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will have ideas and resources for teachers and parents.  Please take a look at the concepts that interest you most!

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What is the purpose of an education?  There are a myriad of answers- parents, teachers, and students all come to school with different expectations.  Does our current public school model align with our expectations?

Most feel that the answer is no, regardless of their specific definition of education.  One thing that our current system succeeds in is 'schooling'- a schooling is learning how to adopt the behaviors and mannerisms that are appropriate for a school environment.

Being able to sit at a desk for an hour is an example of what a 'schooling' can provide.  Being able to work along side other same-age children- to meet children from a variety of different backgrounds- this is another positive skill that schooling provides young people.

Those don't sound too bad!  But other values and skills are taught tacitly through schooling- 'good behavior,' for example, is often a prerequisite for success in the classroom- and typically it involves keeping quiet and following orders.  Schooling also has a child rely an awful lot on external motivators, instead of internal ones.  One could argue that this fails to create independent and self-driven adults.
Schooling is a part of a child's socialization, and isn't all bad- but, schooling really has nothing to do with being educated!

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Education vs. Schooling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omx5KrRVkMc

6 Problems with our School System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okpg-lVWLbE

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Prussian Education System- describes our schools.  Assembly line style school with bells where large groups of students take instruction from a single teacher.  For its time it was revolutionary.  However, no significant changes have been made in well over 200 years.

Unschooling-  emphasizes learning through natural experiences with learner chosen activities.  Household chores, getting experience through work, spending time with family or mentors, traveling, and social interaction all constitute potential activities.

Self-directed education- education that derives from the self-chosen activities and life experiences of the learner, whether or not those activities were chosen deliberately for the purpose of education. (self-directed.org)

Project-Based Learning- students select activities and assignments based on what interests them- usually the parameters for a successful project are agreed upon by a teacher. PBL encourages real-life experience, activity, and problem solving.

Homeschooling- can take place for many reasons (see here).  It can use a traditional curriculum or not.

and lastly....

Education- the sum of everything a person learns that supports them towards living a satisfying and meaningful life. (self-directed.org)

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-What do you think the purpose of education is?

-In your mind, what does an educated person 'look' like? What qualities and strengths do they have?

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Read this: https://www.classcraft.com/blog/

Project-Based Learning- learn more here

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Yes, you read that right!  The Amish school system may seem antiquated with its one room school house holding 8 grades of students, but we have much to learn from their successes.

Almost all Amish adults have an independent livelihood, with either a farm or business (though they typically have more than one).  Their society has almost no crime, violence, or drug problems, and they accept no government assistance, other than what is required by law.

Not only that, but 85-95% of young people actively choose to stay in their communities after rumspringa.

There is so much to say, but I'll summarize with this- Amish culture and schooling emphasizes industriousness- working hard, learning a craft, and being creative and outgoing as an entrepreneur are all highly valued.

When the Amish fought the government on being forced to attend public schools, they demanded the things below. I'll leave it here for you to glance at.

• schools be located within walking distance of home.
• there be no large schools where pupils are sorted into different compartments and assigned different teachers each year.
• school decisions be under parents’ control.
• the school year be no longer than eight months.
• teachers be knowledgeable in and sympathetic with Amish values and rural ways.
• their children be taught that wisdom and academic knowledge are two different commodities.
• every kid have practical internships and apprenticeships supervised by parents.
(from here)

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Both of these systems very closely resemble a traditional classroom in terms of looks, but they have some key differences. If you aren't sold on the more radical versions of alternative education, I'd give these a look through first.

For those that are interested:
“What is Montessori?”  https://youtu.be/Ljuw3grZ11Q

Video on the benefits and the philosophy behind the Montessori school.

“Waldorf vs. Montessori Education: What’s the Difference?” https://youtu.be/XnfZdiUAYJA
A comparison, by a teacher, on the differences between the two systems.

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Choose at least one form of Alternative Education to examine from those you read about.  Write 2-3 sentences addressing one strength and one weakness in their schooling system- what can you, as a special education teacher, take away from these examples?

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"Plenty of brilliant and famous people have lacked a schooling – George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Admiral Farragut, Thomas Edison, Margaret Meade and many more – but all of them had a fine education.

Schooling takes place in an environment controlled by others, through procedures and sequences more or less controlled by others, and for the purposes of others. There’s a value to this when the teachers are people who care for you and struggle to understand you, but schooling is never enough.

Education describes efforts largely self-initiated for the purpose of taking charge of your life wisely and living in a world you understand. The educated state is a complex tapestry woven out of broad experience, grueling commitments and substantial risk taking.

In our own society, schooling can help or hinder learning, encourage or discourage education."

-John Taylor Gatto (article here)

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6 Steps to Implement PBL

PBL Ideas for your Classroom

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Setting up your Classroom

Seven Tips (Classroom layout)

A Great Montessori Teacher

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Viral Video- "I Sued the School System" (Spoken word)

Coast to Coast AM w/ John Taylor Gatto

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"Easiest Way to Turn Your Kids into Geniuses" (Funny story that highlights what it takes to be empowered as an individual)

Self-Directed Education: About

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Optimizing Self-Directed Education

Homeschooling CA

De-schooling (for beginners)