What are your thoughts on schools like this?

i am karjala takaisin · January 09, 2015, 11:03:40 PM

so, there's a school in my town called Grassroots

according to the brochure, there's
-no mandatory attendance
-no grade levels (it doesn't matter if youre 4 or 40, everyone is put together)
-no A, B, C, etc grading
-no mandatory tests
-schools events are voted on democratically
-individual expression is valued

and a whole bunch of other stuff

i honestly think these kinds of schools are the kind of ting that sound perfect in theory, but its extreme leniency is something that seems really easy to abuse

but ive never actually experienced one of these schools in action, so what do i know

Kinder Graham · January 09, 2015, 11:08:07 PM

Sounds pretty fucking stupid

Azumarill · January 09, 2015, 11:09:08 PM

there's something similar called montessori education, which emphasizes the individual's development and offers limited independence and flexibility of curriculum

The Lord Ruler · January 09, 2015, 11:34:57 PM

sounds like my kind of place

do you pick all the classes or is it all set

i am karjala takaisin · January 09, 2015, 11:37:43 PM

Quote from: The Lord Ruler on January 09, 2015, 11:34:57 PM

sounds like my kind of place

do you pick all the classes or is it all set

you pretty much choose whatever you want to do

The Lord Ruler · January 09, 2015, 11:44:33 PM

Quote from: Eתוber on January 09, 2015, 11:37:43 PM

Quote from: The Lord Ruler on January 09, 2015, 11:34:57 PM
sounds like my kind of place

do you pick all the classes or is it all set
you pretty much choose whatever you want to do

sounds perfect for me than.

but if I know the rest of my class well enough they would assuredly abuse it

cant really say if that would be bad or good though

January 10, 2015, 12:01:30 AM

The point of school is to learn. Kids don't like learning, they like leisure. Schools like this just encourage the freeloading, lazy lifestyle 99% of kids would choose if they could. But it doesn't do any good for them any good when they grow up.

Long story short, school is supposed to be a drag. Otherwise, there would be no point.

Isara · January 10, 2015, 12:05:19 AM

This is pretty much what happens in certain European universities. The idea behind that is that each individual has to develop and put their own effort to complete the studies. What some other education systems do is that they slowly leave, more and more rope to the student until the thesis. Instead, this one relies on independent drive and development.

As far for school events... I'd agree there too. It would be terrible if you are in school and you are always forced on whatever is decided for you.

Meanwhile, a grading scale should be used to display performance, but instead it's used for beyond that purpose. Maybe grades shouldn't be that much of a deal, but instead individual thinking and willingness to cooperate where necessary have to be something that actually deserves to be looked upon rather than remembering a couple of names, or locations.

Dustin · January 10, 2015, 01:38:12 AM

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Mad Max · January 10, 2015, 02:05:36 AM

Sounds like some communal, alternative hippie shit.

No idea how you would quantify a child's education with that stuff. Sounds more like summer camp than school.

Mad Max · January 10, 2015, 02:06:53 AM

Quote from: Azumarill on January 09, 2015, 11:09:08 PM

there's something similar called montessori education, which emphasizes the individual's development and offers limited independence and flexibility of curriculum

I've never seen montesorri work outside of like, preschool.

big sponge · January 10, 2015, 04:14:53 AM

http://www.grassrootsschool.org/

Is this it?

challengerX · January 10, 2015, 04:21:36 AM

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Super Irish · January 10, 2015, 04:49:43 AM

You're giving kids free will to turn up?

That's really not recommended. At Uni when we are allowed the freedom (but obviously you need to work), half of my 175 class doesn't turn up, 40 never being seen ever. And coincidentally thats the exam resit level.

It's ripe for abuse, particularly if a learning mindset isn't instilled already amongst the kids before they go to such schools.

More Than Mortal · January 10, 2015, 06:44:38 AM

The last point sounds agreeable.

Fuck the rest of it though.

Flee · January 10, 2015, 06:55:36 AM

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Turkey · January 10, 2015, 03:26:48 PM

This is vaguely similar to some master's and doctorate programs, where you devise your own thesis and work independently or with a team under a mentor to accomplish it, but the Montessori method is pretty much objectively ineffective in primary education.

Genghis Khan · January 10, 2015, 03:35:24 PM

Democracy is dictatorship of the majority.

Mad Max · January 10, 2015, 04:35:15 PM

Quote from: Karjala takaisin on January 10, 2015, 03:35:24 PM

Democracy is dictatorship of the majority.

Ok guy.

BrenMan 94 · January 10, 2015, 09:43:34 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on January 10, 2015, 04:35:15 PM

Quote from: Karjala takaisin on January 10, 2015, 03:35:24 PM
Democracy is dictatorship of the majority.
Ok guy.

Rinev · January 11, 2015, 06:49:14 AM

Quote from: LC on January 10, 2015, 04:14:53 AM

http://www.grassrootsschool.org/

Is this it?

Spring Break Minecraft Camp? Why?

Sprungli · January 11, 2015, 09:20:56 AM

>private school

Who would PAY to send their child to a place like that?

Mega Sceptile · January 11, 2015, 10:20:18 AM

If there's no grading then what's the point? this is essentially a glorified day-care centre.

Statefarm · January 11, 2015, 07:31:23 PM

You can't let children do whatever they want. They'll sit all day and do nothing. Older kids will procrastinate. Not many students will think to themselves "well my future is on the line, time to get to work!"