Free Children And Democratic Schools

This book, first published in 1989, relates a theory of liberty to the practice of education, and reveals the implications of beliefs about freedom for our schools and classrooms. The author makes a reasoned plea for society to have more respect for children and not treat them as an inferior sub-species. The central argument of this book is for greater education in democracy, and greater democracy in education. This title will be of interest to students of the philosophy of education.

How self-directed democratic schooling builds fulfilling lives and can lead the way back to a civilized society Education is ripe for democratic disruption. Students in most schools are denied fundamental social ideals such as personal freedom, public government, rule of law, and free enterprise. In our increasingly authoritarian post-truth world, self-directed democratic schooling offers a timely alternative: educating children in civilized society and showing that self-motivation outperforms coercion in its power to educate and fulfill. When Kids Rule the School is the first comprehensive guide to democratic schooling, where kids practice life in a self-governed society—empowered as voters, bound by laws, challenged by choice, supported by community, and driven by nature. Through heartwarming stories and hard-headed details, this book covers: Democratic schooling philosophy, theory, and practice School governance by students and staff together Student self-direction and day-to-day life Deep play, cognitive development, and critical thinking Why democratic schooling is morally right and effective Model bylaws and guidance for starting a democratic school. Created for educators, parents, and scholars, When Kids Rule the School will immerse you, heart and mind, in a promising new approach to education, and stretch your thinking about what school can be.

The Sudbury Valley School in Framingham, Massachusetts, is a nontraditional private school founded in 1968, based on the idea that a child is a person worthy of full respect as a human being. It aimed to create a nurturing environment in which the children themselves choose what they wish to do and schedule their time. This book is a guide summarizing the various steps necessary to found a Sudbury school, based on interviews and information gathered from 14 schools and groups throughout the United States. The first four chapters cover what kind of folks are founders, what makes them interested, how founder groups get formed, and characteristics important within the founders' group. The chapter on concrete steps to be taken includes understanding the philosophy, formalization of status, satisfying the appropriate educational authorities, money matters, site selection, and promotion. The next seven chapters address demographics, staffing a Sudbury school, where students come from, the nitty-gritty of staffing a school, developing a culture and keeping the school going, classic errors, and factors enabling success. Appendix 1 is a note from a founder who failed. Appendix 2 is a narrative history of a school that survived its first 4 years. Appendix 3 is another narrative of a school that is still going after 5 years. Appendix 4, entitled "Revolution or Reform?" presents thoughts on the character, strategy, and destiny of the original Sudbury Valley School. (TD)

Recounts the founding years of the Democratic School of Hadera and explores the place of democratic education in one man's life.

Jerry Mintz has spent most of his life promoting learner-centered education and the empowerment of children. In No Homework & Recess All Day, Mintz draws on this experience to provide an overview, brief history, and many practical lessons to learn from the growing movement of democratic and alternative schools around the world. If you've ever thought of homeschooling, sending a child to a democratic school, attending a democratic school, or maybe even starting a democratic school, this is the book for you.

This book explores the unique phenomenon of public alternative schools in Toronto, Canada and other large urban areas. Although schools of this kind have existed for more than a century, very little has been written about the alternative school movement. These alternatives focus more on child-centered instruction, give many students (and teachers) opportunities to organize the school differently, provide a greater voice for teachers, students, and parents, and engage students far more with experiential learning. When traditional school structures are failing to meet the needs of many children and youth, there is a rapidly growing need for information and discussion about alternatives that will encourage their talents and serve their needs. This book draws attention to the issue of alternative schooling to help make it more accessible to a wider audience.

This set of 21 volumes, originally published between 1955 and 1997, amalgamates several topics on the philosophy of education, with a particular focus on religious education, curriculum studies, and critical thinking. This collection of books from some of the leading scholars in the field provides a comprehensive overview of the subject and will be of particular interest to students of philosophy, education and those undertaking teaching qualifications.