Some kids leave school without learning the charms of school uniforms, chalkboards, class magazines, and bells. Instead, they grow carrots, build bamboo houses, fly across the ocean every semester, and play all day long. The most surprising thing is that in the end, schoolchildren receive state diplomas and go to universities. In our selection — eight old and new experimental schools, whose experience bears little resemblance to what we are used to.
Waldorf School
Founded: 1919, Stuttgart (Germany)
The small educational institution at the tobacco factory managed to become what others today are desperately trying to be — not just a school, but an embodied doctrine, a role model. Here, children do not memorize anything on purpose, but seem to repeat in miniature the path of development of society. History, for example, is first taught through legends and myths, then through biblical tales, and the modern stage is studied only in the graduating class. All lessons are closely interconnected: mathematical material may well be fixed in the dance. There are no harsh punishments and grades in Waldorf schools. Standard textbooks too. Now about a thousand schools and two thousand kindergartens around the world work according to this scheme.
Trường Dalton
Founded: 1919, New York (USA)
A young teacher, Helen Parkhurst, came up with the idea of breaking the curriculum into contracts: each one indicated recommendatory literature, control questions, and information for reflection. Students sign contracts of varying complexity with the school, deciding at what pace and for what grade they want to master the material. Teachers in the Dalton model take on the role of consultants and periodical examiners. Partially, this method was transferred to Soviet schools in the 20s in the form of a brigade-laboratory method, but did not take root. Today, the system is successfully operating all over the world, and the New York school itself was included in the Forbes list in 2010 as the best preparatory school in the country.
Summerhill School
Founded: 1921, Dresden (Germany); since 1927 — Suffolk (England)
In the oldest experimental boarding house in England, from the very beginning they decided: the school should change for the child, and not the child for the school. In the best traditions of school dreams, it is not forbidden to skip classes and play the fool here. Active participation in self-government is encouraged — general meetings are held three times a week, and at them everyone can speak, for example, about a stolen notebook or an ideal time for a quiet hour. There may be children of different ages in the classes — the school administration does not want someone to have to adapt to other people’s standards.
THINK Global
Founded: 2010, USA
Every semester, the THINK Global school moves to a new location: in four years of study, children manage to change 12 countries. Every move is accompanied by a total immersion in the new world, and multinational classes resemble the UN in miniature. Each student is given an iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Pro to capture impressions and complete assignments. In addition, the school has its own virtual space THINK Spot — a social network, desktop, file sharing, e-book, calendar and diary at the same time. So that the students do not worry about the frequent change of places (and do not go crazy with happiness), a tutor is assigned to each.
Studio
Established: 2010, Luton (England)
The idea of a studio school was borrowed from the era of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, when they studied in the same place where they worked. Here, the age-old problem of the gap between knowledge and skill is masterfully solved: about 80% of the curriculum is implemented through practical projects, and not at the desk. Every year the school concludes more and more agreements with local and state employers who provide internship places. At the moment, 16 such studios have already been created, and 14 more are planned to open in the near future.
Tìm hiểu
Founded: 2009, New York (USA)
While conservative teachers complain about the fact that children have stopped reading books and can not tear themselves away from the computer, the creators of Quest to Learn have adapted to the changing world. In a New York school for three years in a row, students do not open textbooks, but do only what they like — play games. The institution, created with the participation of Bill Gates, has all the usual disciplines, but instead of lessons, children participate in missions, and grades are replaced by points and titles. Instead of suffering over a bad score, you can always catch up with new quests.
ALPHA Alternative School
Established: 1972, Toronto (Canada)
The ALPHA philosophy assumes that every child is unique and develops at their own pace. There can be children of different ages in the same class: peers learn from each other and learn to take care of the younger ones. Lessons — and they are conducted not only by teachers, but by the children themselves and even by parents — include not only general education disciplines, but various creative activities such as modeling or cooking. Created on the principles and in the name of democracy, the institution is saturated with the ideas of justice. In the event of a conflict situation, a special council of teachers and students is assembled, and even the smallest ones can make their proposals. By the way, in order to enter ALPHA, you need to win the lottery.
Ørestad Gymnasium
Founded: 2005, Copenhagen (Denmark)
Within the walls of the school, which has collected many awards for the best architecture, high school students are fully introduced to the world of media. Training is conducted in several profiles that change annually: courses on globalization, digital design, innovation, biotechnology are planned for the next cycle, not counting several types of journalism. As it should be in the world of total communication, there are almost no walls here, everyone studies in one huge open space. Or they don’t study, but catch wireless Internet on pillows scattered everywhere.
I will make a separate post about this school, as it deserves it. The school of a dream)