Community Learning Centers
Models for Self-Learners
* * * * *
ACADEMY OF ENHANCED LEARNING
460 Clover Lane,
Hanover, PA,
(717) 632-1709
Bobbie Hertzfeldt, Director
AEL has been operating for 30 years with an individualized (K-8) teaching approach and does not believe in grades nor employ them. Heavy emphasis is put on on reading skills, math, participatory learning and current events. It has a wealthy client base of area professionals and others who want their kids to bechallenged and instilled with good values. The school averages 35 learners a year in a one floor building 3000 square feet built in 1991 and has a 16 car parking lot and a wooden playground.
AllLearn - Alliance for Life Long Learning
Office Address: 420 Lexington Avenue
Suite 2820
New York, NY 10170
Tel: 646-825-5200
Customer Service: 866-524-1502
General Inquiries: info@AllLearn.org
Help Desk: help@AllLearn.orgWho We Are
AllLearn offers top-quality, non-credit distance learning programs to students of all ages. Programs combine elements of taking classes in person with the advantages of learning at your home or office. Our programs offer online access to an instructor and encourage interaction with fellow students while accommodating the busy schedules of our students. AllLearn classes utilize traditional elements, such as books and expert teachers, as well as electronic media such as audio CDs, CD-ROMs, videotapes, streaming media, message boards, and live chats. Classes repeat year round and range from 90-minute faculty forums to 10-week courses - and a lot more in between.
We also offer free online library of Academic Directories and Learning Guides. Created by academic specialists, the AllLearn library is an indispensable tool for online research and self-guided learning. Background
AllLearn, an online learning consortium among Oxford, Stanford, and Yale universities, was formed in September 2000 to provide the highest quality, college level online courses and educational offerings. Our students are from all over the world and have diverse backgrounds, representing over 30 countries and all age groups. By October 2002, AllLearn offered over 50 online courses, 20 academic directories, and 40 learning guides.
All of our courses have been developed by faculty from Oxford, Stanford, and Yale universities. Online forums feature faculty members from the three institutions as well as faculty members from affiliate institutions. Day-to-day course activities are led by Online Instructors, experienced subject-matter experts, who facilitate online discussions and the overall course experience. Affiliate Program
AllLearn invites other academic institutions to be a part of its learning community by offering AllLearn programs to their alumni. No financial commitment is required from affiliate institutions. Many affiliate institutions serve on AllLearn's advisory board. For further information on the affiliate program, please contact Affiliate@AllLearn.org.
BLUE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
P.O. Box 907,
76132 Blue Mountain School Road
Cottage Grove, Oregon, USA
Laura Stine
Phone: (541) 942-7764 (Main Office), (541) 767-0115 (Laura's office)
E-MAIL: lstine@televar.com, blue_mtn@pop.efn.org, admissions@bluemountain-school.org
URL: http://www.bluemountain-school.org
Blue Mountain School is publicly funded K-12 learning center with state funds coming for every student through a contract with our local school district. We must purchase space (buildings and property) out of our operating funds, unlike the public schools. We need to find funds for that purpose and can use all the help we can get doing so. Also, our funding does not provide us with enough financial resources to support our democratic learning community as we would like.
CENTRE FOR ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY (CAT)
Machynlleth, Powys
S20 9AZ, UK
Tel: +01654 703743
E-mail: info@cat.org.uk
URL: http://www.cat.org.uk
Contact: Joan Randle joan.randle@cat.org.uk
CAT opened to the public 25 years ago on a 40 acre site of a old quarry, in Wales. It has become the world renowed museum and learning center of organic farming, windpower, earth building, solar energy, alternative healy therapies, water treatment, alternative economics, and the whole gamut of soft, human-scale, and appropriate technologies.
Its learning program covers the gamut running through the year with leisure activities as well as hands-on courses. Special facilities are available for family holidays as well a programs for teachers. Rates are based on family incomes.
CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS (CES)
P.O. Box 6659
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Telephone: (732) 698-9885
Fax: (732) 698-9886
E-Mail: creativeed@home.com
URL: www.creativeeducationalsystems.com
"The outcome of education must not be a foregone conclusion; rather it must be an unending quest for enlightenment. An enlightened education is, by its very nature, neither rigid nor undefined, but flexible, as it must serve as the given context of our society, while accommodating the ever-expanding universe of our children." It is on this premise that CES has, for twenty-five years, presented professional staff development for teachers, performed arts residencies in hundreds of K-12 schools, and published seven books for teachers: manuals on teaching curriculum through the arts, how to produce a school play, curriculum guides and a collection of plays for young people. In this, CES’ Silver Anniversary year, the company’s most significant program is being launched: Change of Heart: Artistic Alternatives to Violence. CES is also preparing two new books for Spring publication—a novelized version of Change of Heart and a manual on teaching children at home. The CES website provides discussion forums on issues relevant to education.
DROPOUT
1114 21st Street,
Sacromento, CA 95814
E-mail: dropout@emrl.com
Pam Davis publishes a very alternative newspaper called "drop out".
She is a teacher who left teaching public school to help dispossessed teens find their way. She is a helping teens who the system and their families have failed.
She originally published the 'zine out of an alternative bookstore, which was sort of a gathering place for teens.
EarthNet Institute
1904 Frisco Road,
Cabool, MO 65689 USA
E-mail: wolford@eni.edu
URL: http://www.eni.eduENI Online Instruction Center
(Continuing Education)
E-mail: bsmith@eni.edu
URL: http://www.ed2go.com/earthnetIntroduction to EarthNet Institute
EarthNet Institute (ENI) is a nonprofit, tax-exempt degree granting institution. ENI actively solicits tax-exempt contributions via grants, endowments and memberships as well as contributions that are intellectual, and emotional.
EarthNet Institute represents a new concept in distance education, research and global cooperation which aims at the amelioration of world problems. EarthNet Institute is different from a traditional college or university. This effort works through the four primary branches of ENI's organization, namely: 1. The six educational Colleges , 2. Continuing Education Courses through the ENI Online Instruction Center, 3. ENI's Research Division, and 4. ENI Affiliates. EarthNet Institute Model of Education is detailed later.
The six educational Colleges offer degree programs via distance learning that are learner and project specific. These specially designed educational programs are self directed, unique and flexible. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in numerous areas of study by the following six colleges: Agriculture, Environmental Science, Health and Welfare, Global Economics, Education, and Political Science. ENI boasts an International faculty.
Our unique degree programs are dedicated to the amelioration of major world problems through global scale education, research, and cooperation. ENI strives for a world filled with greater peace, balance, cooperation, sharing, gentleness, concern, and the promise of human brotherhood. We firmly believe that although the tasks before us are immense, they are attainable with the full participation of the global community.
The Continuing Education Division directs the ENI Online Instruction Center. The Online Instruction Center offers over 120 low cost career development courses in computers, Internet training, small and large business, nursing. legal and personal enrichment courses. In addition, course are offered for preparation for the ACT, SAT, GRE and LSAT exams. Certain career courses may also lead to certificate programs. EarthNet Institute Model of Education
The EarthNet model of education demands that an effective program of instruction be customized for each student, empowering the student to become a major force in the amelioration of the problems confronting mankind. Ideal candidates for student enrollment at EarthNet Institute are altruistic and charitable individuals who have deep commitment to finding meaningful solutions and bringing about lasting change with regard to the most pressing problems in their home country or within the wider global community.
Individuals accepted as EarthNet Institute students are also admitted as junior members of the Institute. Junior members are those who have real potential to make meaningful lifelong contributions to the amelioration of starvation and homelessness, the reduction of poverty and ignorance, the control of sickness and disease, and suffering in diverse places, war, slavery, terrorism, mental illness, environmental devastation, human rights violations, and economic inequities. Following an orientation to the essential objectives of EarthNet Institute, junior members are guided through a three stage apprenticeship style program. First, the program begins with foundational studies and core competencies needed for success in combating major world problems. Second, upon completion of the core academic studies, students pursue field studies on site in cooperation with organizations affiliated with EarthNet Institute. Third, as the final assignment of their degree studies, junior members undertake major projects that demonstrate excellence and contribute in a genuine manner to the amelioration of major world problems. All junior members who successfully complete their program of studies will be considered for active membership in EarthNet. Core Academic Studies
At the initial stage of the program, junior members undertake foundational studies in the core competencies, investigating the fundamentals, principles, and practices that underlie the global systems under investigation. They explore thoroughly, the theoretical, historical, cultural, and philosophical perspectives that inform the field, and survey carefully, the organizations, model projects and processes that have contributed effective solutions worldwide. Field Study Apprenticeships
Junior members participate in field study apprenticeships under the direction of ENI faculty and personnel of affiliated organizations in appropriate locales worldwide. As ENI students, junior members are involved in the exploration of global problems and barriers to human betterment, confronting the causes and solutions first hand. Junior members are mentored in making effective contributions within the milieu of the placement site. Major Field Projects
At the culmination of their programs, junior members are required to undertake major field projects of their own design in cooperation with their faculty advisors and placement site coordinators, drawing upon the expertise of the full ENI membership and staff from and ENI affiliated organizations. Through their projects, junior members must demonstrate excellence in the field of inquiry by exhibiting a capacity to contribute to the betterment of the human condition. Projects will be of proportionally increasing depth and breadth with advanced degrees. They may take the form of planning projects or activities that are more action oriented, involving networking among organizations working toward resolution of common problems, building of new partnerships, putting new systems in place, building needed infrastructures, testing replicable nature of model projects or traditional research. Projects may also guide the establishment of essential businesses or service programs, alter harmful cultural or ecological systems, expand global networks, identify action solutions and reveal problems requiring amelioration. Calendar
At EarthNet Institute, the educational programs run continuously, year around, allowing students to complete their degree programs in an accelerated manner and get on with their service to humanity. The rigorous educational programs follow a quarter term system, beginning with a two week registration period on the first day of January, April, July, and October each year.
Following the registration period students pursue academic studies, field studies, and major projects through ten week long modules. These ENI modules represent the equivalent of two comprehensive companion courses from the same academic field for the duration of each quarter. Both courses within the modules are offered and taught by a specialized member of the faculty from the school offering the module. Course Equivalency Determination
In the Carnegie system, one quarter credit is offered for each class contact hour per week together with each two hours of follow-up study time each week over a ten week period. Consequently, for each thirty hours of contact time spent by a student during a term in distance learning or in field or project activities per quarter, students are awarded one quarter credit. The EarthNet module system of two courses each term results in the awarding of 15 quarter credits per module per term. Degree Requirements
The ENI Bachelors program requires 12 quarter terms or 180 quarter credits including the following:
- seven modules in general education equaling 105 quarter credits
- three modules of advanced studies in one college equaling 45 credits
- one module in field studies equaling 15 quarter credits
- one module in major projects equaling 15 quarter credits
NOTE: possibility of allowance of up to 60 credits awarded for appropriate outside undergraduate study equivalent to required ENI studies.
The ENI Masters program requires six quarter terms or 90 quarter credits at graduate level including:
- three modules of advanced studies in one college equaling 45 credits
- one module in field studies equaling 15 quarter credits
- two modules in major projects equaling 30 quarter credits
NOTE: possibility of allowance of up to 30 credits awarded for appropriate outside graduate study equivalent to required ENI studies.
The ENI Doctoral programs require twelve quarter terms or 180 quarter credits at graduate level including:
- six modules of advanced studies in major college equaling 90 credits
- two modules of advanced studies in minor college equaling 30 credits
- two modules in field studies equaling 30 quarter credits
- two modules in major projects equaling 30 quarter credits
NOTE: possibility of allowance of up to 60 credits awarded for appropriate outside graduate study or Masters completion equivalent to required ENI studies.
FAMILY PLAYCE
3590 Peralta Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94536
Contact: Marcia Williams
Telephone: (510) 818-9864
E-mail: edfamhere@aol.com
"FAMILY PLAYCE is dedicated to providing a respectable and creative learning environment in which the family can flourish, allowing originality, independence and self-expression for each individual incorporating with respect the curiosity of children and the wisdom of adults in a diverse program of imagination and discovery."
Family Playce serves as a Community Center for Homeschooling families and offers programs ranging from providing learning experiences for children during the day and after-school Art or Theatre programs for children, to progams such as authors speaking , floral design, and forums for the general public.
A small core group sets the atmosphere. There is no paid help but a lot of volunteers that enable Family Playce to stay afloat. The core group brings in others, all the center can handle currently, by word of mouth advertising. On a typical weekend the center had a small Fall Festival. Children had worked for several weeks on game booths, plays and activities.
The Center, that has been in its current location only since September 1999, has a Resource Lounge with a sofa and books and magazines on Mothering, Parenting, Education and, of course, Homeschooling. The house is set up in multi-purposes areas that can be used for various activities. The kitchen is used for art or science. Oneweek we disected a fish eye! Another room is set aside for the toddlers, but the older kids love it in there. There is as much time spent in that room by ten year olds as there is three year olds! It's that type of happening that takes place at Family Playce.
Another such happening is the play of the boys. A large percentage of the boys between the ages of 10 and 13 were called "Hyper" by the schools. The parents were told "Your child cannot come to school unless they are on Ritalin (or other drugs)." The center encourasges children to be be themselves. And allows them to express themselves within learning experiences of thir own choosing. Drugs are not used.
Children love this learning center. They never want to leave when it's time to go. The participing families feel that the current schooling system makes alternative learning centers absolutiely neccessary. They are needed not only for learning but also to assure family rights, community solidarity, and the moral/value condition of our society.
FIRST CLASS, INC.
Lifelong Learning Center
1726 20th St, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-797-5102
Fax: 202-797-5104
E-mail: takeaclass@aol.com
URL: www.takeaclass.org
First Class, Inc. was founded in 1984 and is located in the heart of Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. We specialize in short-term programs packed with nitty-gritty information. Our motto: "Learn it on Tuesday; use it on Wednesday." Categories of classes include: business, careers, the arts, body and mind, new awareness, fun and much more.
Price range: $25-$59.
Granite State College
8 Old Suncook Road
Concord, NH 03301 USA
Phone: 603-228-3000
E-mail: ask@granite.edu.
URL: www.granite.eduMission & History
"A College education is within your reach…"Granite State College, part of the University System of New Hampshire, empowers adults throughout the state to pursue professional and personal growth through flexible, affordable, and accessible higher education. The College is committed to serving our communities through student-responsive curriculum, innovative instruction, assessment of learning outcomes, and collaborative workforce development.
Granite State College has nine campus locations throughout the state as well as online courses and degree programs.
The Regions
Connecticut Valley Region
Merrimack Valley Region
North Country Region
Seacoast Region
HEART'N'HOME SCHOOL
3104 Creek Ridge Dr.,
New Albany, IN 47150
Contact: "Angela Zimmerman" angelaz@mindspring.com
E-mail: sweetland1@juno.com
We number about 150 families (about 400 school age children), and are in our eight year as a group. We have been able to do many things as a group, including some regularly meeting co-ops teaching various topics, a cross country running team, Hebrew & Spanish language classes, partnerships for tutoring, as well as science fairs, drama camp, art classes/fairs, Keepers & Contenders for the Faith groups, field trips, etc. These are things we provide for the children. We also provide support for mothers through monthly meetings where we hire professionals to teach us on various topics of education or we share our curriculum on a given topic in smaller discussion groups. We provide a monthly newsletter & "one-list" to the group as well.
HOMESOURCE
1110 Fairfield Ave.,
Suite 100,
Eugene, OR 97402
(541) 689-9959, FAX 689-1051.
E-mail: homesource@betheltech.com
Web site:www.betheltech.com
A program serving 600-700 K-12 pupils with a 1/5 teacher'student ratio. and contracts with off campus community resources for other activiities, including tennis, horseback riding, symphony, etc.. They offer computer technology--have 20 computers on site, 'Hands on Math Manipulatives' classes, etc., etc. The math manipulatives, et al, may be resources families find are too expensive to purchase for their home use and instead make use of them at the center. Some students take classes at HomeSource and also are enrolled in another public school program. Apparently there is some sharing of funds between districts in that case. See their web page for all their many offerings. It says on their web site that families have to be careful that the student is not enrolled in multiple programs that add up to more than full time.)
JEAN SNOW’S HISTORY FAIR
E-mail: snow.kropla@ns.sympatico.ca (Jean Snow)
My name is Jean and my kids are Elliot, 10 and Elise is 7. I pulled Elliot out of school when he was in grade 3 and in a horrible classroom. We have been homeschooling for 1 and a half years and hopefully we'll never go back. Some of the things we are doing; For the 2nd year I arrange an History Fair for homeschooling kids. We use the public library room and kids can display anything they want as long as it has happened. Last year each kid presented their topic in front of a video camera. This year the library is co-sponsoring and putting up displays of books about our topics and other history books. Also I run a resource library out of my home. It is for non-book items (usually) that member families borrow for one month. We have donations from families and businesses. It is less than a year old and we have 50 items and 20 members. Also we go on field trips our province-wide organization runs and get together with like-minded families for mini-trips and activities. Last year we had a spelling bee, very non-competitive. We live in Nova Scotia, by the way. Right now my kids are taking lessons for piano, violin (thru the public school system), dance, pottery and karate.
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERS OF CHICAGO
Address: 1 South Franklin Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60606 USA
Phone: (312) 357-4700
Jewish Community Centers of Chicago (JCC) was founded as the Chicago Hebrew Institute in 1903 by a group of visionary Jewish community leaders living on Chicago's West Side who recognized the need for a place where the Jewish community could celebrate their heritage and spend social and recreational time with people of similar backgrounds.
JCC reaches out to an even larger community. Seven neighborhood-based Centers located throughout the Chicago metropolitan area reflect the distinct personalities of the neighborhoods they serve by offering a rich array of programs for children, teens, adults and families. In addition, the agency operates Camp Chi, an overnight camp in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, the Perlstein Resort and Conference Center, adjacent to Camp Chi, and "Z" Frank Apachi Day Camp in Northbrook, Illinois.
JCC of Chicago plays a central role in the Jewish lives of tens of thousands of members and program participants throughout the year. One of the prominent goals of the agency is to provide Jewish individuals and families increased opportunities for Jewish celebration, learning, and association. Through early childhood education and programs for children, teens, and adults, JCC offers boundless opportunities for people of all ages and interests to enrich and enhance their lives.
KOHALA FAMILIY HOMESCHOOLING LEARNING CENTER
P.O. Box 1617
Kapa'au, HI 96755 USA
Contact Person: Kether Hollabaugh
Phone: (808) 889-1811
Email: kether@aloha.net
The Kohala Family Homeschooling Learning Center is is a resource center offered to homeschooling families and others seeking enhanced learning activities for their children.
The learning center offers activities to children through age 7 - two days a week and activities to children above the age of 8 two days a week. One day a week is dedicated to all age groups sharing in activities together. Parents develop the curriculum, using the Waldorf philosophy, but not exclusively, offering a wide variety of activities, with a wide variety of "teachers" contributing. We are a small group so far, with about ten families participating. We expect to double in size in the first two years and will be offering actvities to public school children.
Homeschooling families pay a yearly $500 and also $150-200 a month for Full Membership. The Learning Center also offers a Limited Membership and Per Use options. We have applied for a locally funded grant for $5,000 to help cover the cost of some building improvements and fencing costs. We are seeking information to apply for more grants. We also have plans for fund-raising activities.
LIBERTY SCHOOL - A DEMOCRATIC LEARNING COMMUNITY
P.O. Box 857
Blue Hill, Maine 04614
Phone:207-374-2886
e-mail: LIBSCHOOL@Netscape.net
URL: http://ellsworthme.org/liberty
Director: Arnold GreenbergDescription:
Liberty School--A Democratic Learning Community offers students in grades 9-12 a diverse and innovative educational program that merges challenging and creative academic studies with artistic work and other educational opportunities that will enable young people to meet the demands of the 21st Century.
We believe that it is vital for everyone affiliated with the school--students, parents and faculty--to feel that Liberty School is their school, and that each individual feels he or she is an important member of the school community. Students serve on the Community Council in charge of managing the school, are represented on the Board of Directors and are involved in all aspects of running the school with faculty and parents.
Students play a large part in determining their own education rather than being forced to pursue a predetermined curriculum. Students have significant choices available for gaining meaningful knowledge and expereinces ranging from a wide-variety of courses offered by faculty to independent projects to travel and foreign study opportunities. Our objective is to develop responsible individuals, able to use their knowledge to pursue more knowledge and become more fulfilled, self-aware and alert to the surrounding world.
Liberty is an independent school, Approved by the Maine Department of Education to receive tuition from towns that do not have their own high school.
Liberty School is in the process of beginning a 13th year called Homesteading and Community. This program will be a one year experience in growing and preserving food, building solar shelters, living cooperatively and learning to live a more home-centered existence in the 21st Century.
LINKUP - A PARENT DESIGNED AND MONITORED PROGRAM FOR HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES
Eastham Community Center
1404 Seventh Street
Oregon City, OR 97045
Phone: 503.657.2434, fax: 503.657.2536
Contacts: Larry Didway, 503.650.5491, didwayl@orecity.k12.or.us
or Becky Taylor: 503.657.2407, taylorbe@orecity.k12.or.us
Linkup is a tax supported public program for homeschooled students grades K-12. Linkup's mission is to assist homeschooling families by offering educational opportunities including math, science, communications skills and access to the tools of technology in a safe, professional and "family friendly" environment. Linkup has proven to be popular with parents, growing from fewer than one hundred students in 1996-1997 to nearly five hundred students in 1999-2000.
Linkup enables homeschooled students to access Oregon City School District as part-time students under the direction of their parents, and develops customized programs to enhance homeschooling educational opportunities. Linkup teaches technology as a tool to help students in their acquisition of the skills, information, and processes needed in math, science, and communication. Parent participation is required at varying levels in all classes.
The Linkup Manager and Parent Advisory Team are responsible for the direction and staffing of the program. The PAT is made up of homeschooling parents whose children attend Linkup. Parents are selected to serve for rotating two-year terms.
Three basic programs are offered. The Parent-Partnered program works with parents to design a combined program of home and classroom instruction in academic content areas of Language Arts, Math, Science, or Second Language, for grades six and up. The Home Teaching Mentor Program pairs experienced home-based instructors with K-6 students and parents to help provide an individualized education program for each student. Time is divided between basic skills and integrated unit studies. Attendance and district testing are required. The Elective Program offers a selection of classes in a variety of subject areas.
LIVING ROUTES - ECOVILLAGE EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM
72 Baker Rd.
Shutesbury, MA 01072 USA
Daniel Greenberg, Program Director
Phone: (888) 515-7333 and (413) 259-0025
Fax: (413) 259-1255
e-mail: routes@ecovillage.org (not set up yet)
URL: www.gaia.org/LivingRoutes (also not set up yet)
The mission of Living Routes is to develop and support a diverse, yet coordinated set of ecovillage-based educational programs that empower participants to help build a sustainable future. At its core is a growing set of semester and summer programs that provide deep and direct experiences with the concepts, skills and tools of sustainable living. In these programs, students will create their own "learning communities" within "living communities" as they help design and build ecologicalstructures, learn effective methods of decision-making and conflict resolution, research sustainable strategies, support each other's personal and spiritual growth, and work to enhance the health of wider communities and ecosystems.
An integral part of Living Routes' vision is to develop a network of Research, Development, and Demonstration sites focusing on sustainable technologies, land use strategies, and social patterns. Research projects integrated into Living Routes programs that compare these systems within participating communities and campuses will provide premier educational opportunities for students and interns, vital input for ecovillage development, and excellent venues in which to make these learnings available to the broader public.
Living Routes will work closely with the Global Ecovillage Network and a consortium of ecovillages, academic institutions, and other organizations to create an international "communiversity" that is global in scope, yet bioregional in focus. Programs are currently being developed at the Findhorn Foundation, Crystal Waters, Green Kibbutzim, and North American ecovillages.
NAHOON MONTESSORI SCHOOL/THE LEARNING COMMUNITY
74 Beach Road, Nahoon, East London, South Africa 5240
CONTACT: Sharon Caldwell
PHONE: (027) +43 735 2221 Cell: 083 456 1048
E-MAIL: nms@imaginet.co.za
DESCRIPTION: A small privately owned school (30 children). Originally the school was a Montessori pre-school, but due to parent demand we have now extended to accommodate children up to 12 years of age. Although we are essentially Montessori we have been heavily influenced by un-schooling philosophies and a number of democratic school approaches. The result is a flexible environment where the children direct their own learning. Where teaching does take place, it is with Montessori methods and materials mostly but not exclusively. Weekly meetings set rules and policies and deal with problems. Our children now range from age 2 1/2 to 11 years.
FINANCING: The school is financed privately - parents pay a fee that is slightly higher than state schools* in the area(R400 per month for pre-school and R 600 for primary school), plus a refundable deposit (R 500 f or the pre-school and R 1 500 for the senior school). This has helped to cover some of the costs of setting up the new room. At the moment, however, the school is heavily subsidised by my husband and myself, (I generally don't draw a salary and the other staff work for a pittance). The school is on the same property as our home, and building alterations were covered by a personal mortgage bond. We dream of getting some sort of funding to get other premises, but at the moment there is little likelihood of this as our Province is the poorest in the country, and the budget does not even cover the needs of the state schools. Regards,
SHARON CALDWELL
NONAME BOOK CLUB
Jill Taylor Bussiere
N5942 Meadow Rd
Kewaunee, Wi 54216
E-mail: jdt@admin.itol.com
Our book club has no name. It was formed at a meeting of another organization when the roads were icy and the few of us that turned out started chatting.
We meet at some of our members' homes - particularly one member's because her children are young yet, and this saves her getting a baby sitter. we meet approximately once a month, for about 3 hours. We choose the books that we will read through consensus - choosing from selections that members have put forth.
Anyone can come that would like - we advertise through our network of acquaintances, but don't advertise. Are not searching for more members because it is a nice size, but yet would welcome people who are searching for such a group.
Our discussion is rather loose - and often people pull in their life experiences, and personal philosophies to enhance the discussion. Often we pick books that carry a particular thread through for a while.
We share books when possible, and use both the inter-library system to get our selections, as well as a paperback book club, and a local (30 miles away) book store. We had occasionally used Amazon.com in the past, but are trying not to, in order to support our local store.
So far, conversation has been unregulated. But we are discussing a round robin approach - we are thinking of attempting it at least once an evening as a way of equalizing comfort in speaking.
People attend when life and interest encourage. Mother - Daughter Book Club
Out of the above book club has developed a mother-daughter book club. Four mothers and four daughters meet once a month at the Penguin City Restaurant to eat supper, discuss the book read, and pick another. Selections and discussion go similar to above. At first we left the choice up the the girls, but lately moms have had a say as well. The discussion is usually a half hour or less, but is increasing in length the longer we meet. In this group we are discouraging more members at this point. We feel it would be difficult to have such an openly organized group with more, although we can see that we will be able to attempt it perhaps in the future.
OREGON UNSCHOOLING CHAUTAUQUA
5125 SW MaCADAM Avenue, #200
Portland.OR, 97202 USA
A September "kick-off" event for about 25 unschooling families. The Chautauqua takes over a Campfire Camp at the Oregon coast, an exquisite and private environment for discovery, exploration, growth, and natural beauty. During he five day temporary community, families work and play together, share meals, activities, and rustic cabins. Families bring favorite games, crafts, and activities to share. Exploring activities, ideas, forest and beach occupies all. Relaxing, visiting and loafing are very popular. Key words: networking; discusions; the nitty gritty of homeschooling; retreat; play; work; sharing. Oregon Chautauqua is a nonprofit organization. Expenses are paid by fees. ,,,,ALF
PACIFICA COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL
3754 Dunn Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90034
CONTACT PERSON: Janin Paine
PHONE: 310-845-9405
E-MAIL: recruitment@pacificaschool.org
URL: www.pacificaschool.org
Pacifica Community Charter School is an alternative, humanistic, parent-participation elementary and middle school on the west side of Los Angeles. We offer a constructivist/ experiential project based education that integrates state curriculum standards. We are committed to child-initiated, non-coercive, curriculum. We actively provide a voice for children in most decision making processes. We promote and teach non-violent inter-personal communication with peaceful conflict resolution & problem solving. Our community is dedicated to an awareness and understanding of social and environmental justice in our curriculum and in our lives. Our funding, as a charter school, is almost the same as any other public school, although, for now, we need to rent our own site. ( There is a new law that will effect charter sites going into effect in 2003)
PINE TREE FOLK SCHOOL
RR 2, Box 7162
Carmel, ME 04419
207-848-2433
Contact: Jan Falk
Fax: 603-825-0341
E-mail: jgfalk@mint.net
URL:: www.mint.net/folkschoolMission Statement:
Pine Tree Folk School is a non-profit organization founded by Maine activists who are committed to providing education for social change. We bring to our work many years of experience in economic empowerment, labor, peace, and women's issues, as well as skills in group facilitation and adult learning.
Pine Tree Folk School works with Maine people, supporting their efforts to take collective action to shape their own destiny. We seek to create educational experiences that empower people to take democratic leadership towards fundamental change. Current Work:
Our latest project is the "Computer Help Network," an effort to use popular education principles to help eastern Maine grassroots organizations work together to learn how to make better use of our information technology.
Portland Family Freeschool
636 NE Ainsworth
Portland, OR 97211 USA
Phone: (503) 287-4447
Contact Person: Emily Troper
E-mail: Info@familyfreeschool.com
URL: http://www.familyfreeschool.com
[...The Freeschool classroom climate is one of invitation, not force. An organic flowing of offering and receiving from adults to children, children to adults; each community member actively choosing their own learning, and contributing to the learning of others.
The materials necessary for children to explore writing, reading, math, science, art, drama and music- - whether independently or with adult support- are always available.
Adult and child inspired activities are woven together to create a rich, diverse tapestry of opportunity. Always present is an eagerness to connect with what is alive for each child.
Parents are thrown into the work of parenting without much preparation, information, or support. Through trial and error, wading through mounds of misinformation, and led by our own best instincts and commitment to and love for our children, we struggle to parent and live in ways that bring us and our families joy. ...]
PUBLIC INTEREST FORUM
102 Twitchell Rd.
South Paris, ME 04281 USA
Tom Witner
E-mail: atwhit@megalink.net
The Public Interest Forum is an adult teaching/learning community for our town. We have presentations and discussions of issues such as equality, justice for the excluded, and popular struggle. Topics of local, national, and international interestare examined to stimulate inquiry, dialogue and action.
Meetings 7 p.m on 2nd Tuesday each month.
PUGET SOUND COMMUNITY SCHOOL
(a nomadic school in the process of changing our mailing address)
Address: Seattle, WA
URL: www.pscs.org
E-mail: pscs@pscs.orgMission Statement:
The mission of the Puget Sound Community School is to honor the uniqueness of students by trusting their natural abilities, respecting them as individuals, and providing them educational opportunities in which equal status is given to all pursuits. We invite the participation of all people regardless of race, gender, ability, or sexual orientation. PSCS is dedicated to being a leading example of community-involved education.
REACH HOMESCHOOL GROUP
2525 Patrick Henry
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Contact: April Morris
E-mail: c2morris@oakland.edu
We are an inclusive homeschool group. We are open to anyone homeschooling for any reason with any method. All we ask is that respect is shown for individual's reasons and methods. We meet monthly at the local Public Library for a general meeting and have monthly field trips. We meet weekly for classes.
This is our first year doing this so we are still 'learning as we go'! We meet on Wed. afternoon and alternate each week with science or art. And meeting each week are two German classes and two French classes. We have divided the classes loosely by grade (not always an easy task with homeschoolers. LOL) Approximately K-3 and 4-8. A typical Wed. is:
1:30-2:30 the K-3 meet for art. During this time the older kids will play outside on the playground or inside with games and such (depending on the weather).
At 2:30 we switch for the older kids to do art.
At 3:00 the younger kids will have a half hour language class and at 3:30 the older kids have their language class.
All classes are taught by homeschool moms who were teachers in a former life or have some other professional background in the area taught. Fees were decided on by each teacher and handled individually with each teacher. This will change next year though we have not ironed that out yet. Some teachers just charge for materials others also charge a small fee for their time. We meet at a local church who is allowing us to use their facility free of charge (we have no formal afflication with the church as we are an inclusive group). At this time all problems are handled through me as the contact person.
RURAL FUTURES NETWORK
PO Box 357 Pomona Qld. Australia 4568
CONTACT PERSON: Janice Macpherson
PHONE: 075476 4870
E-MAIL: janmac@sun.big.net.au
URL: www.ruralfutures.net
DESCRIPTION: RFN is to be opened on May 17th. 2001. It is a partnership between Education Queensland, Noosa Shire Council and Noosa and District Landcare. Originally, it was planned to be a base for the Lancare group with a nursery for growing trees to plant in farm forestry.
However, over the three years it has taken to get to this stage, the community group managing the direction of the project have realised the growing importance of community learning centres. RFN is about planning ahead to help create the kind of communities we choose to live in 10 or 20 years from now, even much longer. We are adressing the questions?
- How will we make a livelihood in the future?
- What kind of natural environment do we want?
- How do we wish to spend our leisure time?
- What will our children, and grandchildren do when they grow up?
RFN addresses these questions through active participation, including workshops, learning programs and projects for community development. RFN creates learning centres in local communities to help understand the changes swirling around us. This empowers people to create, ensuring communities that are sustainable, longer term, in relation to the ecology, economy, culture and the wider society.
The management consists of a Council of six community members and various teams such as Administration team,Funding team, building team, learning team, community relations team, future studies team, these teams report back to the Council.
The building is on a portion of the large acreage of Cooroora Secondary College at Pomona. It also has an annexe of Central Queensland University. Further buildings are planned "down the track"as required and funding allows.
That gets to the "F"word. Funding has been a big problem. Education Queensland provided a grant but the costs for the building were almost twice the amount. So, we took a plunge and went ahead using voluntary labour, recycled materials, saving here and there, very prolonged amount of time involved but it has been worth it. A small grant was made to put up the website and one volunteer got a grant for a laptop but that's all folks! We are still on the money trail even to get the building completely finished for the opening. Check out the website, (says the webmaster) and I'll keep you posted as to the progress.
Janice Macpherson.
"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about"
Margaret Wheatley.
SISTER ISLAND PROJECT
P.O. Box 712
Clinton, Washington 98236
CONTACT PERSON: Victoria Santos
PHONE: 360-341-1337
E-MAIL: svictoria32@hotmail.com
URL:
The Sister Island Project is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering respectful international friendship and cultural, educational, and technical exchange between the people of the United States and the people of the Dominican Republic. In addition, the Sister Island Project promotes awareness of issues that challenge developing countries and collaborates with Dominicans on mutually beneficial humanitarian projects. Currently we raise our funds from individual donations and small grants. We could use help on grant writing, and financial record keeping.
SOUTH STREET CENTRE
POBox 227
Boulder Creek CA 95006
Tel: (831)228-2540
E-mail: southst@cruzio.com
Contacts: Betsy Herbert & Estelle Fein
South Street Centre was founded in 1987 to provide a form of learning opportunity that recognizes all stages of a person's growth. It honors and supports parents in their role as caregivers and mentors of their children by providing counselling, guidance, resources, materials, and inspiration for parents and children to design their own forms of self-learning. The Centre is housed in a rented house with cozy corners for the family sharing that is key to the centre's program. Afternoon teas for parents provide information and assure parnent's involvement in their children's learning process. The facilities are open to meetings and discussion of the full range of communty issues and any other topics on the minds of the homeschooling and other families who are members.
TEACHING DRUM OUTDOOR SCHOOL
7124 Military Rd
3 Lakes, WI 54562
Phone: 715 546 2944
E-mail: tdrums2@newnorth.net
URL: http://www.newnorth.net/tdrums2/
Where Wilderness is the classroom, Ancient Voices are the teachers, knowing self and Balance are the quest. The Teaching Drum is a Native Lifeway school and wilderness retreat/healing center. Here the Talking Wind and Cleansing Waters are clear and strong; here The Great Mother's caress is warm and sweet. The Blessing Way is walked here; Honor and Respect are the code.
1-3 day, week, and year long courses in Native lifeways, including wilderness survival, skills, and awareness, and stone age technology. Instruction takes place in the traditional way, in a replica Ojibwa camp, on a wilderness lake, using birchbark wigwams made in the old way. The year long Wilderness guide course gradually transitions the student into living totally in harmony with nature, from buckskins, to eating only gathered food, to a relationship with nature that is far beyond anything imagined in the dominant culture. Tamarack Song, the lead instructor, has spent half his life learning from people who live the old ways.
THE BRYCC HOUSE
1055 Bardstown Road,
Louisville, KY 40205 USA
Contact Person: Liz
E-mail: liz@brycchouse.org
URL: http://www.brycchouse.org
DESCRIPTION: The Brycc House is a non-profit youth and community center. We have had a physical location for three years and have been incorporated longer than that. We grew out of the youth rights zine Brat (now defunct) and offer a space for shows, workshops, conferences, classes, etc. We also have a computer lab, a zine library, a garden space, and an internet radio station that may soon receive a LPFM license. In the past, we have hosted the Southern Girls Convention and the PAZ Conference, not too many festivals and hundreds of local events. We are collectively run by the youth and adults that use the center. These jobs serve to support the collectives, not dictate to them.
Unschoolers Unlimited
E-mail: nedvare@ntplx.net
URL: http://www.borntoexplore.org/unschool
Unschoolers Unlimited is an informal network of people who are learning to trust our own and our children's ability to choose the best ways to learn and grow.
Ned Vare and I are parents of a 22 year old son who is now a happy and successful college student in New York City. He has always been in charge of what, when, where, how much and with whom he would learn. We never used school books or taught lessons. We answered his questions when he asked and helped him gain access to the real world when he wanted it. We called it unschooling.
We hold family gatherings in CT -- usually on the third Saturday of every other month. We come together to play and socialize, to support and encourage each other, to share ideas and information, and to reassure ourselves that we are not alone in believing that children and adults can be responsible for our own lives and learning. We publish an occasional newsletter, a learning exchange list, and a mailing list.
Visit our web site: http://www.borntoexplore.org/unschool
Or contact us at nedvare@ntplx.net
Luz Shosie
THE RAINBOW DRAGONS
35 Vermont Avenue;
Youngstown, OH 44512-1122
Contact: Deborah Harding musik1@earthlink.net
Phone:(330) 782-8982
We are homeschoolers related to a 4 H group. We have 1st grade through 11th grade kids. Some of the things we have implemented this year is a borrowing library of resources including textbooks, a newsletter that the kids write, a newsletter for the parents, field trips (we just got back from a llama farm today) and study groups. The study groups are age specific. An example of this is we take a different country every month and find web pages for the kids to read. We put up multiple choice questions on a quiz page just for reinforcement. Then we might find someone from that country to come and speak to the kids. We are doing Japan right now and we have a speaker, the kids will get together to do some origami projects and calligraphy projects. The last night of the project we will all join to make a Japanese meal and eat it on the floor with bathrobes on (kimonos). These projects really involve the kids.
We had a 7th grade team of three kids compete in the local eco fair this October. For this contest they had to know what made up trees and plants and identify different ones. They had to know the local animals and their tracks. They had to know about the aquatic animals and some of the problems that effect waterways in our area. They had to be up on conservation events. The other school teams had 7 members. We had 3 and our kids one with 15 points between them and the second place winners. That only goes to prove that homeschool kids aren't just sitting on their rears watching TV all day.
I guess you can tell we've had some problems here with the local school system. Recently they agreed to let our homeschool kids participate in Science Fair and a few other educational activities and contests.
THE TEACHER-FAMILY SPACE
2705 E. Burnside St., #108
Portland, OR 97214-1767
(503)233-0151; FAX: (503)233-0185
E-mail: atspace@teleport.com
URL: www.teleport.com/~atspace
Contact: Robin Linsley
Non-profit. "The place for adults who raise, teach and interact with children and young adults." Funding is from fees or gransts. Sample programs:
Scholarship tutoring: Grant money provides free tutoring, Teens as Tutors.
Summer program: Tenaged volunteers lead landguage enrichment activities for young children. Teens work for pizza; younger children attend free.
Family Learning Picnics: A free Program for children 0-5. Children and their care giver join the staff for a "learn-through-play" experience at a park or other neighborhood location. 2x weekly meetings. Parent/Teacher Workshops, such as: Guides for Loving Discipline; Supporting Children in Grief, How to Help Your Child, Learn to Read.
THE TRAVELLING FOLK HIGH SCHOOL
Stegoevej 2
DK-5400 Bogense, DENMARK
Tel: +45 6481 3205
Fax: +45 6481 3143
E-mail: drh@post3.tele.dk
URL: www.drhbogense.dk3.com/
In 1850 Grundtvig conceived the idea of the folk school, he wanted to create education for the ordinary folk, the common people. His manifesto was -- enliven and enlighten. He wanted young people to get together to enliven one anothers' lives in the daily tasks of living, and to enrich their communities. His ideas were socially and politically incorrect for the times. It was feared that ordinary people would be empowered and emboldened to upset the status quo.
Nearly a century later the first folk school was established by Christen Kold. There are now over 100 folk schools in Denmark and The Danish Folk School Movement has spread world wide.
Tvind Folk School was one of these off-spring. In the 1970s young people gathered at Tvind and accepted the challenge of building the largest windmill in the world, surpassing the one then being built by NASA in the USA. Studying, aero dynamics, material science, engineering, and physics they completed the task and the the wind mill generated more electricity than could be used by the surronding area.
The Travelling Folk High School at Bogense has adopted this same philosophy of education with African Development as the theme. For 6 months students study the social sciences, development, anthropology, fund raising, and hands on appropriate technology in Bogense Denmark. They then take their skills and knowledge in teams to Namibia, Angola, or Malawi. Here they work with the people helping them solve local problems with local resources and local skills. Then they return for 2 months to Denmark for further exchange and discussion on bringing Solidarity Humanism to your life and your life's work.
TURNING THE WHEEL PRODUCTION
1123 Country Road 83, Boulder, Colorado 80302
E-mail: ttwheel@aol.com
URL: www.turningthewheel.com
Tel: (303) 449-5720
Turning the Wheel Productions is an intergenerational dance/theatre company committed to the collaborative creation and performance of works of art that are rooted in and restorative for the communities in which they perform and teach. Founded in Boulder, Colorado in 1989, Turning the Wheel has taken on the challenge of making art accessible to people of all ages, experiences and cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, while building systems that support healthy community. They have developed a model for using creative expression and performance as a way of addressing community problems and issues in cities across the country.
UPATTINAS SCHOOL & RESOURCE CENTER
429 Greenridge Rd.
Glenmoore, PA, 19343
610 458 5138 FAX 610 458 8688
URL: www.chesco.com/upattinas
Email: upatinas@chesco.com
Contact Person: Sandra M. Hurst (Sandy) Director
A family cooperative, democratic learning center for K-12 which offers full and part time day programs and full home education support, including enrollment and graduation. PA Private Academic School License and approval to grant Form I-20 for immigration. Open, relaxed, joyful learning environment where everyone participates in decision making, both about their own learning and the policies of the center. Certified teachers, community aides, families as hosts to foreign students. Extensive travel and camping program.
WAKING THE VILLAGE
1172 Delaware Avenue,
West Sacramento, CA 95691,
Phone: 916-372-6272,
E-mail: wakingthevillage@hotmail.com
URL: www.netsamurai.com/village
Waking the Village (WTV), is a nonprofit, and was founded in Sacramento, California by Bridget Alexander and Blithe Raines, two teachers eager to inspire and educate at-risk and homeless youth. In the summer of 1999 WTV recruited and trained 18 at-risk youth to cylce across America. The youth left behind drugs, alcohol, fighting and aimless days to face the challenge of cycling 2,300 miles! Along the way, the group performed good deeds in each state. The journey was a success and revolutionized the lives of the riders. Since the end of the journey, WTV has been mentoring youth and envisioning a residential school. Currrently, the organization is raising funds, and seeking a coalition of hard-working, good-hearted people ready to dedicate their lives to building a vibrant, nurturing community to help children, youth and families. We need experts in a wide variety of trades, sages, teachers, artists, farmers, carpenters, counselors, coaches, chefs, and patient elders to guide us all! We would love to hear from you if you are interested in being a part of our community and founding coalition.
WINDSOR HOUSE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL
440 Hendry Avenue, North
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7L 4C5.
E-mail: hhughes@idmail.com
Helen Hughes.
Windsor House is a parent-participation, democratic, academically non-coercive school with about one hundred and fifty students ages 5 to 18 and ten staff people. Students are not made to go to classes, nor are they stigmatized for non attendance, The school is situated in a 60's style elementary school on a lot with trees, a playground, a field and a blacktop area. There are tennis courts in the adjoining park. The school is publically funded by the School District #44, North Vancouver, BC. Canada. A weekly Resolutions Meeting makes all of the rules of the school (except rules set out by our School District concerning safety). Each person in the community gets one vote. Students may ask for classes and activities, and efforts are made to provide what the students have requested. Parent as well as staff offer classes and activities that they enjoy doing themselves. The main focus of the school is for people to run their own lives and be engaged in undertakings of their own choice.
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