By Alex Nuti – de Biasi, the Journal-Opinion

“At the semesterlong Mountain School program, families pay $40,000 for their teens to do chores on a farm in rural Vermont.”

The Wall Street Journal profiles (gift link) The Mountain School in Vershire.

High-achieving high school juniors from around the country arrive to take classes, perform farm work, prepare meals, and clean bathrooms. 

“Some students come from privileged backgrounds and weren’t asked to do many chores at home. Director Alex Myers has seen teens try to sweep without touching the broom to the floor; he has to intervene to correct them.” 

It’s not necessarily about performing chores, notes one parent and alum. 

“Students learn to appreciate the people doing these tasks in every community.”