<p>I posted this article in the forum about Deep Springs, and no one reacted or responded. I think it’s a great article, about someone’s experience applying to and interviewing at Deep Springs, many many years ago. He wasn’t accepted there, but he writes about his bizarre experiences at the college and with the students, as well as his lifelong lessons learned from the several days he spent there.</p>
<p>Thanks, Fendrock, for commenting. I was beginning to wonder if everyone would glance at this but not read it. It is rather long.</p>
<p>The take-away for me was that the writer learned from his experience to always make sure he knew what he was talking about – that he had the facts and the context to backup his statements. Nevertheless, the suggestion that the Deep Springs kids were patronizing the local brothel is fascinating.</p>
<p>I recently read a book about the SDS and so found it especially intriguing that the group was portrayed as endlessly debating every little thing (including whether or not a student should be permitted to go and visit his girlfriend).</p>
<p>I also thought it was interesting that the author didn’t remember anything at all about the class he visited.</p>
<p>Twenty-five young men living and working together in the middle of the desert is an unusual situation, and apparently this was reflected in their behavior.</p>
<p>I thought the article was quite interesting, but I’m not sure whether the writer really learned the lesson “Do not trust appearances” in full. I wondered whether the entire scenario at the end of the author’s visit to Deep Springs was actually an elaborate practical joke being played on the author. (Not saying it couldn’t be true–indeed it might–just that I wasn’t persuaded.)</p>
<p>Two things stand out in that article. First, the writer is a jerk. Second, the writer can’t write-- I thought University of Chicago had higher standards than that.</p>
<p>The subject is interesting but the writing is terrible. The man has a law degree from UVA; I would expect he would at least know the value of hiring a good editor.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t like to be in a school that does consensus decision-making, but neither would I dismiss it as “a prison.” That just seems like willful misunderstanding. Moreover, when the “arrogant” Deep Springs students jumped on the writer for writing about something he didn’t understand, I sympathized with them. I don’t think it’s arrogant to expect someone writing an essay for Deep Springs to know something about his subject. Plus, the ending of the essay reads like it was written by a teenager. This man is in his late thirties. Why is he being so pretentious, yet obvious?</p>
<p>But maybe I’m misjudging the guy just because I found plowing through his bad writing so annoying. That article would be a lot better if it was half the length and had all the words spelled right.</p>
<p>I was fascinated at first. Then the tone became gradually more indignant, almost juvenile. I ended up skimming the last third. A disappointing treatment of what should be an involving topic. Still, there aren’t many articles about first-hand experiences at Deep Springs that I can find, so it was worth (mostly) reading.</p>
<p>It is fascinating because I have long been curious about Deep Springs, since they sent material to S back in the day. I’m sure he would NOT have been happy or fit there & he never seriously considered attending because physically he didn’t have the stamina, to begin with to do physical labor. It sounds like there were/are other issues as well that would have made it a poor fit for him. In any case, he’s happy where he is, even if we’re paying more out of pocket that if he were at a “free” school. He’s since decided he is an urban (not rural) person. :)</p>