Hi there: Time to weigh in as a parent who is homeschooling my kids and participating in the evolution of an Open Space learning centre for children and families here on my little island off the coast of Canada.
Harrison Owen wrote: > - What if schools were formed as consciously self-organizing systems. Indeed it is how learning occurs at schools, in spite of all the imposed structure. Students end up learning when the can spontaneously organize around their passions. See John Taylor Gatto. > > - What if all participants (parents, staff, and students) were given > equal, democratic power and rights within the school? See the Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts, and the book by Daniel Greenberg on the same. Some are very successful. > > - What if students of all ages were recognized as responsible for > their own learning? That is the basis of unschooling, a philosophy championed by John Holt. Any of his books will tell you the story, especially Learning All the Time. > > - What if this meant that there were no mandated classes, tests, or > other externally imposed requirements? Many unschoolers find themselves recruited to places like Harvard and Yale on the basis of a portfolio of work rather than a transcript. The Ivy league registrars have led the way in recognizing the inherent value of an education that eschews standardized testing and home/unschoolers are heavily recruited by these schools....if they choose to go there! > > - What if the only requirement for graduation is to defend (to the > entire school community) the thesis that you are ready to take > responsibility for yourself in the outside world? The alternative middle school here on my island, Island Pacific School has a major thesis requirement which is passion/responsibility driven. They have other academic standards, but the masterwork is the really interesting thing that they do. > > There are a few schools that operate in this way aound the US as well > as other places on the planet. What is your reaction to this way of > organizing education? What concerns arise in you? What excitements > arise? What questions occur to you? > I parent and homeschool in Open Space, as do others. in Vancouver at OSonOS there were a few discussions about this too. Check the proceedings at http://www.openspaceworld.org for more. My friend Brent Cameron ( http://www.wondertree.org ) lead a session in Vancouver on this stuff too, and a few of the OSonOS participants visited more with him. Perhaps they have something to share? I have a few links to resources at http://www.chriscorrigan.com/mamasalon.html for you to explore. Cheers, Chris -- CHRIS CORRIGAN Consultation - Facilitation Open Space Technology http://www.chriscorrigan.com cor...@interchange.ubc.ca RR 1 E-3 1172 Miller Road Bowen Island, BC Canada, V0N 1G0 phone (604) 947-9236 fax (604) 947-9238 * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
