If I Ran the Schools...
If I ran the public school system...Oh the fun I'd have. First I'd start "school" at 10 not 5. That's ages not time. If we had to have a place to house children from the age of 5 on it would be pure play with lots of outdoor time.
Classes would be optional and the primary purpose of the whole kit and kaboodle would be to learn about anything you want. The school would be more library than school. Access to tools, gym equipment, labs, etc. Experts in different fields available to share their passions. Books, the fastest internet available, and scores of student-organized field trips/internships/shadowing.
There would be work to do. Actual work. Maybe not at the school but if you wanted to learn about fixing cars you would get to actually fix cars and get paid. There would be limits to ensure it doesn't become "child labor" but trust me, kids want to labor on something productive instead of times tables and standardized tests.
There would be governance - self-governance where the children and the adults are complete equals in decision making for the school. From hiring to building maintenance, children who were interested would be able to lead.
Their would be no division based on ages or level of knowledge. Younger kids would benefit from the knowledge of older kids and vice versa. Children would be encouraged to teach what they know to others.
There would be seminar series that are optional but interesting. Like TEDx talks.
There would be lots of resources and opportunities on social justice and problem solving. For example,
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- Learning from History (not just "about" history written by the conquering race)
- Causes of poverty and inequality (not just "economics" to further entrench us in capitalist thinking)
- Systems theory and Holism (learning a discipline is nice but only if you understand the whole)
- Survival skills (no Bear Grylls stuff but anymore basics like gardening, canning, basic carpentry, etc. are nostalgic memories)
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Debate, Discourse, Logic, and Rhetoric would be encouraged. Skills like brainstorming, executive cognition, and transformative learning would be emphasized.
Even at 10-16 there would still be lots of play. If Google has taught us anything it is that play is a human need. Sports could be organized if desired but just as likely to be a simple pick up game or an elaborate new game invented by the students.
16 you say? Yep. At 16, children would be granted full citizenship (we say they have it now but they don't). You would simultaneously be able to drive, drink, vote, rent a car, etc. (not at the same time but...you know what I mean). No prolonging of childhood by being greedy with rights and privileges.
Obviously, a change this huge is difficult in such a huge and entrenched system. That's why I'm homeschooling. I'm raising my kids for the future I hope to see not the one cynicism says we are going to get. Because if you prepare for the status quo you'll always have the status quo. To mix things up you have to dream and reach beyond what you can see.
What would your "school" look like?
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