We need more democratic meetings. Here is a way of setting up a meeting similar to the Summerhill Meeting. It can be used at work, in clubs, societies, and committees. The more democratic we are the better, in my opinion.
Democratic Meetings are an important part of democratic schools. This week we are talking about the role of meetings in this school we are designing. What will the function of the meetings be?
We discuss the Age Ranges in our school. Is there an essential Age Range? A Lynch pin?
In Design a School Week 2 We Blog and Podcast about Vision or Mission Statements Shaking All Over Leonard I’m not comfortable with the word Vision or the Phrase Mission Statement. To me, a Vision is something you see in a state of heightened unawareness. Up there in the clouds. And then you fall backwards…
Family and kinship are a part of our mammal nature. How do they relate to our choices in education? Is it right for the state to work against our primal instincts.
Schools are expensive. It is not just the buildings. The staffing, maintenance and resourcing all cost money and, if you do not have the financial clout of the state, you have to pass that cost along to the parents of the children you serve. This means that a decent alternative school is always out of…
Do you think we should teach difference between right and wrong? I don’t. Here’s why.
Qualities of Teachers : Personality of Teachers and Schools Clara was an experienced but frustrated state school Science teacher and very much wanted to find a better situation for herself. One Friday evening, over drinks, a friend told her about Summerhill. The philosophy interested her and she bought the book, Summerhill, and then visited…
Social media reveals a lamentable lack of intelligence in our political discussions. Here I argue that politics is not all about image, that leaders should not be given the visibility of pop stars and that people are intelligent enough to have their own opinions.
Geoff is an authoritarian. He believes there are bad people in the world and the police are there to protect us from them. He believes the royal family is an essential bulwark of authority and stability in the world. He believes nationalism is an atavistic tribal urge that will never be replaced by internationalism.
