Education is an important part of Farraige Belle's society, but students on the island do not spend much time crunching numbers or memorizing history flashcards.

Children begin school at the age of five and have until age thirteen to decide on an apprenticeship. Classrooms are run not by teachers but by masters (experts in a certain field) from each job possibility. Lessons often include field trips and hands-on experiences of the various jobs offered on Farraige Belle.

After deciding which fit is best for them (some make the decision as early as eight or nine while others take the full thirteen years), the students become apprentices and begin going to "work" instead of school. They are slowly trained into their jobs and, over the years, move higher and higher up the ladder and become responsible for more and more tasks.

For a full listing of the jobs available on Farraige Belle, read below. Please note that any other occupations (such as artist or singer) are not considered jobs, but they may be practiced in free time.

Farmer

Farmers are perhaps the most well-respected people on Farraige Belle. Their jobs keep them hardy and fit, and they are responsible for providing most of the island's food. Year-round, they tend the livestock (pigs, cows, and sheep) and crops (various vegetables and fruit trees). One downside to the farmer's position is that animals still need feeding on monthly holidays. In order to be a farmer, one must be physically fit. The profession is filled more dominantly by men, but an increasing number of women have been showing interest in recent years.

Fisherman

Fishermen have fun and sometimes dangerous jobs. Using small wooden boats, they attempt to beat the ocean's waves (and, at times, the sharks!). Fishermen must be knowledgeable in the types of fish that are safe for consumption. They use only wooden rods, wire hooks, and nets. Because fresh seafood is a staple of the Farraige Belle diet, they are looked highly upon. A few of their staple catches include shrimp, crab, swordfish, saltwater catfish, tropical sunarrow, and dotted pike. Like farming, this occupation is filled mostly by men. Fishermen deliver their catches directly to the dining halls.

Doctor/Dentist

Doctors and dentists on the island are one in the same. They are responsible for the general health of the citizens and have one of the most important jobs. They are also responsible for recognizing and halting epidemics in their tracks. They have a limited number of supplies, but they are equipped to treat most modern diseases, administer vaccinations, and perform minor surgeries. Any diseases and complications beyond their control are sent to the mainland, although sometimes it is necessary for emergency procedures to be performed before this is possible. In these cases, some electronic devices are allowed to be used for the safety of citizens. Doctor apprentices must be well-learned in their trade and may not be able to completely take over for many years. Doctors work in offices beside the dining hall. They have perhaps the most spacious of all the offices. For more information on the island's medical system, please click here.

Butcher

 Butchers deal strictly with the slaughtering of animals. They are the only people on the island allowed to us weapons larger than 6-inch serrated knives with rounded tips. Butchers most be able to perform their work quickly and diligently in order to cause to animal the least amount of pain possible. The butchers must work directly with the farmers and often deliver fresh meat to the chefs as well. They work on the farms.

Postal Worker

Reading materials on the island include newsletters, newspapers, books, and magazines. Citizens are also allowed to send letters to people both on and off Farraige Belle. While the writers and printers are in charge of the production of these items, postal workers make sure they are delivered. They hand-deliver reading material to stands throughout their districts and also deliver letters within the boundaries of the island. Letters addressed to recipients off the island are taken to the oceanside port and sent on the same ferries that bring newcomers to the island.

Writers and Printers 

Writer and printer are technically two different jobs, but they work closely together and can therefore be combined under one subject. They work side by side in the printing offices beside the law house. The printing offices are small, with only one laptop and printer per district in an attempt to comply with the "no electronics" rule as closely as possible. The writers write the weekly newsletters and magazines and the printers print them. They also print and bind books. The products are picked up from the offices by the postal workers. Paper and ink are shipped to the island from outside sources, often through donation or treasury funds.

Electricians

Farraige Belle is, for the most part, free of electricity and electronics. However, there ARE some ocassions when electricity is simply necessary for safety measures. These include landline telephones, select kitchen appliances, emergency medical procedures, and printers and laptops for printing and writing (only available for those in the career). All of these things must be kept running smoothly. This is where the electricians come in. They are responsible for fixing any problems that may arise and providing maintenance. Even with electronics, electricians are kept fairly busy. They have offices in the central dining hall area where they store their tools, and they tend to the solar panels (located on the tops of trees throughout the island).

Servers/Chefs 

Servers and chefs work in the dining halls and prepare lunches and dinners. They work directly with the butchers and farmers for fresh meat and produce. They are also responsible for determining menus and setting and clearing tables before and after meals. Because of this, their hours are slightly different than those of other workers. They do not have the traditional break times, but they do have the same general AMOUNT of free time.

 Childcare

Children under five are left in each district's childcare center, where the childcare specialists watch over them throughout the day. The childcare workers take the children to the dining hall for lunch, and the children are returned at three o'clock (the end of the work day). The children take many field trips to the beach and spend time learning to ride bike, flying kites, and sometimes playing games indoors.

Maintenance Workers

Maintenance workers are responsbile for keeping the island in top condition. They groom the paths, build huts for newcomers, and make repairs. They also burn any food remains and wastes. Along with butchers, they are the only ones on the island allowed to use "weapons" in the form of saws. 

 Seamstresses

Seamstresses work directly with farmers to spin clothes out of sheep's wool. They use traditional, high-functioning looms and dye from fruit extracts around the island. The seamstresses of Farraige Belle are extremely talented at what they do. They create job uniforms as well as everyday wear with apparent ease. The clothes look like something you might find on a beach in modern-day America. Denim is even donated on rare ocassions for blue jean shorts, and material for swimsuits is donated as well. Otherwise, outfits tend to be light cotton shorts and tank tops or tee shirts. For the most part, Farraige Belle citizens go barefoot, but the seamstresses use leather to make boots for maintenance workers and farmers. Clothes are delivered new once yearly.