Maria McLaughlin

Maria has lived in Hudson for the last five years and feels it is her home.  She met her husband-to-be in Camphill Beaver Run in Pennsylvania and moved with him to Camphill Minnesota. Maria and her husband sent their first child to public school in Hudson, but felt that his “real” education happened at home through the activities they were able to provide.  Gradually they made up their minds to homeschool both sons.  They have found in the Hudson area a community of home-schooling parents with Alternate Learning Center.  They have also found this area to be rich in cultural and personal resources which they are delighted to introduce to their sons.  Maria is a part of Camphill Hudson as a “Service Provider” – going to events and activities together with people with special needs.  Maria is part of the Festival Group of Camphill Hudson, planning and creating the festivals for the people of Camphill Hudson and their friends.  She also helps to orient people new to Camphill Hudson to the ways in which Camphill is different from other groups working with people with special needs – and to the ways in which Camphill Hudson must comply with regulations placed by the State of New York.  Her election to the Hudson Board of Education surprised her, and she has learned a tremendous amount.  Her feeling that a radical change to more fully address the needs of the children (besides the needs of the teachers and employees) is the subject of much thought, consternation, and perhaps some despair.  The Board’s lack of power and requirements to keep old policies in place make change difficult to effect.

This interview would be informative to people interested in living with a limiting chronic illness, Camphill, life-sharing, people with special needs, social workers, home-schooling, Alternate Learning Center, members of the Board of Education of a small town, education reformers, residents of a small town, and to all Hudson, NewYork residents.