At New York City's Trade School, teachers share their knowledge in exchange for barter instead of tuition.
Most so-called “trade schools” are based around learning a trade: electrical work, plumbing, cosmetology, and so on. You’ll pay thousands of dollars in exchange for lessons in a skill that will help you find a job—at least, so you hope.
New York City’s Trade School takes a decidedly different approach. During the inaugural 35-day session of the program that ran from January 25th to March 1st, some of the course titles included “Daydreaming for Beginners,” “Foundations of Ghost Hunting,” and “Foraging for Mushrooms and Cultivating Surprise.” The instructors were artists, farmers, entrepreneurs, and idealists. And, instead of requesting tuition fees, students were expected to pay for their education in trade—in the foraging course, the instructor requests students bring edible mushrooms, mushroom costumes, and “song, dance, and unexpected action.”
Unlike most educational programs, this Trade School relies on the traditional system of barter. Teachers share their knowledge and passion for a subject in exchange for gifts (or sometimes merely enthusiasm) from those who wish to learn. The result is a free, collaborative, and highly creative form of public education.
“Trade School rejects cold cash transactions because barter fosters relationships,” the founders claim. “Teachers and students alike learn and connect in a space where everyone has something valuable to exchange.”
The Trade School sessions were organized by OurGoods, a non-profit group that organizes barters between artists. OurGoods currently operates only in New York City, but encourages replication of its model throughout the world.
Throughout the course session, Trade School teachers and students shared photographs, course notes, and thoughts on the OurGoods blog, and the experience was a huge success for all involved, with more than 800 participants.
Though Trade School has closed its doors for now, it’s planning to reopen in September, and is requesting donations on crowdsourcing platform Kickstarter to help fund expenses. But when class is in session again, tuition will once again be in the form of barter—check out the site so you’ll know when you can enroll in the next session of Bookmaking (in exchange for some chocolate and old magazines).
Or, if you’re not in NYC, maybe you can start your own Trade School. Chances are, you’ll have plenty of teachers and students who are eager to share whatever they have—whether it’s knowledge, food, or simply a few kind words.