AP Lang Utopia Project by Hannah Saraisky

Primary values:

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:18:32 UTC

community

the common good
sustainability
connection with the environment
education

Location

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:19:22 UTC

This society would be in southern Vermont, with mild summers and colder winters.

located in and near a forrest
located near mountains and a lake

Population

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:22:33 UTC

50 families reside in this community.

Housing

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:24:23 UTC

This community would be made up of tiny homes. Groups of 8 or 9 tiny homes would be circled around in a cul de sac with other families.

Education

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:27:32 UTC

We will have a public schooling system that teaches all the introductory/standard levels of teaching throughout the country. Our schools also place a very important emphasis on learning outside of the classroom— this can be through:

learning in nature
having hands-on experiences
going on trips to other places/different communities.

We also really value learning about the world around us through reading, watching films, observing art, and learning about world history.

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:29:09 UTC

Citizens will always have the opportunity to eat dinners as a community, as there is a “mess hall” type of building in the middle of town. People tend to bring their own meals, but food would also be served there most nights. This would promote the ideas of community and connection with others.

Social custom and traditions

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:29:59 UTC

respect- everyone in the community values both respecting others and being respected by others
Reading, watching movies, looking at art, learning about world history
Respect and connection to nature, many residents love spending time together outdoors
Community wide shared meals
Town hall meetings weekly, informing the community and offering a platform for discussion

Clothing

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:30:47 UTC

People would make their own clothes and their childrens’ clothes. As part of our efforts to be a sustainable community, we also have a community “thrift store” where people can donate their children’s old clothes and younger children can get them free of charge. There is an emphasis on reusing what we collectively already have and reducing overconsumption.

Professions

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:31:11 UTC

Most people in the community find work that contributes locally to the community. People are free to choose what they want to do, but the residents here really love giving back and contributing to the society that raised them. As a result, there are many families that have lived and worked here for many generations. People are encouraged to choose a profession that they are passionate about, and one that is also of service to other members of the community.

Government

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:31:58 UTC

In this community there will be a town council that is democratically elected. The voting age would be 16 years old, and those of age can vote for their elected officials. The officials enact laws and carry out rules, and meet publicly on a weekly basis. All community members are encouraged to attend and share ideas about how to improve society. While all members of the community get a say in these meetings, it is ultimately up to the council to democratically vote and decide on larger issues.

Gender roles

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:32:32 UTC

Men and women are to be treated equally in this society, and there are no specific gender roles that everyone is supposed to carry out. However, in the professional field, there are certain aspects of gender that cause differences. For example, women who have babies are given a minimum nine month paid maternity leave from their work.

Laws

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:32:52 UTC

This community would have similar laws to that of New Jersey and the United States of America. However, there would be no extreme punishments, such as solitary confinement and the death penalty. Community service would serve as the “punishment.” It would be a way to serve the community, while also taking the time to reflect on what someone did wrong. In addition, our prisons (which have very low populations) would have rehabilitation services with an emphasis on healing people and preparing them to go back out into the world.

Name

hsaraisky24 — 2024-02-01 15:33:43 UTC

This society will be called Tierra, which means “land” in Spanish (because of our community's connection and value of nature).