Students have chosen The Seattle School as a unique learning opportunity that at its core, centers on creational relational experiences in the classroom setting as students learn and prepare to be healing practitioners and presences in the world. We believe, and from experience thus far into this spring term, that to move the upcoming fall term to online, neglects and greatly diminishes the quality and learning experience of students. Due to the merging of our personal lives, children, being in environments outside of classrooms, and this intense work.

We ask that classes not be moved fully online, unless legally required due to shelter in-place or similar acts passed by the government in efforts to contain and protect from COVID-19.

In this petition, we demand that if classes must be moved online, that there be financial reimbursement or tuition alleviation for students who's learning experience is drastically changed from what they have originally committed in engaging with. As an institution that seeks to address and heal trauma, and values context, the range of contexts we are all coming from must be considered in such a drastic shift in learning environment.

We will not settle for responses of "I hear you", "we are a business", when many businesses have been able to make adjustments for the contextual realities at hand for those most impacted. Unless there becomes more transparency on how TSS is handling finances, we will not settle for platitudes.