Links

Organizations and schools which support democratic, learner centred, non-coercive education. Also a few informational links.

AERO by Dana — last modified 2007-04-08 09:51

The Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 to advance learner-centered approaches to education. AERO is considered by many to be the primary hub of communications and support for educational alternatives around the world. AERO was a partner in hosting the International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) 2003 with The Albany Free School in Albany, New York.

The Clearwater School--Seattle, WA by Dana — last modified 2007-04-07 19:52

The Clearwater School is part of an international network of Sudbury schools, all of which are based on the 35-year-old Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts. The concepts of Freedom, Trust and Responsibility are at the heart of the Sudbury model. Sudbury schools are run democratically, ensuring that students have the freedom to direct their own education. Sudbury graduates move into their adult lives as self-confident, articulate, resourceful and motivated citizens.

IDEC 2007 by Dana — last modified 2007-04-07 20:11

International Democratic Education Conference 2007 will be held in Mogi das Cruzes, at 52 km of Sao Paulo, Brazil and is planned to run from 8th to 16th of September.

Matt Hern by Dana — last modified 2007-04-08 09:51

A long time SANE/Windsor House community member who is very active in the deschooling movement.

Purple Thistle Centre by Dana — last modified 2007-04-08 09:42

Youth Art and Activism

Wikipedia--democratic school by Dana — last modified 2007-04-08 09:51

 

Wikipedia--Free school by Dana — last modified 2007-04-08 09:51

 

The Brooklyn Free School by Dana — last modified 2007-04-12 09:16

A grassroots movement formed in the summer and early fall of 2003 with the goal of offering a true educational alternative to the traditional orthodoxy of education now dominant in most public and private schools in this city, the Brooklyn Free School has now sprouted wings and has been up and running since September 2004. The community is composed entirely of parents, students, educators and others who believe that freedom and democracy are not just textbook concepts, but a way of living and learning - for our children as well as ourselves. The Brooklyn Free School is dedicated to the belief that all students must be free to develop naturally as human beings in a non-coercive educational environment and empowered to make decisions affecting their everyday lives and that of their community.

The Albany Free School by Dana — last modified 2007-04-12 09:16

a link to "Free to Learn: a documentary" and to their radical links

Blue Mountain School by Dana — last modified 2007-04-16 14:33

Blue Mountain School is a place where children are given freedom and encouraged to take responsibility for their own education - and they do. They play, learn, and grow on their own, in small groups, as well as in democratically structured group meetings. Every child of every age has a vote and understands his/her place in this family-like, and yes, fun environment.

Democratic Schools - a film by Jan Gabbert by Dana — last modified 2007-04-21 23:05

When it finally became clear that we, the KinderRÄchTsZÄnker (a group of young people campaigning for children's rights) were going to undertake the costly task of organising IDEC 2005, we got an exciting idea. It occurred to us that this conference would offer a good and what is more extremely rare opportunity to tell the German public in documentary format about the worldwide alternatives to the current national school routine.

Highlander Research and Education Centre by Sarah Anne Mills — last modified 2007-05-03 11:33

The Highlander Center was founded in 1932 to serve as an adult education center for community workers involved in social and economic justice movements. The goal of Highlander was and is to provide education and support to poor and working people fighting economic injustice, poverty, prejudice, and environmental destruction. We help grassroots leaders create the tools necessary for building broad-based movements for change. The founding principle and guiding philosophy of Highlander is that the answers to the problems facing society lie in the experiences of ordinary people. Those experiences, so often belittled and denigrated in our society, are the keys to grassroots power. Today, that philosophy is reflected in the educational programs and services offered by the 21st-century Highlander Center. Highlander serves Appalachia and the South with programs designed to build strong and successful social-change activism and community organizing led by the people who suffer most from the injustices of society. Highlander helps activists to become more effective community educators and organizers, informed about the important issues driving conditions in communities today.

Alpha Alternative School by Sarah Anne Mills — last modified 2007-05-03 11:44

A Canadian publically funded school with strong free school roots, which continues to be without grades.

Imaginative Education Research Group by Dana — last modified 2007-05-06 18:34

Imaginative Education is meant to be flexible and responsive to the learner's experiences. It is intended to move beyond the "banking" or "assembly-line" method of education where the learner is required to memorize a predetermined set of facts and processes and then be able to retrieve the "correct" information when called upon by a teacher or test. Imaginative education supports the learner in developing their understandings of their own experience and that of the culture and context in which each learner is embedded.

International Democratic Education Network (IDEN) by Dana — last modified 2007-08-10 17:06

It is a network of schools, organisations and individuals all round the world that uphold such ideals as: * respect and trust for children * equality of status of children and adults * shared responsibility * freedom of choice of activity * democratic governance by children and staff together, without reference to any supposedly superior guide or system. Members are self-selected. Their names and addresses and a minimal description appear in a data-base on the web site, and they receive two or three newsletters a year, mainly giving information about recent and future IDECs.

Charter for Public Education Network (CPEN) by Dana — last modified 2007-08-10 17:11

Public Education is a Sacred Trust. The Charter was initially sponsored by the B.C. Teachers' Federation and an independent panel made up of members of the community, all of whom are committed to public education, was chosen to make it happen. During the five months from October 2002 until February 2003, the panel members visited some 42 communities, listened to over 620 formal presentations and held discussions with more than a 1,500 participants. The result was a consensus about the important values and principles that British Columbians share regarding public education. This has now become The Charter for Public Education, and the follow up Charter Report, now found on this web site. Further background information is found within the Introduction chapter of our full report. The Charter can also be obtained in poster format by requesting a copy via e-mail.

IDEC 2008 by Helen — last modified 2008-08-22 13:59

IDEC 2008 took place Aug. 11th to 18th 2008 in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia. Previous conferences have been held in Japan, England, Israel, India, Germany and Australia with as many as 500 delegates from 25 countries. Attendees of IDEC 2008 included teachers, students, administrators and parents from democratic schools around the world, as well as local education scholars and officials. It featured Windsor House LIVE which was a huge success. The conference was fabulous.