Different Type of School

[forHISglory]

If you could design a school that really fit your children's needs, what would it be like? Let your imagination take over for a while.........

I was reading a thread about the 4 days a week school schedule and it reminded me of a project/discussion that I had with my students some time ago. I asked them to design a school that would really fit them as students. They had to think of the curriculum, the physical plant, the schedule, the rules, and so forth. I have always found my students to be incredible thinkers as they explore the challenges that I give them, so I naturally find their thoughts to be worthwhile.

One group advocated a 5 year high school. In their plan, students would go to school 4 hours a day for a longer school year (about 10 months or so). I think they proposed going from 9 am to 1 pm. The afternoon was time for them to have jobs, do volunteer work, explore interests, and so forth. They felt that the best education for them was a mixture of being in the classroom and being out of the classroom.

When we debated the ideas, others in the class countered that there would be students who would just waste those afternoon hours. The group replied that some students would waste time, no matter what.

Still others countered that 4 years was enough and that they would be behind others who were going on to school or going into the work place. The group replied that being behind was just a point of view, and they felt that they would actually be ahead in so many other things. They also said that it would give another year of maturing before they left home for school or work.

The debate became quite intense as students explored all the alternatives of traditional schooling.

How would you feel about a 5 year high school plan? Do you see any advantages? Disadvantages?

Let your imagination go. What kind of school would you design for your children that would really benefit them? For this discussion, don't worry about a budget or staffing, etc. Just concentrate on an ideal school to best serve and educate your children.

[elphie]

I do design the ideal school for my kids... I homeschool.

I know that's not what you meant, I am a teacher as well and I would love to see all children get the benefits of the individualized education that mine get. That is the ideal to me. Kids getting to follow their passions, learning to love learning, and becoming inspired by the everyday. In order for that to happen schools would need to do away with grade levels, do away with breaking everything down by subject, and stop assigning grades for everything. Kids would need to be in an envirionment where everything they need for whatever they are interested in today is at their fingertips. They need guidance more than teaching, someone to encourage their ideas, ask them questions to take it to the next level, and help them learn from their mistakes. They need time to work on their own when they feel like it and people around them to collaborate with when they need that. If they have a personality that thrives on more guidance, then that's what they get; if their personality works better with a "wait and see where his mind goes approach," then that's what they get.The environment would be flexible and realize that some days they need one of these and other days they need the other. This is exactly what we have at our house and I wish every child had the opportunity.

ETA: A lot of these ideas would be hard to implement, I know. Especially because one of the reasons my kids value learning is because I value learning. In schools you have to overcome what happens at home and maintain order with kids who have very different values... but you asked me to dream so I did.

[imagine]

I was asked this very question in an interview for a teaching position.

If money was no object. I would unschool my children.

The school I would design would be very similar to the one Elphie described in the previous post.

My son went to one very much like that when he was in kindergarten and first grade. He thrived and grew so much. It was awesome for him. I wish we hadn't had to move.

[Darlene]

I want people to get back to manners, respect and all that old fashioned stuff that made schools & and life more civilized.

I want to see that those who want to learn, can, because those that disrupt class aren't there. I want kids to be able to become life long learners, not good at rote memorization and testing all the time.
Let teachers teach. Down with all the wacky mandates. And parents, all parents, hey, get involved! Have a talk with your child on how they are to behave in school and if they don't behave there has to be consequences. Back in the old days we kids knew how to behave or there was trouble. Work got done in the classroom, real learning took place. Now the teachers hands are tied as they are left with many unruly bullies in the classroom and not much they can do about it. Send them to the principal and they are right back in the classroom soon after. Talk with your teachers & support them.

Brings me to another thing I dislike, not a fan of the No Child Left Behind Act...

[FreesiaE]

I'd like to also see a return to discipline where teachers/principals were allowed to give consequences without parents complaining how it is unfair to their "angel". Sorry, but losing recess or having to write sentences for acting up never killed anyone. I'd also like to see a return to core content: reading, writing, math, history,science, etc. with an emphasis on knowing rather than experience. I think there is too much "creativity" (can't think of a better word) in learning where the facts and figures can be easily lost in the fun of projects.

[joyofsix]

The ideal school for four of mine in school would give them an assignment and a due date and that's all. They hate 'wasting' time having things explained in class or classroom reading, etc. Have resources available if they have questions. For my second grader, a break every 1.5 hours for a 15 minute run and drink would do wonders. He is just soooo full of energy he loses concentration and wanders.

[forHISglory]

An ideal school curriculum for us would be a discovery curriculum. This would be heavy on exploring, research, experiments, and projects and then sharing results. It would be light on worksheets and tests.

When I was teaching, this was how I ran my classroom. Students became very involved in their work and were proud to share results. Some wrote, some spoke, some did graphic presentations, or used other creative ways to share results. No one worked on exactly the same thing, but since results were shared, they all came out richer in the end.

For example, when we studied Puritan literature, they explored Puritan homes, churches, businesses, lifestyle, government, history, and so forth. They began to understand the impact of all this on the literature, and then they could understand the literature in a more personal way.

This type of teaching means that the teacher has to be super organized. I could not just prepare a lecture, deliver the lecture, and then test on the lecture. I was the "guide on the side, not the sage on the stage." I facilitated the students, made suggestions to them, and then just delighted in their accomplishments.

So I'm all for discovery learning!

[Missy]

I'd like to also see a return to discipline where teachers/principals were allowed to give consequences without parents complaining how it is unfair to their "angel". Sorry, but losing recess or having to write sentences for acting up never killed anyone. I'd also like to see a return to core content: reading, writing, math, history,science, etc. with an emphasis on knowing rather than experience. I think there is too much "creativity" (can't think of a better word) in learning where the facts and figures can be easily lost in the fun of projects.

For my kids, I wholeheartedly, and respectfully disagree.

I would like a school that allows for different forms of discovery. One child might flourish on the facts and figures of a course. One might understand it better visually or with manipulatives. I think my kids would fail miserably and catastrophically in the above mentioned school. I know I did, I failed at all of it. And not all was my own fault. (schools need to understand that if a kid is laid up a month in a hospital, she will never get to the finals and if i can't do the finals no wonder i fail letting make up the work would have been a marvelous solution, but they didn't..ut-oh hmmm still a sore subject i guess). Failing didn't mean i am stupid (even though i was made to feel that way...and subsequently began to believe it.) But I have a high IQ and came out with a 3.8 GPA when I was offered a more varied approach to school lessons. I think we need to think of people as individuals. A blanket approach simply doesn't work for everyone. What then? Screw the people who fail? That's what i find so wonderful about homeschooling. The eldest learns by doing. The middle is a great learner by reading and hearing. So thankfully i can make the schooling ideal for the kids. They can learn as their ability guides. They can take longer with the stuff they need extra help with. They can blow through what they get.

[Suzy]

I homeschooled for 5 years and was the President of our homeschool association for a year. Homeschool was perfect for us. The kids learned (not memorized) what they needed to know- not just to pass tests but what they need for life. Some were the book kind others were the hands-on. IN my opinion, that is the perfect setting.

[savvymom]

DD's school (last year before we moved) had Promethean Interactive Boards that were awesome! The children were engaged in many different ways using the boards, and the teachers could use the activotes to see which students were not picking up the material. Our society is very technical so it was nice that they were able to learn that aspect as well. The ideal school for my child would have the latest technology available to the children but also teaches the "manual" way of doing things. I think both are very important.

It would allow and encourage creativity and discussion for each child, which I think would help with not only learning from your teachers but the other students, and from your mistakes as well. It would also help the child think things through more clearly as well and would show that other people have other opinions, and that's okay.

Classroom time would allow for time to work alone, and time for collaboration with small groups. I think it would also be beneficial to have one on one time with the teacher (or teacher assistant) once a week to discuss the "wins" of the week and ask questions or discuss things that may need additional work.

It would encourage physical activity - different kinds of activity depending upon the child's interest and ability. There are tons of different sports available and children should have the opportunity to be exposed to as many different ones as possible, they may find they don't like baseball, but love bowling...

The rules would need to be simple. Do your best, respect your teacher, respect your fellow classmates, and if the rules are not followed then there should be specific consequences that are also explained up front. Ex: If you are asked to stop talking and you continue talking, then you will be asked to stand in the hallway for 5 minutes. If it continues then it would increase in punishment from there.

I also believe there should be a mandatory financial class in high school (you must take it to graduate) on the basics, i.e. budgeting, balancing a checkbook, credit, etc. It's important to learn this as it's not always enforced or even known at home.

I think all students should have to do one semester of woodworking, home economics (cooking, sewing, etc), and basic auto repair. These are all things that would benefit in the real world without having to depend on others as much.

I think that it would be good to have special needs students come into the regular classrooms for parties and special events. It teaches that there are all sorts of people in the world. (My dd's school last year, had an autism program that was wonderful, and the children were able to go into the autism classroom and play with them on occasion, and the autism children came into their classrooms as well, it worked out nicely).

Students would be allowed 40 minutes for lunch, so they aren't scarfing down their food. Students that wait in line shouldn't have to rush through their meal, it makes for sleepy afternoons.

There would be a wonderful library, with comfy chairs made for the students and a librarian that knows about books, and teaches the children the basics of the books. (Index, Table of Contents, etc)

Music should be offered, whether band, strings, chorus or music appreciation, and at least one should be required.

Spanish would be offered and suggested, but instead of just translating terms you could have activities as well.

Most of this is for elementary although there are a few that would be relevant to high school. That's all I've come up with so far...it's alot though huh! I know this is quite unrealistic, but you said I could dream...

[orlivin1225]

I homeschooled for 5 years and was the President of our homeschool association for a year. Homeschool was perfect for us. The kids learned (not memorized) what they needed to know- not just to pass tests but what they need for life. Some were the book kind others were the hands-on. IN my opinion, that is the perfect setting.

I agree!! My kids, after spending 6 years in PS for DS and 3years in PS for DD, are finally "getting" things. It's like light bulbs are going off all day long! When we take the stress of learning for the test away, they actually understand stuff!!! What's great is even when we aren't 'schooling' they bring stuff to my attention that they have learned. It makes me so happy!

[forHISglory]

QUOTE: "I also believe there should be a mandatory financial class in high school (you must take it to graduate) on the basics, i.e. budgeting, balancing a checkbook, credit, etc. It's important to learn this as it's not always enforced or even known at home.

I think all students should have to do one semester of woodworking, home economics (cooking, sewing, etc), and basic auto repair. These are all things that would benefit in the real world without having to depend on others as much." END QUOTE

When my high school students were designing an ideal school and writing about their design, these two areas (finance and manual arts) always came up. They were rather incensed that these fields of study were virtually ignored. Thanks for your thoughtful ideas.