News Release January 18, 2008

Contact: Bruce Smith, staff 303.271.0525 bsmith@alpinevalleyschool.com

Students Create Aristotle Seminar

WHEAT RIDGE – On their own initiative, a pair of local students is taking "back to basics" all the way

back to the very foundations of Western thought.

Aubrey Alford had already read the Nicomachean Ethics on her own, but wanted more. This past fall,

she recruited fellow student Andreas Suter and two instructors to study Aristotle’s Politics.

Meeting twice a week since September, the Aristotle seminar resembles an upper-level college course,

with students driving the discussion. Topics include ancient Greek culture and the application of Aristotle’s

thought to American politics and history. Between classes, students read, look up supplemental information

online, and compare various translations.

Says Rex Welshon, associate professor and dean at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs,

it’s “spectacular” that a high school would afford its students such “a fantastic opportunity to learn rigorous

argumentation from one of the masters.” Paul Kincaid-Smith, a master’s candidate in Political Economy at

George Wythe College, gave a presentation to the class on contemporary political philosophies. Mr. Kincaid-

Smith reports a high level of enthusiasm and interactivity among the students.

It’s only fitting that these students should study Aristotle’s Politics, as their education involves active citizenship

training via an immersion in democracy. Following the Sudbury model, Alpine Valley School allows each student

and staff a vote on all matters governing the school, including rules, budgeting, and hiring. More information on this

type of education is available at www.alpinevalleyschool.com.

###