My son attends a school here in northern California with about 40 kids. K-6 and there is a preschool next door as well for the earlier years. 40 is a high number of students for this school since it's an alternative style of school getting people to understand the philosophy is hard sometimes. My son is 4 th grade level and I can't imagine sending him anywhere else. School systems now days are horrible. I am thankful for this little place where my son can really grow at his own pace. He loves school. He has been going to this school since he was 3-he started at the preschool. This is like no other place! The community school runs off parent participation tuition and fundraising and tons of hard work and good organization. It's been around 20 years or so. Everyone has jobs there the parents have workdays and cleaning days and we help upkeep the school yearly. Each child is has their own pace they learn at and are thought of as missing nothing when they enter. They do very little there traditionally like any other school. They don't have desks. They don't have grades or grade levels. They don't have detention. They do have hands on learning. Group activities. Active creative play. Take risks. Good communication. And a love for each other. My hope and wish is for public schools to adopt some of these same workable values back into the system. Letting kids be kids as long as possible. After all childhood is very short. Parents need to be a part in the learning process and not just send kids off hoping a teacher does a good job. Teachers work very hard and classrooms now days are crowded and the curriculum isn't always relevant to what children even care about or need to know.in this school it's different. Children get a say in their learning and enjoy learning. It's a seed but I hope this made you think and or wonder what other kinds of education are out there as options for your children. They only grow up once. -peace
Not only that but the parenting process is not just about raising children it's about changing things about yourself in order to be a more effective partner in your child's life. This school reminds us about our adult selfs as well it's something schools don't offer families.
What in the world's wrong with you? How do you expect your kids to become compliant zombies sending them to a school like that? Ok--you know me-had to say something like that. You are doing an excellant job for your kids. There's a school like that here in Oregon on the coast. It's called Neskowin. I know many of the kids that went there over the years and they have grown into fine people. Good for you(and the kiddies)--------
I know. And I'm sure that's what you're going to get. Public schools are falling apart,not by accident,IMO.
I gotcha I could hear the sarcasm in the post. indeed the system is corrupt in many ways. This is why I am so thankful for this place. But it does not work with out the help of the adults who's kids go there. Parents have to get their hands dirty for this to work. People have to be willingto put time and money in. It's important to create good healthy spaces for learning and growing.And the kids here are so use to adults being around all the time they are not even fazed by all of us around. We dont get into the middle of their play...we just get materials and helps if were needed otherwise we have them do their thing they can figure a lot out if we let them.
I agree. I think the little schools we're talking about ,turn out some fine kids that understand that the act of and the reason for learning is not just to get jobs,but to enjoy the taking in of knowledge in and for itself and hopefully learn critical thinking. We,as a country could certainly benefit by having more adults that actually understand the value of such and employ it. Might not be so fouled up.
Unfortunatley its about money to "them" and less about creating creative people. Its more of an assembly line on a larger scale. You know this I can tell. It's sad we just hand over our kids to it.
I wouldn't dare enroll my children in a community school because I don't like their system, it isn't student friendly. The class size is too crowded, the teachers lectures but they don't teach and bullies everywhere. Searching for a descent and *Military school link removed by mod team* where our children's needs will be met. We really need do our research on choosing a school for them, because we want whats best for them. Would you consider a good school but is a bit distant to your home? Will distance hinder you from choosing it? :2thumbsup:
I have heard of and looked at that school Applespark...very, very cool, they should all be like that and I agree with you on parenting too. Lots of people think it's about being "right" because you're older and you're the parent, but we have to be prepared and open to learn and grow as much as our children are. I personally would never put my child into public school unless it was something like your community school. I plan to unschool my children until they're about middle school age in which I want to put them into an international school called Miri Piri Academy until they decide they want to leave...hopefully they'll go there at least 3 years each.
