivalent is. I'll take a few 36x32's and whatever license plate designs they've got.
Shortly after I posted, my scepticism kicked in. Maybe no phones are allowed because they don't want the curriculum escaping their property's borders. It is California after all. To your point child labor is cheap. Make them do everything by hand. The more I think about it schools really should be run like labor camps!!
This is Heather from the Admissions team at Midland School. Midland offers need-based financial assistance and has since its founding in 1932. The purpose is to ensure a diverse community of learners. Some of our students receive close to full tuition assistance, while some are full-pay, and others are everywhere in between. We aim to make Midland affordable for those who are ready for this experience and believe in the mission. Also, taking care of 2800 acres of ranch land, 20+ horses, 16 cattle, a 10-acre organic farm, pigs, chickens, dozens of historical structures, and more does become a bit pricey.
I hope Caleb can publish his article on social media to serve as a Public Service Announcement.
Kudos to the Midland School for providing an experiential immersive whole person education for high schoolers with community responsibilities and consequences. Fail to do your duty and you disappoint everyone counting on you. No formal punishment consequence required.
Responsibility, accountability and daily opportunities engaging with people in person are the simple antidotes to a satisfying life.
Good job Caleb. I was at Meijer yesterday and these two young men (~20 yrs) were chatting excitedly. They were both ghost white in the middle of summer, and I correctly guessed the topic before I walked into earshot: video games.
Not girls, not partying, not a trip, but video games.
The curse of a generation: the tyranny of a meaningless routine and the addictive quality of technology combine to create literal "TechnoZombies." How wonderful to bathe in water warmed by your own labors and realize the synergy of a meaningful life! How wise you were Caleb to recognize and drag yourself out of the malaise! Well done!
This couldn't be more timely for me. We had to resort to sending our 16 year old to a military boarding school this year where there is no internet access of phones. His addiction to Tik Tok and Instagram had taken over his life. I could take away his phone, yes... but the schools insist they come with iPads and screens. There was no way to fight the problem. His grades were tanking and the future seemed bleak. His confidence was at an all time low and a drastic approach seemed like our only approach.
I admire Caleb's maturity in recognizing the problem and doing something about it. I truly do not think there is any other teenager out there able to do this on his own without a parent pushing them. The internet is destroying our kids and it just seems like a force for evil anymore.
Everything old is new again. Congratulations Caleb, on discovering authenticity and humanity—it’s been waiting for you.
This seems like a model that should be replicated across all age groups...we are all beset by digital distractions and lack of meaning and purpose. Right now what little exists seems to be coliving and kibbutzim. I'd be curious what's out there for "normies" -- adults with jobs, families...that connects back to the land and to communal purpose.
I think you're on to something. The premise seems to be that electronic devices are driving teen depression but I' m of the mind that it is boredom and the resulting depression that is driving their use. One of the intriguing comments in Caleb's essay was the requirement that they chop FIREWOOD to generate heat. For a generation that has been indoctrinated to believe that we’re all going to incinerate in ten years if we don’t abandon carbon as a source of heat and energy, being not just allowed, but required to facilitate CO2 emitting fire without being scolded that he will be responsible for the next hurricane must have been a truly liberating moment. Not only was Caleb given the responsibility of wielding an ax to chop the firewood needed to warm his mates, he was also given PURPOSE. And it seems to me, he was given the opportunity to give a figurative “fuck you” to a nanny state that has increasingly deprived him of both purpose and the joy it begets.
Yes, but wood fires are surface carbon, not fossil carbon.
I suppose all carbon circulates in three circuits:
1. CO2 to plants to CO2 with the decay (composting) or burning of the plants.
2. CO2 to seawater to Calcium Carbonate (limestone), exhumed, eroded, does the CO2 get released? Perhaps by plants.
3. Deep burial of organic matter to produce hydrocarbons, despite being sequestered for perhaps millions of years, all of which are eventually exhumed and burned. Though some hydrocarbons are probably buried so deeply that they are oxidized in-situ, and return via hot springs.
My family of four children lives in the suburbs of a mid-sized city (older kids are off at college now). Both my husband and I work. Our kids have more screen time than I would like, but we didn't let them have smart phones until they were 15-16. They built a lawn mowing business from the ground up and have passed it from one brother to the next. We maintain a decent garden that all of us work in and we usually pickle some peppers, make some tomato sauce for the winter, etc. We buy large quantities of fruit in season and preserve it, as well. Finally, my husband and kids hunt together, we butcher and preserve the meat together, and my boys very literally put the food on our table. We always point out who got the elk or deer we are eating that night and express gratitude for that child and for that animal and for the amazing place we live that provides these opportunities. We're pretty normal people but we've worked intentionally to connect our children to the land, to each other, and to our broader community. It's our way of life and we hope our kids see the value in it and continue this same connection for the next generation.
I think that would be something like community work - actually handing out food at the food bank, etc. Going to church or temple - having a communal experience on a regular basis. Gardening - at your home or a community garden - or just cleaning up the community, trimming overgrown areas, picking up trash, etc.
Oh, what is this feeling? Is it...hope? To return to our roots, use our bodies the way they were designed, and connect with each other? What a great piece. I was mostly horrified at the dystopian scene of the high school hallways where no one speaks and everyone has AirPods in. That makes sense, I just am horrified for the reality to be confirmed. And the kids really don’t know anything different. That’s the scary part.
I hope more Midlands are created. We need them.
Smart kid.
I was struck, however, by the irony that the rest of us are all commenting and communicating electronically.
I had the occasion a few months back to connect with Yang Peng, a commenter here and author of his own Substack. We met up for nice lunch and got to talk for a few hours. Wondering if Bari might sponsor some regional meetings. We could even invite Comprof. Well,,,,maybe, lol.
Because you're an adult and presumably learned long ago how to manage your time and control addiction impulses, you know how to manage your screen time.
That's the difference between you & Caleb.
Perhaps but the tech is wildly addictive. The only saving grace is that putative adults such as myself remember a time before tech. And know - in many ways - that it was so much better and more in tune with humanity.
Comprof?really? Be careful what you wish for
That is a great idea. Meetings in person for civil discourse
Now Bruce, let’s not go crazy. 😂
Athens, GA here if anyone wants to grab lunch.
This essay is a hopeful one and an inspiring read. I have one hesitation. There was something that caused Caleb to apply to Midland in the first place; some part of him wanted that experience more than he was addicted to his phone. Any sense of what it was? Any sense of how to nudge more young people who lack the initial inclination along this path?
We're all able to listen to the messages our subconscious is delivering - that our tech addiction is madness and we're on the path to Soylent Green.
This seems like a system that delivers good outcomes to students. However at $73,900/year tuition (their website also lists lots of financial aid options) it’s probably not for everyone.
As parents I think our job is to bring as much of the good parts of immersive boarding schools like this into our normal home / school / activities lives with our kids.
$73,900??? This just re-enforces my belief that it is an upper-class solution that leaves the rest of us to slog along. This story is just an outlier with no option to the rest of us.
This is Heather from the Admissions team at Midland School. Midland offers need-based financial assistance and has since its founding in 1932. The purpose is to ensure a diverse community of learners. Some of our students receive close to full tuition assistance, while some are full-pay, and others are everywhere in between. We aim to make Midland affordable for those who are ready for this experience and believe in the mission!
Heather thanks for responding. I did note that there seemed to be a lot of financial aid options. Still, public school is "free" (as in, we already pay for it whether we use it or not via property and other taxes). I attended all 12 years here in SC at my local public schools, got a great education and both my kids are in public school here now doing the same. For most of us, sending kids to an expensive boarding school just isn't on the radar. For those that do, your school looks excellent.
Thank you! I was public school educated myself, and I had a very positive experience in MA in the 90s although I do wish more schools of today integrated more of the concepts that Midland has, as there are so many opportunities for 21st century learning beyond the screen.
Supporting school choice could be a beginning.
This is Heather from the Admissions team at Midland School. Midland offers need-based financial assistance and has since its founding in 1932. The purpose is to ensure a diverse community of learners. Some of our students receive close to full tuition assistance, while some are full-pay, and others are everywhere in between. We aim to make Midland affordable for those who are ready for this experience and believe in the mission!
Heather - don't you think you could tailor your response to the comment rather than simply posting a canned (and probably highly vetted) statement?
My very first thought as I was reading this was how much does this place cost? That he is a privileged kid from California. But it has to start somewhere.
I think you are right on the money. We (parents and voters) always see problems and solutions external to our own decisions and behavior. Technology addiction and social problems of our children are often products of our priorities in how we choose to spend our time. At least partially.
Yes! I've told my two elementary school aged kids they will be the last people they know to get "smart phones." My wife and I also point out families, like say at a restaurant, where everyone has their faces in a device and my kids think it's sad. I am sure there are battles to come, but our own actions in our own family are what's most important.
My kids are not going to go to some high end outward bound type boarding school (we have them on the East Coast too, obviously). They are just going to live here, at home, with their parents, going to our local public school and doing normal things. Just like their mom and dad did. The rest is up to them.
Again, I am glad this kid is having this great experience and don't begrudge him that. There are lessons form his experience that we can apply in our lives.
The public schools will not care how much time your kids sit in class looking at their phones. They are just pushing through the kids anymore.
You might have to homeschool. Jr High and high school usually have BYOD policies in place. Very few have good cell phone bans enforced on school grounds. What you want can be doable, it will require a great deal of diligence on your part. Good job on your part though for acknowledging the elephant in the room - best of luck with navigating this with your kids.
The idea of having a local school that bans tech sounds lovely... but then the kid goes home and jumps right on it. It has to be a total immersion/ban for the desire effect. We have resorted to a military boarding school because our son's problem was out of control. Cheaper than Caleb's school :)
Couldn’t agree more. A crazy price tag for roughing it. It looks amazing, but definitely a privilege for the few.
I know Boy Scouts of America gets a bad rap these days, and mostly self-inflicted. But my three sons were Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts with one becoming an Eagle Scout. Our troop had a rule that we camped once a month, except February. Typically most scouts signed up for the two week summer camp where they slept in tents under screen netting draped over their cots. BSA is a great way to get young teens outside, away from screens, learn, and grow from adversity and leadership imposed on them as they climbed the ranks to Eagle. Oh yeah, and they chopped a lot of wood.
Agree wholeheartedly!
well done Caleb … on all fronts. 👏
Did you use your ax to smash your smartphone?
I was all for this until I saw the tuition to Midland is $70k+. Sweet Jesus! It's expensive to live on a hippie compound these days. Is it impossible for the FP to escape elitism even within the teenage demographic?
There's 80 students and 20 staff, which is a very high staff to student ratio. Assuming each staff member costs $100K when you include benefits, employer SS taxes, employer SDI etc. that's $2 million right there. And it sounds like not everyone pays the full amount. Also, maintaining the physical plant in a remote area is more expensive. I doubt anyone is getting rich from the school.
Thanks Scott for bringing some reality into the conversation about tuition! I'm at Midland. Many of our competitor schools in California charge similar tuition, and we have a 4:1 student to faculty ratio and 2,860 acres of land to maintain. The philosophy of "needs vs wants" which has been with Midland from the beginning is what makes it work.
I want to go to Midland but I need a rich parent?
That was my immediate thought as well! A benefit for the "well-to-do" while the rest of us just slog along...
Where is the money going, given that they grow their own food, provide their own wood, etc? The teachers and admins must make a pretty penny.
I work at Midland and I attest that is not the case! I personally took a cut in salary & benefits to come here from a top international school in Seoul. It's pretty rustic and everyone pitches in, wears a lot of hats. Faculty and staff are always trying to model the "needs vs wants" philosophy.
I cynically predicted that a classroom with books, paper and pencil (essentially no tech), would become the domain of the affluent, while tablets, screens, remote learning and eventually, no teachers, will become the entrenched norm for the lower classes. The future is less than bright.
Exactly what I was thinking. Not sure if Prison Blues are still a thing but this school should be marketing whatever their equivalent is. I'll take a few 36x32's and whatever license plate designs they've got.
Seems like it could be done for cheaper with less admin. Although i'm sure certain things like a farm cost a lot in infrastructure and upkeep.
Shortly after I posted, my scepticism kicked in. Maybe no phones are allowed because they don't want the curriculum escaping their property's borders. It is California after all. To your point child labor is cheap. Make them do everything by hand. The more I think about it schools really should be run like labor camps!!
Our students at Midland do still have laptops and WiFi access in the academic areas, but not where they sleep. So the secret could certainly get out!
Everything is expensive in 2023. At least this school seems like it actually helps.
For $70,000 it damn well better!!
This is Heather from the Admissions team at Midland School. Midland offers need-based financial assistance and has since its founding in 1932. The purpose is to ensure a diverse community of learners. Some of our students receive close to full tuition assistance, while some are full-pay, and others are everywhere in between. We aim to make Midland affordable for those who are ready for this experience and believe in the mission. Also, taking care of 2800 acres of ranch land, 20+ horses, 16 cattle, a 10-acre organic farm, pigs, chickens, dozens of historical structures, and more does become a bit pricey.
I hope Caleb can publish his article on social media to serve as a Public Service Announcement.
Kudos to the Midland School for providing an experiential immersive whole person education for high schoolers with community responsibilities and consequences. Fail to do your duty and you disappoint everyone counting on you. No formal punishment consequence required.
Responsibility, accountability and daily opportunities engaging with people in person are the simple antidotes to a satisfying life.
Thank you Caleb for all that you shared.
Good job Caleb. I was at Meijer yesterday and these two young men (~20 yrs) were chatting excitedly. They were both ghost white in the middle of summer, and I correctly guessed the topic before I walked into earshot: video games.
Not girls, not partying, not a trip, but video games.
It's rotting our society from within.
The curse of a generation: the tyranny of a meaningless routine and the addictive quality of technology combine to create literal "TechnoZombies." How wonderful to bathe in water warmed by your own labors and realize the synergy of a meaningful life! How wise you were Caleb to recognize and drag yourself out of the malaise! Well done!
Great essay, Caleb! Thank you!
Great read - you’re eons ahead of your peers, my friend.
This couldn't be more timely for me. We had to resort to sending our 16 year old to a military boarding school this year where there is no internet access of phones. His addiction to Tik Tok and Instagram had taken over his life. I could take away his phone, yes... but the schools insist they come with iPads and screens. There was no way to fight the problem. His grades were tanking and the future seemed bleak. His confidence was at an all time low and a drastic approach seemed like our only approach.
I admire Caleb's maturity in recognizing the problem and doing something about it. I truly do not think there is any other teenager out there able to do this on his own without a parent pushing them. The internet is destroying our kids and it just seems like a force for evil anymore.
This leaves me wondering why we have to take our children out of the mainstream just to avoid a toxic environment. Something is very wrong.