Innovative teacher offers students a fresh perspective
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter

Marlborough - The morning of Sept. 19, like many mornings, Alf Wilson pulled on a pair of clean Levis and a worn pair of boots and headed down to the farm, where he's responsible for chickens, cows, rabbits, goats, 140 middle school boys and a llama named Murphy.

Although one of these groups may seem out of place, Wilson is the creator and instructor of the Farm Immersion Program at Hillside School in Marlborough and each of these elements is necessary to create one of the most innovative science programs in the area.

"The boys learn about the environment, science, weather and other things with a practical sense on the farm, like planting, harvesting and caring for animals," Wilson said, "but also economics as they develop business plans for various products that we produce and try to market and sell, if only to teachers and parents."

Now a boarding and day school for alternative learners, Hillside School opened more than a century ago to boys who were mostly orphans or abandoned by parents who couldn't aff ord to care for them.

Farm Immersion Program creator and instructor Alf Wilson takes a break from caring for children and animals Sept. 19 at the Hillside School Farm. PHOTO/MELISSA MUNTZ

The farm was critical to the survival of the school, and was maintained by students who did up to five hours of chores a day during the school year and more over the summer. When child labor laws put an end to that, the farm fell out of use.

Enter Wilson, a former documentary filmmaker who five years ago saw the potential to transform the defunct farm into a handson, interactive classroom unlike any his students had ever seen.

"It's an experiential education for them because they're actually doing the work and applying the lesson so they retain much more, and learn a lot of skills they wouldn't in a traditional classroom setting," he said.

So while most students sit at desks and read about the life cycle of a goat, Wilson assists his students with taking the temperature of a goat that had just given birth to make sure the animal was recovering properly.

Shouts of "Mr. Wilson" echo through the barn as students volunteer for jobs like sweeping up the animal pens and weed whacking the outdoor grazing areas.

They're jobs most of us would put off for as long as possible, but Wilson said his students jump at the chance to help on the farm because they are able to see a real reward for a job well done.

"They're really amazed to see the crops come up, and they get a kick out of harvesting the crops and seeing them in the school kitchen, ready to eat," he said.

The goal of the farm program is not to raise farmers, but rather capture the children's interest by presenting lessons in a completely new environment for the students, many who come from tougher urban areas.

"It's very therapeutic for them ... ," Wilson said. "The animals really bring out the best in a lot of kids."

Wilson's gentle nature and genuine love for the farm haven't gone unnoticed by his students.

"He works hard and he inspires me to work hard at the farm and try harder in school," 14-year-old Benjamin Goldstein said.

"Mr. Wilson is really nice and really experienced, and he loves the animals a lot," 14-year-old Sam Kupper said.

He said one of the highlights of his job is that he's constantly learning and trying new things, and credits his success to an outpouring of support from local farmers,

Even as the chores were completed and another day on the farm came to an end, Wilson remained smiling and talking, surrounded by children and animals.